Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1895-03-09

"Ah!' exclaims Dora, who now knows
all she had wanted to know.
But you must not tell me you have
no dances le:t for me-" SAYS Adrian
gayly. Come, let me see your card"
He looks at it, and finds il indeed full.
Il am Ri unfortunate" he adds.
II think" says Dora. with the pref
tiest hesitation, "if- you are sure it
would not be an unkind thing to do, I
could scratch out this name"-pointing
to her partners for the coming dance.
II am not sure at ALL responds Sir
Adrian. laughing. Il am positive it
will be awfully unkind Of you to de-
priye any fellow of your society: but be
unkind, and scratch him out for my
sake"
lie speaks lightly. but her heart beats
high with hope.
For your sake" she repeats softly
drawing her pencil across the name
written on her programme and substi-
tiiting his.
"Bu. you will give me more than this
n dance?' queries Adrian. rs there
nobody else you can condemn to mis-
cry out Of all that list"
you are Unsuitable she returns.
blnshing and growing confused. But
you shall have ii all your own way.
Here"-giving him her card-"take
what waltzes you will" She waltZes to
perfection. and she knows it.
Then this. and this, and this saws
Adrian, striking out three names on
her card, after which they move away
together and mingle with the other
dancers.
In the meantime. Florence growing
fatigued, or disinclined to dance lon
ger with Dynecourt, stops abruptly
near the door of "A conservatory. and.
leaning against the framework, gaZes
with listless interest at the busy scene
around.
You are tired. viii YOU rest for
awhiley" asks Arthur politely: and. AS
she bends her head in cold consent. he
leads her to Il cushioned seat that is
placed almost opposite to the doorway.
and from which the ballroom and
what Is passing within il are distinctly
visible.
Sinking down amongst the blue-satin
cushions Of the seat he has pointed out
to her, Florence signs softly. and let's
her thoughts run. half sadly. half glad
ly. upon her late interview with sir
Adrian. At least, if he has guessed
her secret. she knows now that he does
not despise her. There is no trace of
contempt in the g~entleness. the tender
ness of his manner. And how Kindly
he has told her of the intended change
in his life. Their paths would lie far
asunder for the future" he had said,
or something tantamount to that. lie
spoke no doubt of his coming marriage.
Then she begins to speculate dreami-
ly upon the sort of woman who would
hn hunnNv nnnttrh 10 10 hfa ~~tFn SIn -
still idly Illuminating ON this point
when her companions voice brings her
back to the present. She had So far
forgotten his existence in her day
dreaming that his words come TO her
like a whisper from some other world,
and occasion her an actual shock.
Your thoughtfulneSS renders me
sad he is saying impressively. 1T
carries you to regions where | can not
follow YOU
To this she makes no reply. regard
ing him only with a calm questioning
glance that might we'll have daunted Il
better man. Ii only nerves him how
ever To ever bolder words.
The journey your thoughts have
~taken-has ii been a pleasant one:" he
asks. smiling.
Il have come here for rest. not for
conversation There is undisguisei
dislike in her tones. Still he is UNI
touched by her scorn. He wen grows
more defiant. as though determined to
let her see that even her aYowed hatred
a not subdue him.
If YOU only knew" he goes on. with
slow meaning. regarding her rs he
speaks with critical admiration. ~how
surprisingly beautiful YOU look to-
night. You would perhaps understand
III a degree the power YOU possess over
your fellow-creatures. In that attitude.
with that slight touch of scorn upon
your lips, you seem a meet partner for
a monarch
She laughs a low contemptuous
laugh, that even makes his blood run
holly in his veins.
And yet You have the boldness to
offer Yourself as an aspirant to my
favor" she says. In truth, sir. YOU
value yourself highly
Love will find the wav,' he quotes
quickly, though plainly Disconnected by
her merriment. And in time | trust |
shall have my reward"
in time, | trust Won will" She re-
turns. III a tom impossible 10 miscon-
strue.
At this point he deems it wise to
htNhSt IN NNhbJ'AN- ailt. bN ht mats
rather lamely III his conversation. at "a
loss 10 find some topic that may III
terest her or advance his cause. Sir Adj
rian and Dora pass by the door of the
conservatory.
Sir Adrian is smiling gayly at some
little speech of DOra'S, and Dora is
looking up at him with a bright express
sion III her blue eyes that tells of the
happiness she feels.
"Ah. ear not help thinking Adrian
is doing very wisely observes Arthur
Dynecourt. some evil genius at his ell
bow urging him to lie.
"Doing-whaty' asks his companion,
reused suddenly into full life and in
terest.
You pretend ignorance. no Doubt
smiling. but one can see. Adrian's
marriage with Mrs. Talbot has been
talked about for some time amongst
his intimates."
A clasp like ice seems To seize upon
Miss Delmaine's heart as these words
drop from his lips. She restraints her
emotion bravely. but his lynx-eye reads
her through and through.
They seem to be more together to-
night than is even usual with them"
goes on Arthur blandly. Before you
honored the room with your presence,
he had danced twice with her, and now
again. II is very marked, his attention
tonight"
As n matter of fact Adrian had not
danced with Mrs. Talbot all the even
ing until now, but Florence. not hay
ing been present at the opening of the
ball, is not III Il position TO refute this.
as he well knows.
IF there is anything in her friend
ship with Sir Adrian. l feel ure Dora
would have told me of it," she says
slowly, and with difficulty.
And she HASN'T" asks Arthur with
So much surprise and incredulity IN his
manner as goes far TO convince her
that there is some truth in his state
ment. We'll. WE'LL he adds, o "a
not blame her. She would doubtless be
sure OF his affection before speaking
even to her dearest friend"
Florence winces, and sinks back up
on the seat as though unable TO sus-
tain an upright position any longer.
Every word OF his is as gal! and worm
wood to her, each sentence "a reminder
"a reproach. Only the other day this
man now beside her had accused her
of making sure of Sir .Adrian's affec-
tion before she had any right so to do.
Her proud spirit shrinks beneath the
cruel taunt he hurts at her.
You look unusually done up he
goes on, in q tone of assumed commits
1000 - A.