Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1895-06-08

Being Miss Henley's godfather, Sir Giles
was a privileged person. He laid his hairy
hands on her shoulders and kissed her on
either check, After that PREDATORY act OF
endearment he made his inquiries. What
extraordinary combination OF events had
led Iris to leave London and had brought
her to visit him in his clearinghouse at
Ardooni
81 wanted to get away from home" she
answered: "and having nobody TO 90 TO
but my godfather, thought l should like
To see you"
"AloneS" cried Sir Giles.
'No-with my maid to keep me com
pany."
"OnIy your maid, Irisi Surely you have
acquaintance among young ladies like
yonrselff"
"AcquaIntanccs-yes. No friends"
Does our father approve OF what you
have donef'
"Will you grant me afavor, godpapa."
"Yes-if ] can"
Don't insist on my answering yourla last
question"
The faint color that had risen In her
face when she entered the room left IL.
At the same time the expression OF her
mouth altered. The lips closed firmly, re-
veallng that strongest Of all resolutions
which Is founded on "A keen sense OF wrong.
She looked older than her age; what she
might be ten years hence she was now:
Sir Giles understood her. He got up and
took a turn I'm the room. An old habit, or
which he had cured himself with infinite
difficulty when he was made "a Knight,
showed itself again. He put his hands In
You and your father have had anoth-
er quarrel" he said, stopping opposite
Iris.
AZ don't deny It," she replied.
"Who Is to blamef"
She smiled bitterly. THE woman Is al
WAYS to blame"
did your father tell you that"
"My father reminded me hat ! was
twenty-one years old last ~birthday-and
told me that | could do as ! liked. | un-
derstood him, and l left the house"
You will go back again, supposet"
~ don't know"
Sir Giles began pacing the room once
more. His rugged face, telling it's story OF
signs OF disappointment and distress.
Hugh promised to write to me-" he
said, and he has not written. / know
what that means; | know what you have
done to offend your father. Ny nephew
has asked you to marry him for the second
time. And for the second time you have
refused"
Her face softened: its better and young
er aspect revived. Yes" she said, sadly.
and submissIvely; IL have refused him
again"
Sir Giles lost his temper. "What the
devl fs your objection TO Hughr" he burst
out.
MY father said the same thing to me-"
she replied, almost In the same words.
| made him angry when | tried to give
my reason. don't want TO make you an
CRY, too"
lie took no notice of this. Isn't Hugh
q good fellowi' he went on. Isn't he
affectionate and k~indhearted and hOnora-
ble-aye. and a handsome man, too, IL you
come to that?"
Hugh is all that you say. like him:
admire him. | owe TO his Kindness some
Of the happiest days of my sad life, and
] am grateful-oh, with all my heart,
am grateful to Hughp'
III that's true. Iris"
Every word of it is true"
81 say, IL that's true-there's no excuse
for youi | hate perversity In n young wo-
man. Why don't you marry him?"
Try to feel for me-" she said, gently; IL
can't love him."
Her tone said more To the banker than
her words had expressed. The secret sor-
row of her life, which was known 10 her
father, was also known TO Sir Giles.
"Now we have come TO 1t ut last!' he
said. "You can't love my nephew Hugh.