Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1895-05-04
The Haunted Chamber.
BY 1.-THE

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Dora turns first hot and then cold.
hrst crimson and then deadly pale. So
IL - all out now, and she is on her
tried. She feels like the veriest crimi-
nal brought TO the bar of Justice. Shall
she promptly deny everything. or-No.
She has had enough Of deceit and in
trigue. Whatever it costs her. she will
now be brave and true, and confess all.
Il do tell her So" she SAYS. i'm a low
tone, but yet firmly. IL never received
a letter from you, and you never kissed
my hand"
Dora" cries Florence. What are
you saying. Have you forgotten all
that is pasty"
Spare me!" entreats Dora hoarsely.
In an hour, if you will come to my
room, will explain all, and you can
then spurn me, and put me outside the
pale OF your friendship if you will, and
as L well deserve. But, for the pres
ent, accept my assurance that no love
passages ever occurred between me and
Sir Adrian, and that ! am fully per.
suaded his heart has been given to You
alone ever since your first meeting.'
Florence. you believe herr ques-
tons Sir Adrian b~eseechingly. at is
all true what she has said. I love you
devotedly. If you will not marry me.
no other woman shall ever be my wife.
Ny beloved, take pity on me"
trust IN him, give yourself freely to
MN without fear" urges Dora, with a
sob. HE is altogether worthy Of YOU"
So saying, she escapes from the room.
and goes up the stairs 70 her own
apartment weeping bitterly.
is there any hope for mer' asks Sir
Adrian OF Florence when they are
again alone. Darling. answer me, do
you-can you love me!"
i have loved you always-always,"
replies Florence in a broken voice.
But ] thought feared-oh, how
much / have suffered"
Never mind that now rejoins Sir
Adrian very tenderly. He has placed
his arm round her, and her head is
resting in happy cOntentment upon his
breast. For the future, my dearest,
you shall know neither fear nor suffer
Ing if l can prevent it,"
They are still murmuring tender
words of love to each other, though a
good half hour has gone by, when a
noise as OF coming footsteps in the con
~servatory attracts their attention, and
presently Captain Ringwood, with his
dIHl EOunu El1tl v lllltIS > hdlSI. GOllltS
slowly into view.
Totally unaware that any one is in
the room besides themselves, they adj.
vance, until, happening TO lift their
eyes, they suddenly become aware that
their host and Miss Delmaine are re-
garding them with mingled glances of
surprise and amusement. Instantly
they start asunder.
1t is-that is-you ~see-Ethel, you
explain" stammers Captain Ringwood
confusedly.
At this both Sir Adrian and Florence
burst out laughing so merrily and SO
heartily that all constraint comes TO
an end and, finally Ethel and Ring
wood, joining i'll the merriment that
has been raised at their expense, vol
unteer a full explanation.
Il think" says Ethel, after awhile,
looking keenly at Florence and her
host, you two look just as guilty as We
do. Don't they. George"
They seem very nearly as happy, at
all events" agrees RingwOod, who,
now that he has confessed TO his hay-
ing been just accepted by Ethel
Villiers "fOr better for worse is
again in his usual gay spirits.
Nearly? you might say quite" says
Sir Adrian laughing. Florence as We
have discovered their secret. | think it
will be only honest of us TO tell them
ours"
Florence bushes and glances rather
shyly at Ethel.
Il know it," cries that young lady,
clapping her hands. You are going to
marry Sir Adrian, Florence, and he is
going to marry you!"
At this they all laugh.
We'll, n of those surmises could
hardly come off without the other" OBJ
serves Ringwood, with a smile. so
your second guess was a pretty saf'
one. IL she is right, old man"-turn,
ing to Sir Adrian-"I congratulate yol
both with all my heart"
yes, she is quite right" respond
Sir Adrian, directing a glance full o
ardent love upon Florence. ~Wha
should | do with the life she restored T.
me unless | devoted it to her ser vice.
"You see, he is marrying me only GU
Of gratitude" says Florence, smiling
archly. but large tears of JOY and glad
ness sparkle in her lovely eyes.