Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1895-06-15

a friend in the next county: and 70 was
shrewdly guessed that a young lady who
was STAYING in the house was tie attra.-
ton which had kept him so long away.
Anyhow. he means to come back to-
morrow" Mrs. Lewson said. 81 wish he
would think better Of IL, and make his
escape TO England while he has the chance.
II the savages in these parts must shoot
somebody, | am here-an old woman that
can't last much longer. Let them shoot
me-"
Iris asked If Arthur's safety was assured
in the next county, and in the house OF his
friend.
~ can't say, Miss: I nave never been to
the house. He is in danger IL he persists
In coming back to the farm. There are
| chances OF shooting him all along his road
home. Oh. yes; he knows ii, poor dear,
AS well as | do. But, there!-men like
| him are such perverse creatures. He
takes his rides just as usual. No, he won't
| listen TO an old woman like me: and, a.
for friends to advise him, the only one OF
them that has darkened our doors is a
| scamp who had better have kept away
You NAV have heard tell OF him. The old
| Earl, his wicked father, used TO be called
by a bad anne. And the wild young lord
Is hts fathers true son"
Not Lord Harry" Iris exclaimed.
The outbreak OF agitation in her tone
| and manner was silently noticed by her
maid. The housekeeper did not attempt
to conceal the impression that had been
| produced upon her. II hope you don't
know such a vagabond as thatf" she said
very seriously. Perhaps you are thinking
of his brother-the eldest soma respecta-
BILE man. as | have been told"
Miss Henley passed over these questions
without notice. Urged by the interest In
her lover. which was now more than ever
an interest be- Ond her control, she said:
"Is Lord Harry in danger. on account OF
his friend;'
"He has nothing to fear from the
wretches who infest our part Of the coun-
try" Mrs. Lewson replied. Report says
he's one OF themselves. The police-there's
what his young lord ship has to be afraid
Of, IL all's true that is said about him.
Anyhow. when he paid his visit TO my
master, he came secretly like a thief in
the night. Aud I heard Mr.. Arthur, while
they were together here in the parlor, loud
In blaming him for something that he had
done. No more, Miss, of Lord Harry l
have. something particular to say to you.
Suppose ] promise TO make you comfort
able-will you please wait here till to-mor-
row, and see Mr.. Arthur and speak to him.
II there's a person living who can persuade
him to take better care of himself, l do
believe Il will be you"
Iris readily consented to wait for Arthur
Mountjoy's return. Left together. while
Mrs. Lewson was attending to her domes-
tic duties, the mistress noticed an APP
pearance Of preoccupation in the aid
face.
Are you beginning to wish. Rhoda,"
she said, that ! had not brought you 10
this strange place, among these wild peo-
pley'
rhe maid was a quiet, amiable girl. eyi-
dently In delicate health. She smiled
family. ~ was thinking, Miss, of another
nobleman beaides the one Mrs, Lewson
mentioned just now, who seems to have
led u reckless life. II was printed In a
newspaper that ! read before we left Lon
don"
Was his name m~entioneds" Iris asked.
No. miss; | suppose they were afraid OF
giving offence. lie tried so many strange
wa s Of getting a l%iving-it was almost
like reading q s~tory-b0ok."
The suppression OF the name suggested
q suspicion from which Iris recoiled. Was
it possible that her maid could be ignor-
anti aiiuding to Lord Harry.
do You remember this hero's adven-
tures" she said.
II can try; miss, II you wish to hear
The newspaper narrative appeared to
have. produced a vivid impression on
Rhoda,s mind. Making allowance for
natural hesitations aud mistakes, and
difficulties in expressing herself CORRECTLY.
she repeated with a singularly clear re-
collection the substance OF what she had
read.