Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1896-08-22
THE
OF DORIAN GRAY
ny OSCAR WILDE.

"Wnat a russ people make about hdelityW
nurmured Lord Henry. "And, after all, il
= purely a question for physiology. 1t has
pothing to do with our own will. 1t is
sither an unfortunate accident, or an un-
pleasant result of temperament. Young
men want TO be faithful, and are not; old
men want 10 be faithless, and can not; that
3 all one can say"
"Don't go TO the theater tonight, Dorian"
,aid Hallward. stop and dine with me-"
al can't, really"
"Whyl'
because I have promised Lord Henry to
go with him."
'He won't like you better for keeping your
promises. He always breaks his own. l
oeg you not to CO."
Dorian Gray laughed and shook his head.
~ cntreat you"
The lad hesitated. and looked over at Lord
Henry, who was watching them from the
tea-table with an amusing smile.
az must go, Basil, " he answered.
every WELL" said Hallward; and he
walked over and laid his cup on tho tray.
ut is rather late. and, as you have to dress,
sou had better lose no time. Goodbye,
Harry goodbye, Dorian. Come and see me
soon. Come tomorrow"
Certainly
"You won't forgctl"
"No, of course not"
'And-Harryl"
eyes, Basil"
Remember what I asked you, when IL the
garden this morning"
81 have forgotten it,"
Il trust you"
az wish | could trust myself" said Lord
Henry, laughing. ''Come, Mr.. Gray, my
hanson Is outside, and ! can drop you al
your own place. Goodbye, Basil. IL has
been a most interesting afternoon"
As the door closed behind them, Hallward
flung himself down on a sofa, and "a look oil
pain came into his face.
CHAPTER III.
One afternoon "a month later, Dorian Gray
Gas reclining in a luxurious armchair, in
the library of Lord Henry's house in CurZon
Street. 1t was, in its way. u very charming
room, with its high p~anelod wainscoting OF
olive-stained oak, its crcam-colored frieze
and ceiling of raised plaster-work, and its
brick-dust felt carpet strewn with long
fringed silk Persian rugs On q tiny satin
wood table stood a statuette by Clodion, and
beside it lay a o of Lies Cent Nouvelles,'
bound for Margaret of Valois by Clovis
Eve, and powdered with gilt daisies that the
queen had selected for her device. Some
large blue china jars, filled with parrot
tulips, were ranged on the mantel-shelf, and
through the small loaded panes OF the win
dow streamed the apricot-colored light OF o
m day in London.
Lord Henry had not come in yet. He was
always late on principle, his principle being
that punctuality is the thief of time. So the
lad was looking rather sulky, as with list.
less fingers he turned over the pages of an
| deliberately illustrated edition of "Manon
Lescaut" that he had found in ono of the
bookcases. The formal monotonous tick
ing Of tho Louis Quatorzo clock annoyed
him. Once or twice he thought of going
away
At last he heard a light step outside, and
the door opened. "IIow late you arc,
Harry !" he murmured.
. ~ am afraid it is not Harry, Mr.. Gray
said a woman's voice.
He glanced quickly round, and rose TO his
feet. II beg pardon. l thought"
you thought it was my husband. Ii is
only his wife. You must let me introduce
myself. ! know you quito we'll by YOU
photographs. l think my husband has sgot
twcnty-seven of them"
mot twenty-seven, Lady Henryl"
"Well, twenty-siX, then. And / saw you
with him the other night at the opera" She
laughed nervously, as she spoke, anC
watched him with her vague forget-me-not
eyes. She was a curious woman, whose
dresses always looked as as If they hac
been designed in n age and put on in 8
tempest. She was always in love with
somebody, and, as he" passion was never re-
turned, she had kept all her illusions. She
tried TO look picturesque, but only sue
ceodod in being untidy. Her name was
Victoria, and she had "a perfect mania fol
going TO church.
THAT was at 'Lohengrin,' Lady Henry, ]
Think"
Yes; it was at dear 'Lohengrin.' I like
Wagner's music better than any other
music, 1t is so loud that one can talk the
whole time, without people hearing what
ono says. That is a great advantage; dom,
you think so, Mr.. Gray?"
The same nervous ~staccato laugh broke
from her thin lips, and her fingers began tr
play with a long paper-knife.
Dorian smiled and shook his head. 81 am
afraid don't think so, Lady Henry. I
never talk during music-at least durino
tN'N ''''N' - inv hNai IL muSlt. III lq
ones duty to drown it by conversation
"Ah! that is one of Harry's views. isn't
IL Mr., Grayf But you must not think ]
don't Ike good music. ] adore it, but | am
AFRAID OF 1t. IL makes ne too romantic.
have simply worshiped pianists-two nj 9
time sometimes. don't know what IL Is
about them. Perhaps it is that they ara
foreigners. They all are, aren't theyl Eyep
those that arc born in England become for.
eigners after a time don't theys 1t is SC
clever OF them, and such a compliment to
ART. Makes 1t quite cosmopolitan, doesn't
itf You have never been to any of nv
parties, have you. Mr.. Grays You must
come. can't afford orchids, hut i spare nc
expense in foreigners. They make ones
rooms look so picturesque. But here Is
Harry Harry, l came in to look for Won n
ask you Something forgot what It was
and l found Mr.. Gray here. We have had
such a pleasant chat about music. We have
quite tho same views. No; / think our
views are quite different. But no has been
most pleasant. / am so glad I've seen him. ~
Il am charmed, my love, quite charmed"
said Lord Henry, elevating his dark
crescent-shaped eyebrows and looking at
them both with an amused smile. $50
sorry | am late, Dorian. l went to look at
a piece of old brocade in Wardour Street,
and had to bargain for hours for it. Nova
days people know the price of everything,
and the value Of nothing
u am afraid / must be going" exclaimed
Lady Henry, after an awkward silence.
with her silly sudden laugh. 81 have
promised to drive with the duchess. Good
bye, MIR. Gray. Goodbye, Harry. You are
dining out supposed So am ]. Perhaps l
shall see you at Lady Thornbury's."
II dare say, my dear" said Lord Henry,
shutting the door behind her, as she fitted
,out of the room, looking like a bird LOFT
disc that had been out in the rain, and leay-
ing a faint odor Of patchouli behind her.
Then he shook hands with Dorian GRAY.
lighted a cigarette, and flung himself down
on the sofa.
Never marry a woman with straw
,colored hair, Dorian" he said, after a few
,puffs.
"Why, Harry2"
because they are sentimental"