Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1896-06-13
S. BOB.
BY JOHN STRANGE WINTER.

B1 JOl1N SIiSA - WIN En-
at In rather early 10 20 back, don't you
think. dearf" she said 10 Mrs. Trafford-
OBJ, yesl they were on the most affection
ate terms, these two-"and | wanted TO
make one or two calls. I wish you would
90 with me, | detest going TO places alone,
l always feel such a lost little person, as
IL somebody might sit upon me by mis-
take"
"Oh, yes, I will go with pleasure unless
1t is to anyone ! don't know Mrs. Traf-
ford replied. eve had better call for my
things later, hadn't WEI"
"Yes, we can 10 that easily. I want to
40 to the Deancry and 10 Riverclife.
You know the Riverclife people, don't
your
1.-THE Leith- Warminsters-oh, yes" Mrs.
Trafford replied. They are rather nice
people, don't you Think"
Yes, | thought SOL called there some
time ago but they were away from home.
Then Mrs. Leith- Warminster called when
we were Ia oyn last time, so I never saw
her until one day last week when / met
her at the Palace. thought her n charm
Ing woman. Bob says she rides wonder
fuIly we'll"
III wonder what made them come TO
Blankhampton," said Mrs. Trafford,
thoughtfully.
Hunting, so she says" answered Mrs.
Bob. We'll then, dear, II you are ready
we will go-it is four o'clock now and ]
want 10 be back ia fair time"
Mrs. Trafford being entirely ready, the
two ladies went down TO the carriage, each
stopping for a moment before the glass in
the hall TO make sure that her veil was
straight and becomingly fixed and that
she was In proper trim for the important
function OF making calls.
The admirable Cox was on the watch
and went down the steps before them Ia
open the carriage door, and then Mrs.
Trafford got I'm with a vague little feeling
that such a carriage ought TO be her WI
and that, II it was, lady and carriage
would admirably match one another.
During her recent visit 10 Little Street
Hall, Mrs. Trafford had had a somewhat
different experience OF what one may call
carriage comfort. The two old ladies',
who dispensed lavish hospitality at that
large and rambling mansion, had been
and still were entertaining an unusually
large party at the time that Mrs. TRAIT
tord's visit began. II happened that four
or Ave guests were departing by @ train
leaving Great Street Station 1--we miles
from Little Street Village aud HalD about
aquarter Of nm hour before the arrival Of
the train which was to bring Mrs. Trnfford
aud three Other visitors with presumably
two maids and a pile Of luggage.
1T will be best to send the omnibus,
Laviuis," said Miss T~heodosia Stanton
to her ten years junior sister, who was
sixty-two and still very skittish for her
years.
"Yes-then there will be no ~crowding."
answered Lavinia, who loved gay apparel
and always went about herself with sew
sral immense dress-baskets.
SO the bus WAS sent Off aud the several
visitors were put safely into the train by
the careful footman who usually did. all
that kind Of work. Bat by some uufor-
tunate mischance, the three visitors who
we're TO have come by the same train AS
Mrs. Tratford did not turn up, having
missed It By two minutes. 50 Mrs. Trat-
ford, who had no maid. was conducted
In state 10 the huge ark, which could |
think only have found a rival in all this
sea grit Kingdom, ia one coach house,
that OF John, Lord Bishop of B~lankhamp-
ton.
Mrs. Trafford felt just what she looked,
ike a lonely little mouse sitting wistfully
In the corner Of n huge trap, while on the
roof above her one modest trunk danced
about like q parched pea on a f~ire-shovel.
No, Mrs. TrafrOrd did not appreciate the
grandeur OF family arks. She liked the
United luxury OF a neat little single
brougham OF Botwood.
Wen, In due course Mrs. TratIord and 1
Mrs Bob arrival ..ih~r.-~~e-.-s.s, S"s'
they found that lear Lady Margaret was
not at home. The two ladies therefore
handed In a sheaf Of cards aud told the
coachman TO go TO Rlverclife.
IL am not altogether sorry" said Mrs.
Bob, as they turned out OF the Close gates
-"when people are out 1t does get you
through"
Yes" said Mrs. Trafford, with a laugh.
The lady OF Riverclifre. Mrs. Leith-
Warminster, vas not out aud our friends
were ushered in through a very snowy
hall into a very snowy dr~awing-room.
The lady Of the house was not there but
she came to them in two minutes, n very
tall woman with good black eyes, a non
descript sort of face. with "a rather spare
long WASTED figure clad in a light gray
tailor-gowD.
II am so charmed to see you" she said
TO Mrs. Bob, "and Mrs. Trafford, too.
How good OF you to COME am a prisoner
In the house. Oh! a chill. | feel shiyeriug
aud rheumatic aud Jack thought l had
better keep IN. Do let me tell them to put
the horses up for an hour-yes, do, IL will
be quite n charity TO me"
w were going to one or two OF her
Places Mrs. Bob answered. hesitatingly,
aud looking at Mrs. Trafford.
"Oh! just as you like, my dear, SO far as
| am concerned" said Mrs. TraIford, in
answerto the look.
Then they may put up for an hour"
Mrs. Bob said with Il laugh; Il dare say
my coachman won't be sorry"
So for an hour they remained, and the
ladies took their fur wraps OF aud the
three settled down in the sumptuous little
oriental boudoir which was just out Of the
1r~awing-room. Not quite alone, no.. for
before they had had quite uncomfortable
chat, as Mrs. Leith- Warminster remark.
ed. two officers OF the 43rd came in aud
presently were followed by another man,
who was \. ID. c. to the General command
Ing the district.
quite u pleasant little afternoon" said
Mrs. Trafford, as they drove away from
Rivercliffe. she is a very nice pleasant
woman, don't you think"
''Oh! a charming creature said Mrs.
Bob. And he Is nice. too. They mustbe
rich, don't you think"
"Oh, I believe immensely rich. She was
a Miss Rice, of Neutrality-suspicious.
ing people"
"Ah, yes! | should quite think So" said
Mrs. Bob. refiectively.
They called at No. 7 for Mrs. Trafford's
'things' and then went Straight of to
Brentwood, only stopping at the big book
sellers in the High Street for Mrs. Bob to
get out and select a couple Of novels from
the circulating library there. But she
stopped aud had a little chat with a man
who was buying some photographs ia the
outer shop aud professed herself very glad
to see him.
Come out and dine with us to night,
Major vane." she said-'do. Bob will ba
so pleased to see you, and we have little
Mrs. Trafford staying with u.s."
"Why. thank you, Mrs. Bob" said Ma
for Vane, who was OF u very social TEN.
permanent, and would rather ut any time
dine anywhere than at the mess Of the
4srd, sits awfully kind Of you. I'd like 1t
immensely. What timer"
Eight O'Clock" she replied. ''Then we