Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1895-01-05
|THE MASTER OF The MINE
ny ROBERT BUCHANAN.


"If my mother had seen it, he said, 'and
questioned me about 1t, IL would have been
awkward. What do you want, Annie? 1
thought everything was settled last night"
And so Ii was" returned Annie, begin
ming TO tremble at her own boldness. but
| wanted TO see you tonight TO say that !
have changed my mind"
Changed your mind; what the deuce do
you mean?'
Just this, sir" continued Annie, who
grew bolder as she went on. II am sure
that what we are going TO do is not right, and
can never bring happiness to any soul; let US
just wait as we are, and be as we are till You
can marry me openly, and take me to your
home"
You are a little fool" returned Redruth,
impatiently; "but you will find I am not to be
befooled. III you wish to break with me, say
so; and we Will not see each other after to-
nightf'
IL would have been well for poor Annie II
she could have taken him at his word; but,
alas IL was too late. lie had made her love
him so ~passionately, that sooner than lose
him altogether, sue felt she would make any
sacrifice on earth.
Therefore she chung helplessly to him, Sob
bling bitterly.
mo, do not go from mel cannot bear to
lose you!'
He saw he had gained his point, aud grew
soft again. He laid her head on his shoulder.
stroked her tear-stained cheek, and kissed
her.
"Oh, Annie, Annie" he said, you are a
silly little thing. When YOU talk rs you did
Just now, you make me think that you don't
care for me at all. and that your only reason
Nh wishing to marry me Is the temptation 10
fill the position offer you as my wife. Ny
dear, IL did not love you so deyotedly |
should doubt your love. They say to love Is
10 have Implicit faith you have no faith in
metz
'Oh. yes, ] hayc:'
''Then why not show ii? Come, tell me
thatl Why hesitate and cry ms II I am about
10 bring you to some dire distress. Yet, aft
or oil, what have | asked YOU to do? Only
what hundreds of girls have done before you
to be married secretly instead OF openly, TO
conceal the fact Of our marriage for a few
weeks only, and then 10 cone back with me,
my honored wife, to share my home"
Yes; the story was specious enough; lit
tie wonder indeed that Annie was bef O0led,
seeing that she loved him so. Once more she
promised implicit obedience to all his wishes,
and left him.
II was the last night she was 10 spend in
the cottage, and during that night she never
closed her eyes; but she lay awake, watch
Ing the mOonbearns as they crept In at the
window, thinking OF all that was past and
what might possibly lie before he:. II
George liedmth had spoken fairly-and
why, she asked herself, should she doubt
him, she had really very little 10 dread. II
her father and mother suffered pain at her
sudden flight, 1t would be for such a very
little while: and afterward the great Joy
which her return would bring them would
make amends for oil. Still, Annie was not
satisfied; her training had been rigid, aud
now her conscience troubled her sorely; but
II was too late 10 repent; since that interview
of the night before she felt she dare not dis
obey her lover.
She rose early and came out OF her bed
room while my uncle and | wevc preparing
20 pay our early visit 10 the mine. We were
both astOnished 30 see her up, but she said,
as an excuse for her excessive paleneSs. that
she had q bad headache and could not rest
In bed.
Ny uncle took her face between his hands
and kissed It fOndly, murmuring:
This won't do, we maun ha' roses in these
cheeks o. yourn. What would | do wi'out
my little lass.'
Annie stiaed q sob, and turned away with
her eyes fall OF tears. She put on her hat
and walked with us half tho way TO the mine
"a thing she had never lone before. She
held my uncle's hand all the way, | remem-
Der, and asked him to kiss her VIXEN she de-
cided TO 90 back, and make things ready for
the day at home.
We got home rather earlier than usual that
evening. and when We reached the cottage
we found Annie busy setting out the things
for tea. IL had been baking-day, and II seenr-
ed ms II she had been assisting at the work,
for her cheeks were flushed now, and all her
listless fearful manner of the morning had
entirely disappeared. | could not help no.
ticlng that her hands trembled, that she
seemed excessively nervous, and was strange
ly eager 70 anticipate my unclc's every wish.
My aunt rebukcd her once or .w!ce for what
she termed her llght-headedness, but Annie
only put her arms round her neck and kissed
her.
Don't scold, mother, don't scold," she
said, 'you wouldn't like it II I wasn't herei'
We sat up pretty late that night, and An
ME was among the last 10 retire. When nv
uncle rose to go 10 bed, Annie kissed him
several times, and my aunt rebuked her
again for her foolishness. Then Annie kiss
ed her again and again.
you don't mean half what you say, moth
err" she murmured. you know you love
mev'
When W. had all retired, and Annie found
herself In her room alone, she sat down and
cried very bitterly. Her last adieus had been
said, the time for her departure was near at
hand, and all her spirit seemed going. Again
she hesitated; and had she been left to her.
self that night, that fatal step would never
have been taken.
Suddenly she started, q faint whistle
reached her from without. Hurrledly drying
her eyes, she opened tie window. There
was George Redruth standing just outside.
Are you ready, dearest?" he whispered.
"Yesv' she replied.
els there any one about?@'
"No. they are all in bed; / think they must
be asleep. 1t is getting late, isn't itg'
at Is close ON midnight. Give me out
what things you are going to take; l hope 1t
isn't much, and then come round and Join
me at the door"
Annie had collected a few necessarles, and
they were made up into a small parcel. She
lifted it, and as she did so her tears began to
flow afresh. With the parcel in her hands,
she returned to the window.
sGeorgew
"Yes, darllng?"
"Are you sure I an doing right? Are you
sure you will bring me back very soon, SO
that 1 do not cause them much painf'
Haven't sworn II? and yet you doubt
me. III you are going to be foolish again,
you will drive me from you; and Heaven
knows what the consequences may be.
Come, we have no time to lose; be brave, IL
Is your only chance"
"Very well, l will trust you" she said, as
she handed the little packet to him, and
closed the window. 1t was the work OF q
moment TO clothe herself I'm her thickest
cloak, and darkest, plainest bonnet; then she
hurriedly disarrangcd the bed, and left the
room. She was trembling violently, and
crying like a child. She paused at the door
OF the room where her mother and father
were sleeping; and, kneeling there, prayed
to God to forgive her for what she was about
to do. Even then. she paused and hung
back; but George Rsdruth, growing impa-
tient, entered the kitchen and took her forci-
bly, away.
Ii was midnight, and pitch dark there was
moi a soul abroad. Holding the parcel with
one hand, and clutching the girl firmly with
the other, George Redruth hurried her on.
Where they went she could not tell, but they
soon came upon a dog-cart and a high-step-
ping bay. Annie learned afterward that