Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1895-08-17

scriDed the defect in her face a. want OF
color" She was one OF the whitest OF fair
female human beings. Light tiaNen hair.
faint blue eyes with no complexion in
them, and q complexion which looked as
II ii mad never been stirred by a circula-
ton Of blood, produced an effect on her
fellow-creatures in general which made
them insensible TO the beauty Of her fig
IRE, and the grace of her movements.
There was no betrayal OF bad health in tier
strange pallor: on the contrary, she sug-
gested the idea OF rare physical strength.
Her quietly respectful manner was, SO 10
say, emphasized by an underlying self
possession which looked capable OF acting
promptly and fearlesSly in the critical
emergencies OF life. Otherwise, the ex-
preston of character in her face was es-
sentially passive. Here was a steady, res
olute young woman possessed OF qualities
which failed TO show themselves on the
surface-whether good qualities or bad
qualities experience alone could deter
mine
Finding il impossible, Judging from a
first impression, To arrive AT any immedi-
ate decision favorable or adverse TO the
stranger. Iris opened the interview with
her customary franEness; leaving the con-
sequences TO follow as they might,
Take a seat. Fanny" she said, land let
Us try, Il we can, to understand each other.
| think you will agree with me that
there must be no concealments between
us. You ought to know that your mis-
tress has told me why she parted with
you. 1t was her duty To tell me the truth,
and il is my duty not to be unjustly pre-
JUDGED against you after what / have
heard. Pray believe me when | say that
! don't know, and don't want to know,
what your temptation may have been"
II beg your pardon, Miss, for inter
rupting YOU. MY temptation was vanity"
Whether she did or did not suffer in
making that confession, ii was impossible
TO discover, Her tones We're quiet. her
manner was unobtrusively respectful, the
pallor of her face was not disturbed by
the slightest change of color. Was the
new maid au ipsensible persou' Iris began
to fear already that she might have made
q mistake.
II don't expect you to enter into partic.
ulars.' she said: IL don't ask you here TO
humiliate Yourself"
when | got your letter, miss, | tried to
consider how | might show myself worthy
OF your kindness" Fanny answered. The
one way l could see was not to let you
think better of me than ] deserve. When
a person like me is told, for the FIRST time.
that her figure makes amends for her face,
she il fattered be the only compliment
My excuse. miss Of have an excuse is n
mean one-I couldn't resist a compliment.
That is all | have TO say
IRIS began 10 alter her opinion. This
was not a young of the ordinary
type. II began 10 look possible, and
more than possible, that she was worthy
of a helping hand. The truth seemed TO
be in her.
III understand you and feel for You"
Having replied ia hose words. Iris wisely
aud delicately changed the snbject. Let
me hear how you are situated at the pres
ent time" she continued. Are your par
ents liying!" .
"My father and mother are dead, miss"
slave o any other relatiyes?"
''They are too poor to be able 10 do any
thing for ME. | have lost my character
and / am left to help myself"
Suppose you fail to find another situa-
tiony' Iris suggested.
Eyes, miss"
"How can you help yourself.
"l can do what other girls have done"
"What d, you meant
.Some of us starve on needlework. Some
take'to the streets. Some end II in the
river. IL there is no other chance tor me,
l think l shall try that way" said the poor
creature, rs quietly a. IL she was speaking
Of some customary prospect that was open
to her. There will be nobody To be sorry
for me-and, as | have read. drowning is
not n very painfnl death"
''You shock me, Fanny! l, for one,
should be sorry Tor you.'
'Thank You, miss"
Aud try to remember" Iris continued,
"that there may be chances in the future
which you don't see yet. You speak of
what you have read, aud | have already
noticed how clearly aud correctly you ex-
,,rcss~ yourself. Iou must have been edu-
Gated. Was it M home or at schtols'
IL was once sent To school," Fanny re-
piled, not quite willingly.
WAS II a private schools"
Eyes"
That short answer warned Iris to DC
careful.
"Recollections of school" she said COOL
humorediy, ''are not the p~leasantest ~.
collections In some Of our lives. Perhaps