Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1895-03-16
The Haunted Chamber.
DY "rHE DUCHESS

VI
DY "THE DUCHESS
high stake, and fears to risk a throw
lest IL may I've vcntured too soon.
TN. you must not ask too much"
she replies, shaking her blonde head.
"a loyer-nci How can yon he ~ ali.
surd. And yet | think hope"
II see!' interrupts Florence sadly.
Well ] will be as discreet a. you wish:
but ut least. if what | imagine be true.
can congratulate you with all my
heart, because | know-i know yon
will be happy"
Going Owe TO Mrs. Talbot. she laws
her arms round her neck and kisses her
softly. As She does so. "A tear falls
from her eyes upon Dora's cheek.
There IS so much sweetness and ADAM
Comment Of self in his action that DO
IA Tor the moment is touched ty it.
She puts up her hand: and. wiping
away the tear from her cheek as
though il burns her, says lightly
But indeed. my dearest Flo. YOU
must not imagine anything. All is
vague. | hardly know what il is to
which am alluding. 'Trihes light as
air float through my brain, and glad
den me in spite Of my common sense.
which whispers that they mean moth
ing. DO not build castles for me that
may have their existence only cn Es-
pdq1t."
They seem very bright castles" OBJ
serves Florence wistfully.
a bad omen. An thats bright
must fade, sings the poet. And now
TO speak ot yourself. Iou enjoyed
YOURSELF"
"N course mechanically.
".Ah. yes: | was glad to see YOU had
made il up with poor Arthur Dyne-
COURT
How" demands Florence. turning
upon her quickly.
Il SAY YOU dancing with him. dear
est: ! Was vita Sir Adrian at the time.
and from something ne said. | think he
would be rather pleased il Won could
bring Yourself To reward poor Arthur's
long Devotion
Sir Adrian saiG that? He discussed
me with yOu?'
Just IN passing. yon understand.
lie told me too that You were some
what unhappy IN the earlier part of the
evening. and that he had 10 stay "A con-
siderable time with YOU Ia restore YOU
to calmncss. lie is always 50 kind.
dear Adrian"
lie spoke of that demands Flor
ence, III 4 tOncC anguish. IT he had
made her emotion a subject Of common
talk with Mrs. Talbot. all indeed is at
an end between them. even that sweet
visionary offer of friendship he had
made to her. No: she could not sub
nit 10 be- talked about 10y him. and the
woman he loves Oh: the bitter pang
ii costs her To say these words to her
self! That nc now loves Dora seems to
her mind beyond dispute. l. she not
his coniiSlante. the one in whom he
chooses TO repose al. his secret thoughts
and surmiScS:
Dora regards her cousin keenly.
Fiorcnce'S evident agitation makes her
fear that there was more IN that tte-u
,oiC with Sir .hdrian than she had ct
first imagined.
Yes: why should lac not speak OF
it, Dora goes on cUldlN, Il think by
his manner Your want of S~cif-control
shocked him. You should have a
greater command over Yourself. II is
not good form Ia betray ones feelings
to every chance paSser-hv. Yes: |
think Sir Adrian was both surprised
and astonished.'
There was nothing to cause him
either surprise or establishment says
Florence haughtilS: and | couid well
have wished him out Of the way"
Perhaps ! misunderstood HIM" re-
joins Dora artfully. But certainly he
spoke to me of being u~nplcasantly de-
layed by-by impossible people-thoSe
were his very words: and really alto
gether-I may be wrong-I believe he
alluded To you. OF course. | would not
follow the matter up, because. much IL
| like Sir Adrian. could not listen TO
him speaking 80 lightly of YOU"
"Of me-you forget Yourself, Dora"
erect. speaking lightly of me- She
repeats.
Young men are often careless in
their language" explains Dora hur-
riedly. feeling she had gone too far.
"lle meant nothing mkind, you may
be sure
IL am quite Sure'-iirmly.
"Then no harm is done"-smiling
brightly. And now. goodnight. dear
cS.: go to bed instead of sitting there
looking like II ghost in those mystical
moonheams.'
Goodnight" says Florence lcily.
There is something about her that
causes Mrs. Talbot to feel almost
afraid Ia approach and kiss her as
usual.
Want of rest will spoil Your lovely
eyes" adds the widow airily: "and your
complexion. faultless rs il always is.
will not be up to the mark tomorrow.
So sleep, foolish child, ami gather roses
from your slumbers.'
So saving, sic kisses her hand gayly
% the unresponsiye Florence, and trips
lightly from the room.