Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1896-02-08

Bank OF England for the sole benefit Oh
James Keeley's daughter.
1t was Characteristic OF the boy that
Fred made no further inquiries. Return
ing from the bank on foot, he met a very
humble funeral, and. Ia the sympathetic
fashion learned abroad, lifted his hat care
lessly. He did not look at the cab which
followed that Door hearsc. But o child
therein saw him, aud marked the unusual
action. To her IL seemed a mockery OF
the dead. "a last insult of malice aud
wrong-doing toward it's victim. Against
her will she had cherished n kindly senti-
ment toward Fred Staymer since that ter
rible day. 1t vanished. Amy was glad TO
think she had kept her secret, and no one
knew the fortune lying in her name ut the
Bank OF England.
In the years that followed these two
lived MS fate and circumstance decreed.
Staymer's regiment was ordered to India;
Il was a chance Of recovery from financial
disasters and expensive habits, and Fred
wished to profit by IL. But Sir Philip,
growing more feeble daily, could not bear
to part with his son, and he exchanged
into the wealthlest and most desperate
corps Of plungers Of the British service.
Amy passed four years with Mrs. Der
mot, who kept q very small and very mis-
c%ellaneous shop In a back street at Clap
ham. She looked after the children, and
did more than her share Of the homework,
as the unchivalrous customs OF women
exact from q girl relative sheltered In
charity. Upon occasion she served be-
hind the counter, and by degrees the lend
ing library which formed part OF Mrs.
Dermot's business fell under her direc-
ton.
James Kelley had left very little in the
way of furniture which his sister thought
worth removal, but q number Of old and
stupid volumes she took away simply a.
dummies TO hn her shelves. This child
did not protest, though her young sense a
justice was outraged. Two years after
ward Mrs. Dermot found an opportunity
to buy a cargo OF novels very cheap, and
then she offered those unmarketable books
at the ~rag-and-bOne shop OF the neighbor.
hooN. Fortunately, the unlearned dealer
was not anxious to close, and Amy heard
the proposal IN time.
To urge sentimental associations after
the lapse of SO many months would have
been futile; she simply represented that
~ ldllltl Ntd lie Nplubit bV WI VI
money, and obtained PERMISSION, after
much trouble, to put some OF them among
the toys and sweets in the window. Mrs.
Dermot submitted impatiently, and day
by day, rs no purchaser came forward, she
declared with growing vehemence that
they should be sold for waste paper.
Kind-hearted in her fashion, however, and
just a little hopeful to the last that some
thing might turn up, the good woman
waited still, vowing every night that The
rubbish should be cleared away; but
every morning action was postponed. So
1t CHANGED that the opportunity came q,
length, and the man OF destiny appeared.
He was not a romantic parsonage at all.
For some days Amy had noticed a shabby
veteran who fingered at the window.
Presently he entered To ask the price Of a
duodecimo; IN a tumult Of hope and fear
she named half a crown Ridiculous
exclaimed the veteran, and marched out.
Amy did not dare to tell this incident.
She bitterly reproached herself for fixing
the price so high, but when, two days at
terward, the stranger returned. she was
shrewd enough TO draw a conclusion.
We'll, my dear, have you thought il
over'"
"Yes, sir. ! made a mistake. That little
volume Is five shillings."
The old gentleman showed a frank
amusement. He sat down laughing.
Now tell the truth, my Child. / hope
you always tell the TRUTH"
81 hope so, sir"
"What is the real price you are told TO
ask for that book"
Il am not told to ask any price at all. /
guess"
"Oh, sharp little girl How did your
mother get them!'
my mother is dead, sir, and they be-
longed to my father, and Mrs. Dermot is
going to sell them for waste paper-with
H's sw'een-, %eifi. cSntdf.~ fhssy sshs'Hf be torn
up"
At this moment Mrs. Dermot appeared.
81 am trying TO strike a bargain for
ask"
"a pound apiece, aunt" Amy cried.
"a pound apiece. You must excuse this
little girl, sir, please. She's not clever
Mrs. Dermot was observing his expression
and did not know what to make of it.
'Not a pound apiece" she continued,
d%oubtfully; I'D say-I'd say ~two-pounds-
ten for the lot"
Here it is, ma'am," the old gentleman
replied with a merry look at Amy. "You
needn't give me a receipt. Twenty-four
volumes-I know them all. I'll send my
servant Immediately to carry them away.
Now, i don't agree with you that this
young lady "a not clever, and I back my
opinion by making her q present Of two
pounds-ten for her share of her fathers
property-for herself, ma'am, you under
stand. Good bye, little grill shall come
to see you occasionally"
The servant, who arrived in a cab,
haughtily informed Mrs. Dermot that his
master was very rich, a widower, with one
child, and a great scholar. Nearly every
day for some weeks he visited the shop,
buying all sorts OF rubbish and chatting
with Amy. Then he vanished for two
years; but on his return the visits recon-
menced. and Mrs. Derinot began to think
there was some purpose in them. Amy
had greater reason to suspect the same
thing.
At length IL was declared. Mr.. Thomas
announced his name and asked q private
interview with the aunt.
II have q daughter, ma'am," he began,
''about the & Of Miss Amy. She is not
very bri ght, but very gentle and loving,
and she is heiress to a great fortune. Var
ious circumstances make it awkward fer
me TO provide her with the amusements
and companionship which are still more
necessary because. as l have said, my
Louise has not the esources in herself
which other children enjoy. Now IL has
occurred to me that il you would permit
your little niece to bear my child company
1t might be advantageous to everybody
concerned. Let us try 1t for a month, she
spending the day at my house and return
ing here to sleep. I should add that the
girls will be treated quite alike, share the
same lessons and wea the same dress, il
you do not object"
A pang Of maternal envy shot through
Mrs. Dermot's bosom. Why was not this
chance offered to one of her own many
daughters, But the unworthy feeling did
not last. The same afternoon she paid q
visit to Mr.. Thomas. saw his pretty child,
formed a high opinion Of the housekeeper,
and came to terms. At the end of the
months trial a definite engagement was
concluded. and Amy went to live, for q
time unfixed, in the big beautiful house on
Chaplain Common.
Her young mistress-though there was