Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1896-12-12
u. The Brute.

lat law, tlt Iltih NOlupltAlOl. TIC nuIu out
eyes, the scanty yellow hair, the smile Will
no meaning in it, the tremendous neck anC
shoulders, the mighty fists and feet. which
are seen in complete combination in England
only. Men of this breed possess a neryou.
system without being aware of il; suffer af
Fiction without feeling it: exercise courag,
without a sense of danger; marry without
love; eat and drink without limit; and sinh
(big as they are) when disease attacks them
without an effort TO live.
Mrs. Westerfield released her guests bull
neck at the word of command. 1t was i'm
possible not TO submit 10 him-he was Sc
brutal. Impossible not TO admire him-he
was so big.
"haye you no love left for me?" was all
she ventured 10 say.
He took the remonStrance gOod-humOredly.
"Love?' he repeated. Come! | like that
after throwing me over for a man with q
handle to his name. Which am | to call you;
Mrs? or My Lady,
"Call me your own. What is there to laugh
at Jenny? You used to be fond OF me; YOU
would never have gone to America when |
married Westerfield if | hadn't been dear to
you. Oh, If I'm sure of anything I'm sure of
that! You wouldn't bear malice, dear, il
you only knew how cruelty | have been dis
appointed"
He suddenly showed AN interest in what
she was saying; the brute became CHEEKY
and confidential. 80 he made you a bad
husband, did he? Up with his fist and
Knocked you down, | dare say, if the truth
was KNOWN
You're all in the wrong, dear. He would
have been a good husband if had cared
about him. never cared about anybody but
you. 1t wasn't Westertield who tempted me
TO say yes"
That's a lie
mo, indeed il isn't
"Then why the devil did You marry him?"
when j married him, Jenny. there was
a prospect-oh, how could | resist IL? Think
OF being one Of the lie Basque! Held in
honor, TO the end of my life by that noble
family, whether my husband lived or died ~
To the barman'S ears. this sounded like
sheer nonsense. His experience in the pub
lie house suggested an explanation. II say,
my girl, have you been drinking?'
Mrs. Westerteld'S first impulse led her to
rise and point Indignantly to the door. He
had only to look at her-and she sat down
again a tanned woman. you don't under
stand how the chance tempted me-" she an
swered, gently.
what chance do you mean"
"The chance, dear, of being a lords moth
er."
He was still puzzled, but he lowered his
tone. The true-boln Briton bowed by in
stinct before the woman who mad tilted him
when she presented herself in the character
OF a lords mother. "IlOw do YOU make that
out. Mariar' he asked, politely.
She drew her chair nearer to him wheA he
called her by her Christian name for the first
time.
when Westerield was counting me-" she
said, his brother any lOrd) was a bachelor.
A lady-if II can call slcl: a creature a
lady was living under his protection. He
told Westerfield he was very fond of her,
and he hated the idea of getting married. If
yOur wife's first child turns out to be a son.
he said, there is an heir to the title and es-
tateS, and ! may 20 or as | am now We
were married a month aiterward, and when
my first child waS born it was "A girl. leave
you to judge what the disappointment was!
My lord persuaded, as | suspect, 10y the wo-
man | mentioned just now ran the risk of
waiting another year, and a year afterward,
rather than be married. Through all that
time | had no other child or prospect of q
child. His lordship was fairly driven into
taking a wife. All, how | hated her! Their
first child wasa bOy-a big, bouncing, healthy
brute OF a boy! And six months aiterward
my poor little fellow was born. Only think
of it! And tell me, Jenny, don't | deserve
to be a happy woman after suffering such a
dreadful disappointment as that? Is it true
that you're going back to American
Quite true"
'"Take me back with you
"With a couple of childreny'
mo. Only with one. can dispose OF the
other in England. Wait a little before you
say nc. dc you want money!"
"You couldn't help Inc, If | did"
marry me, and ! can help you to a fort,
une."
He eyed her attentiyely and saw that she
was in earnest. What do you call a fort
une" he asked.
Five thousand pounds" she answered.
His eyes opened; his mouth opened; he
scratched his head. Even his impenetrable
nature proved to be capable of receiving a
shock. Five thousand pounds! He asked
family for a drop of brandy"
She had a bottle of brandy ready for him.
"You look quite overcome" she said.
He was too deeply interested in the restOra-
tive influence of the brandy to take any no
tice of this remark. When he had recovered
himself he was not disposed to believe in the
5000. where's the proof of it," he said
sternly.
She produced her husbands letter. "Did
you read the trial Of Westerield for casting
away his shipy.' she asked.
II heard of it."
twill you look at this letter."
as it long"
"Yes."
'Then suppose you read ii to me-"
He listened with the closest attention while
she read. The question of stealing the dia.
monds 0f they could only be found did not
trouble either of them. Ii was a settled ques-
ton, by tacit consent, on both sides. But the
value in money of the precious stones sug-
gested a doubt that still weighed OH his mind.
Show do you know they're worth f5,o00%'
he inquired.
"You dear old stupid! Doesn't Wester-
field himself say so in his letter.?
Read that bit again."
She read ii again: AFTER the two calami-
ties of the loss of the ship, anu the disap-
pearance of the diamonds-the last being
valued at e5,00O-l returned to England"
Satisfied so far, he wanted TO look at the
cipher next. She handed it to him with a
stipulation, "YOurs, Jenny, on the day
when you marry me-"
He put the slip of paper into his pocket.
snow, I've got it," he said, suppose | keep
it?"
A woman who has been harmaid at q pub
lie house Is q woman not easily found ut the
end of her resources. in that case,'' she
CURLY remarked, II should call in the police,
and then telegraph to my husbands employ
ers in Liverpool"
He handed the cipher back. II was jok.
ing" he said.
5 was l." she answered.
They looked at each other. They were
made for each other-and they both felt 1t.
At the same time James kept his own inter
ests steadily in view. He stated the obvious
objection to the cipher. Experts had already
tried to interpret the signs, and had failed.
quite true" she added, ''but other people
may succeed"
"H0w are you to find them?'
leave me to try. Will you give me a fort
night from to-dayg"
"All right. Anything elseg'
Zone thing more. Get the marriage license
at once"