Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1896-06-06

tf~t - - " w "a hNlba dny
longer
Stephen was baffied and puzzled by oil
this, he had not the ~faintest idea what it
meant, not the smallest suspicion OF all
that was working in his little wife's mind.
Bat he held her In bis arms and soothed
her and petted her like a hurt child. my
dear-my loye-my little wife, don't cry
ike that" he entrested. What did do.
oear' What did / say 70 upset you like
this'''
but julia was now a triie ashamed
well, IL the truth he told. very much
ashamed ~ her outburst, and she gave
him no explanation as she rested her head
against his broad shoulder. Stephen now,
however. was bent upon getting to the
bottom Of the mystery.
You said you were jealous, Just now.
darling he said. but what nre you jeal-
Gus of-not OF me. surely2 You didn't
think the letters were a bind and hat 7
stayed at home 10 hirt with one Of the
other women, did you' Oil you could
not, he added, laughing ut his own sug-
gestioD. You couldn't-it's too ridicu-
lous for words. You didn't think that,
did yOus''
But Julia still had nothing to say, and
instead Of answering she began TO trace
imaginary patterns with her fingers in the
plotting book which was lying open on the
table. Then she began TO follow the lines
OF the work on which he or someone else
had been employed and OF which traces
were left on the plotting paper.
What have you been doing here,
Steve" she asked, MISUNDERSTANDING
a plan for a shooting lodgei'
Stephen Howard pulled the book gently.
yet f%orcibly, from under her hand and
closed il. II want to know what upset
you so, my sweetheart" ne asked. and he
spoke n the tone OF n man who meant to
have his question answered.
"Well, Stevie." said Julia, contritely-
fonas usual the cloud seemed 20 shrink
Wien she was very near n him, 81 was
tired and-and | am an idiot, " she ended,
~ingenuouslv.
"Yes-yes-but what made you jealous"
he asked, a shade impatiently.
II think I am always 4 little jealous of
Minnie" she admitted at last, very IN.
willingly.
Jealous Of Maimie,' he echoed. IN
credulously. why. I never heard of
such athing in my life-never. If II mad
been anyone else, ! could understand IL;
but Mamie, my own s~ister-why, it's pre-
posterous!'
"Yes-but / didn't mean like that at
all" Julia cried.
81 should hope not" he rejoined, quick
ly-then added in the gentlest tone OF Ie-
proacb. II thought you were 50 fond OF
Maimiei'
SO / am" Julia cried, "but-but Steyie.
7 uant In ha avarvtb{nv IN Won -
And so You sre-everything." he an
swered.
"You are quite, quite sure''' she cried.
II am quite sure. - he replied, sturdily.
Everything, " she persisted.
Everything " he rejoined. 'More than
all the world beside, no, more than a mill
ION worlds If I could lave my choice Of
them ALL"
Julia sighed, a sigh full OF contentment
aud love-it was delightful TO her TO be
loved like this, and she let her head rest
against his shoulder again In inefable
bliss and satisfaction. 1t is only because
! love you so" she SAID, that | am Sc
afraid that | nm not quite everything Il
you that | want TO be. / am awfully stu
pid, but l won't be stupid any more
never any more, Steyie.'
Then kiss me" cried Stevie, taking ad.
vantage OF the situation instantly.
And Julia kissed him willingly enough
Then they went down stairs together, anC
Julia was the gayest OF the gay. and Steph
en-. as he watched her, blessed her In hi
heart and thanked Heaven fervently tha'
he had seen and wooed aud won her fOl
his very own.
Nor was he careful TO hide what he felt
~ don't know whether you noticed il
z. Marky, Said Mrs. oxford TO her husband
whist they were dressing for dinner, "hu.
SusS,s husband is perfectly gone, upoI
-3-Yes-wonderful. ! think so every tim
- I look at her." answered Marcus OrforC
. n~a@ptly,
A ~ she is m~arvellously improved,
6 eaid shA quickly, don't you think soy
, ooh. deSx yes! she has grown quit
? pretty" he said. with decision.
"Aud she has grown so gentle and good
\ natured, too Nadge went on. Before
you know, when we were all girls, JUL;
{ used 10 be a bit touchy at times-but nov
why she will do anything for YOU at all
, Just now | asked her where she got thai
pretty frilling she was wearing aud she
. said. 4 got it in Regent street but | forgot
the number. I'll look i. out aud write
you the anne down."
Now it happened just about that time
that Julia Howard had gone up 20 her
bedroom feeling very happy and %restful,
: and lest she should forget Il afterwards
she went straight to the writipgtable and
turned over a little box OF fnery which
, xx,,, F,3pv .hara npffI zha found sha litfla
bill which had been enclosed with the
7 frill!ng which her cousin had so much ad-
nired.
Yes. that IL it," she said TO herself,
oil lust write the address down and gise
!, IL to Madge."
As soon done rs thought almost, and
Julia laid the sheet OF paper on which was
written the address between the leaves OF
the b~lotting-book and smoothed it down
with her hand. In doing so she happened
to notice that the top leaf OF the 10 was
as nearly rs possible unmarked by ink
stains. Why she exclaimed. aloud.
that was where Stevie was drawing those
little plans. Yes, surely IL was"
She turned the leaves OF the book over
and over. No, there was now not the
least trace OF those little plans, an6 there
was a distinct trace OF n leaf having been
torn ont.
How very strange-she turned the book
over and over. Yes, il was the same. but
why had stephen torn the page out' Per
hsps he had been drawing idly on the
paper aud il was not a blotting mark at
all. Anyway IL was an Odd thing 10 have
done. and julia folded the paper on which
the Regent Street address was written and
took it to the dressing table feeling very
much puzzled indeed.
XNTiL-pAlLr LIFE.
The letter to Mrs Bob which had caused
Julia Howard TO shed the first tears that
had come into her eyes since she was
married with the exception Of the night
when she had sat and sobbed over David
Garrick"l, reached the little lady at Brent
wood In due course the following morn.
ing. Bob IA she were early people and
were already half way through their
breakfast when the post-bag came. lone
for you" said Bob. handing Stephens let
ter across the table, land this-and this
and this. That's all, madam"
he often called her madam ia a joking
way when they were alone. and Mrs. Bob,
who had already opened Stephens letter
aud was eugrossed by il, held out her hand
for the other letters without so much as
raising her eyes.
MY, butt must be a fine place." she
observed, presently. forty people staying