Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1895-01-05
CHAPTER XXI.
VIII TIT
ANNIE's STORY CONCLUDED,

NFi = wv F@'F'
At seven o'clock that same evening, the
two arrived In London, Johnson tOlerably
contented with himself for the neatness and
dispatch with which he had managed the
Journey, little guessing that he had been de-
tected By the keen eyes Of John Rudd. Ar
rived at Euston, q four-wheeler was sum
moned, and the two got into it and were
driven away. Then Johnson turned to An
ME.
MY dear" he said, II may as we'll make
you acquainted with our plans now. The
fact Is, the master won't be able to join you
for a week, and | am going to stop and take
care OF you till he comes. / have taken some
apartments for that week In a hotel; and, IN
order to simplify matters, / have given cur
names as Nj. and Miss Johnson. Therefore,
for the time being. you are my sister, Miss
Annie Johnson. Do you ui.derstand?"
Annie nodded. She quite understood;
though she was beginning to feel alarmed as
well as puzzled at the s~trapgeness OF the
whole proceedings. She was still more
alarmed at the subsequent manuer in which
| johnson conducted himself. True, he had
taken rooms in the hotel, as he had said
private rooms, which they occupied in com
mon. She was apparently allowed to go
and come at will; yet she soon found that
she was as much n prisoner rs II she had
been inclosed by iron bars. Whatever she
she did, johnson knew of: and once or twice,
when she attempted to write to her friends,
he quietly but firmly refused TO allow any
such thing.
Look here" he said, don't you think
this here game Is TO my taste at all, cause
you'd be wrong. I've lone a 4 oodish many
ls.Nu. H., ,.,. tt..A I,t x,nF~ n.,a, All
girls, and keepin' 'em Gagged up like birds,
amt one OF 'em; however, | gave my word
to young Redruth as I'd keep We square till
he came, and Pm agoin' to keep my word;
but precious glad l shall be when these six
days are over"
In due time the six days came to an end.
and Annie received from Johnson the glad
intelligence that on the afternoon OF the sixth
day her lover would be with her. Tremb-
ling with excitement and joy, she o5eyed her
woman's instinct, and FASTENED To make her
self look her very best. She arrayed herself
in the pretty gray dress which she had
brought with her from her home, and put
some flowers at her throat; so that when, a
few hours later, young Redruth arrived, he
clasped her to him again II again, and,
looking into her tear.dlmmed eyes, said be
had never seen her looking SO pretty In oil
her life.
"And You will never go away from me
again" said Annie, as she clung, sobbing, to
him; you will always stay with C
always, my darling"
"And w~e-shall-be married."
'sThis very night. Though l have been
away, l have not been unmindful OF my
duty to you, my pet. l have arranged for
..-n I...n -. 1900. ~.o
we will live. We will go straight from here
after dinner, and get the ceremony over. 1t
will be "A quiet marriage, and, to YOU, a
strange one, l fear. Ii will not be solemn
lied In q church, with all the brightness and
beauty that should have surrounded my
darling. We shall go before a registrar and
be married quietly-thls is another sacrifice
which my love demands"
But this was no sacrifice to Annie 80 long
as she was married, and knew her love to be
10 sin-that was all she asked; so she cried
q little on his shoulder; but 1t was TO, JOY,
not sorrow.
Everything seemed changed now the
young master had come. A charming little
dinner was ordered and served In the hand
some sittlng-room, which during the past
week had been occupied by johnson and
Annie. The little party Of three sat down
to it--Redruth making the most convlvlal Of
hosts; after the dinner was over, johnson
took his leave; and the lovers were alone.
There was nc time just then Tor billing and
cooling, IL anything was to be done 1t must
be done quickly. for the day was wellnigh
spent. George told Annie TO get on her bon
net and cloak she did SO, and the two got
into a hanson and We're driven away.
The house which lie had taken for her,
and to which he conducted her Immediately
after the ceremony, was situated In a Lon
don suburb. 1t was an elegant mansion,
furnished and fitted In q style which com
pletely dazzled poor Annie. But In those
early days Of their union he certainly loved
her as much as 1t was In his power to love;
and Annie was happy. Besides he was al
ways with her; during the day they drove
together, and In the evening they went to
the theater or opera-Annie clad In silk and
satIns like some great lady Of the land. But
things could not be expected to go on 50 for
ever; and after a while, Redruth began to
leave her; for short periods at first, and aft
erward for longer-and his manner at first
% ardent and overlooking, gradually cooled.
At first, Annie was heartbroken. and dur
ing his absences cried bitterly In the secrecy
of her own room. Then she brought reason
to her aid, and acknowledged to herself that
It was the lot OF every happy bride to rass
through the experience which was coming
TO her. After a man had become a husband,
II was impossible for him 70 remain a lover
at least, abe had been told that was the com-
belief. SO she must try TO be content.
But at times, try rs she would, she could not
help grieving. Thus II was that George Red
ruth found her very sad one evening, when
be returned 10 her after an absence OF several