Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1896-03-28
CHATTER vr.-oUr FOR ARANDIH.

without actually putting her thoughts
into words. Mrs. Trafford decided that she
would make her next sunday afternoon
quite a party. She did indeed say 10 Julia
that they would ask "A few people to come
In after the Parish, and she wrote a few
notes to such men IN the neighborhOod as
were available. among them various sol
diers quartered in the garrison, md Ger
ard DE Lisle; also Mr.. DE l.isle's bosom
friend, one Anthony Mauleverer. n young
man Of distinguished appearance, de-
innocent OF a desire 10 shine II TIA
way and that thus his appearance wa!
against him. but without doubt he was
looked at from "A matrimonial point al
view, n detrimental OF the most pro
nounced type. Yet Mrs. Trafford made q
good deal OF fuss over him-illuatured
people said because he was first cousin "a
The Mauleyerers. The three spins;ers
who lived in ~. Ewes, n few doors from
No. Z, called Mrs. Trafford "a pushing lit
tie person, who il always trying TO know
U.s. and would not let themselves slip
into visiting terms with her at any price.
AS a general thing ouly about half a
dozen people found their way TO No. Z ST.
Ewes after the Parish. but on extra occa-
SlouS ~ NuS hOuutIldl INV lutkt u RNtl-
ering Mrs. TrafYord was able to get to-
gether, without having made a formal
party. On this particular afternoon, for
Instance, IL was wonderful To notice how
long she fingered 10 speak just "a word
with her acquaintance in the outer courts
otherwise the Nave-of the Parish, and
how nice on her way to her pew-no. I
mean her stall-she stopped to whisper q
single sentence TO two rather importan,
ladies, Come in after the SERVICE and
then went up and. so 10 speak, devotional.
ly buried herself, following every word Of
the familiar service with large book and
double gold eye-glass held some six or
eight inches from the end Of her nose.
Without doubt, although | have come TO
have the tenderest affection for Mrs. Traf-
ford since l first began To write about her,
she was taken all round quite a study, an
interesting study.
Then after service was over, she and
Julia separated and each gathered in q
few more recruits as she went homewards,
so that by the time Mrs. Bob Markham,
with Bob and Stephen Howard in tow,
found her way To No. Z, quite a hustle
was going on and the sound OF many
voices greeted them as they vent up the
stair.
Stephen Howard found that Julia was
too busy with her tea tray TO do more for
him than smile brightly aud ask him 10
help her with the cups, and whilst he was
handing cups and a plate OF neatly rolled
bread aud butter from one TO the other.
he became aware that Mrs. Iovelace,
gorgeously dressed in black with gold en-
broider!es, was flirting desperately with
two young officers, and that Captain Le-
gard and Miss Pamela Winstanley were
snugly ensconced In the window, Iegard
with his back TO the company. Miss Pa
mela facing him. with sratifed pride OF
possession written on every line OF her fair
and rather mean, though pretty, face.
HIM" ran stephen Howard's thoughts,
trust IA woman 10 dig the knife in deep
when once she has found the spot where
another woman ninches."
A little farther away Mrs. Tyafford was
talking to Lady Luclfer and her new friend
Mrs. Markham.
What are thos. large rooms just at the
end OF the street, Mrs. Markham was
saying.
'Oh! those are the Assembly Rooms, the
oest oNii-TooiiS III Ei-ianu, tnsNefeu
Mrs. TrafYord.
''The very place for mlliionaires like you
to give balls in, Maimie." laughed Lady
Lucifer.
Mrs. Tra6ord opened her eyes somewhat
to thus hear the extremely exclusive Lady
Lucifer address the Australian lady by
her Christian name. but evidently Mrs.
Bob was quite nsed to the familiarity. for
she pa.ted Lady Lucifer's hand and an-
swered, Now don't chat me Ike that
Violet. You know very well we are no
millionaires--we are Just comfortably of.
All the anne l should like 10 give n ball
In those rooms. II wouldn't ba half the
trouble OF having II In ones own house
and not half the trouble for ones friends
either. But / must get TO know a few
more people first
"Ohl ! viii send cut the Invitations for |
your suggested Lady Lucifer. gaily.
Bat Mrs. Markham looked doubtful.
.l'm told that people 10 that in London.
hut I don't think Bob would like ii. III
would look like trying to push ourselve
into society ON your shoulders. aud Oh
friends as you and l are ! don't think III
would be quite fair 10 do that"