Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1896-03-14
NJ RS. BOB.
by JOHN STRANGE wINrER

ana then we should have our house to
ourselves"
She laughed rs she spoke aud Mrs.
Trafiord joined in the laugh as If il was
the newest aud most original joke In the
world.
Mr.. Howard, however, did not seem TO
see any Joke Al all but turned his blue
eyes upon his sister very g~ravely. There
Is many a trne word spoken in Jest, my
dear" ne said quietly, land az Jon have
invoked Mrs. Trafford's good offices. ]
hope yon gave me a respectable character.
apart from the fact OF my being a nuisance
to You and Bob
The best Of characters. Mr.. Howard, -
said Mrs. Trafford, smiling.
The little woman got MP then and de-
clared that they really must be going
they had stayed quite an unconseionable
time. had made, ia fact, quite a visitation.
and although thew had promised them
selves to make at least bali a dozen calls
that afternoon they Sould not be able TO
make more than one now.
III IL delightful for us that You have
not managed To go to all the Others" said
Mrs. Markham.
Cannot We persuade YOU 10 leave the
other one alsof' suggested her husband.
"No-resllY. we ought To 20 now" said
Mrs. Trafford, gaily. But II you 20 in
To the Parish on Sunday. won't you come
and see rs when you leaye7 We are al.
always at home on Sundays from five to
seyen-do come"
''Oh, yes, with pleasure said Mrs.
Markham aud rs II she meant IL.
They said good bye then and Mr.. How
ard went out to the door with him, which
they reached Just as a carriage drew up
at the steps. There was y very smart lady
inside il, a lady beautifully dressed aud
fair to look upon, who waved a dainty
hand 10 Mrs. Trafford and expressed much
pleasure at seeing her. How unfortu-
nate that | should be just coming as you
are going" she cried.
"Dear 7 ady Lucifer." said Mrs. Trafford
tenderly, 1T is n pity-but really We have
made such n visitation that"
'0h! Mrs. Trstford, do 20 back again;
my sister will be enchanted" put in Mr..
Howard.
But Mrs. Traffosd vas frm-judicious
little womaui "No, no, Mr.. Howard:
Won't begin by paying your sister such a
poor compliment IA that. No. ] really
must 90 now II You come in 10 the Par
ish on Sunday. do come in and have a cup
of tea" she added, TO Lady Lucifer.
Yes, ! w~ill-thanks." Lady Lucifer an
swered. II shall have some people with
me. but you won't nina, 1 know"
~ shall be charmed" said Mrs. Traf-
ford.
Lady Lucifer betook herself and her
smart garments into the house then and
Mr.. Howard handed the ladies into their
6y.
You will come in on Sunday, them
said Mrs. TrafYord AS he shut the door.
Stephen Howard leaned his arms OF the
side ~ the cab and looked coolly at Mrs,
Traftord with his lazy blue eyes. Its a
long time 10 SUNDAY. Mrs. Trafford," he
remarked.
Mrs. Trafforl laughed and Julia turned
scarlet. Howard's lazy blue eyes turned
10 her face for "A moment. then turned
back to Mrs. Trafford's again.
ut is only four days she answered,
shut il YOU like TO come before that, why
do 50. We shall be very glad TO see you. "
"Will you!' he asked, with a shade
more eagerness in his tone and a shade
less laziness in his eyes. May / come to-
morrow"
Again lac stole a glance at Julia. Julia
looked the other way.
Yes. You may come tomorrow" said
Mrs. T-afford with her own little indul-
gent air,
Thank you'll WILL" said Mr.. Howard
gratefully.
He stepped back from the side OF the
cab then and made a sign to the driver to
| M nn-ani ha otanl arahao1a1 ON tha
.s--s--
peep be among his thick golden curls-a
truly p~ersonable young man, with charm
ing
What a handsome fellow, Julia" said
Mrs. Trafford.
Yes" said Julia, who was in too much
OF "A tumult mentally to be able TO talk
much.
Charming manners, too" Mrs. Traf-
ford went on.
Yes" said Julia.
But these new countries are rapid,
very rapid" said Mrs. Traiford, thought
fully.
Yes" said Julia, finding her voice at
last. But l daresay 1t Is all manner and
probably he is saying just the same to
Lady Lucifer now"
1T seemed TO me he was a little cavalier
TO Lady Lucifer," said her mother, quiet
ly. and l think she noticed it, too"
Then she will try all the harder to
bring him to her feet that she may make
him suffer for IL, f" remarked Julia, rather
acidly.
"Oh, that Is very likely said Mrs.
Trafford; these young married women
who marry men so much older than them
selves seem as IL their greed for admira-
ton is never satisfied. Ii is a pitiable
thing TO live for"
But pleasant enough when you can get
It," laughed Julia. Her mother gave vent
TO her feelings by a little sigh. 1t was a
very small aud feeble sigh, smothered at
it's birth and smuggied away under the
disguise Of a yawn. Oh! II only Julia
were not $3.50 inclined to be tart, to take
a caustic view Of every side Of life. Mrs.
Trafford felt sure that with a little tact
and management this handsome aud
agreeable young man might be brought
into the fold OF matrimony and her ankle
ty about her u remaining flower would
be at an end and she would be free. gay
little widow IN that she was, to HE
herself TO L~ondon-town and take q dear
wee little fiat-perhaps an entresol in Vic
toria Street-and make a delightful cen
fireplace for her three dear children to
meet at and look upon as home. II only
Julla's sharp tongue did not spoil every
thingI
CRATER Iv.-srEPHEy HowARD's PAST.
! DO not hesitate to say that Julia Traf
ford had never passed such u night as the
one which followed her first visit to Mrs
Bob Markham. in all her life. She could
not get stephen Towards lazy blue eyei
aud soft voice with It's sweet Australian
accents out Of her head. She was i'm
pressed With the idea that he was more
than ordinarily attracted by her and ye,
she could not believe IL.
She had no very great opinion of her
self, and a very small and contemplation
one OF her looks. and being very shrewd
aud sensible-like her mother-she could
not believe that things really were As they
seemed. And yet, try - she would, she
could not shut her eyes or her senses to
the truth that this Stephen Howard had
fingered beside her until his brother-sa-
law had come and turned him out, that
he had detained them at tho door just az
long as they would stop I'm spite of the at
fractions of the beautiful Lady Lucifer,
who had but just gone In and might rea.
sonably expect him TO follow her ~ o
rs courtesy to his sisters visitors would