Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1897-08-14

looked ON you as a stranger: to-day | am
TO decide IL i am To pass my whole life with
you or not. / must say what sounds un-
kind, that | do not love III, that il this
J great misfortune had not befallen Mrs.
Newburgh, | should probably nave refused
you-so | do not deserve your love"
But / cannot help giving it to youl And
II you do make up your mind TO take me,
you might just let me forget that you were
driven 70 it,"
Eyes; | am very ungracious. There Is
another circumstance | ought to mention;
you may not like TO know that my name Is
not Joscelyn. My grandmother always
called me by my second baptismal names; |
am really Mona Craig. Ny father was OF
very humble origin, | believe; and Mrs.
Newburgh never forgave my mother for
marrying him; but | dearly loved him MS a
little child, though have forgotten what
he was like"
II don't care what your name is, as long
rs you will take mine. | am no great
thing as regards family myself. | have
heard something of Mrs. Newburgh's within
before"
sis it possiblef"
II don't fancy that anything is a secret"
said Warning. Perhaps il is not fair 10
press you for an answer to-day. But you
see time flies, and | long to be able to tell
Sir Robert Eyerard that / have a right 20
discuss with him what is best TO be done.
Don't you fancy that | would hold back
because you refused me. Whether Won
say yes or no, | would ask nothing better
that to be of use to you; but not being a
relation, it would be awkward for
ut would be impossible" interrupted
Mona, in a low tone; then pressing her
clasped hands together tightly, she said
with some solemnity-"Since you believe |
could make you happy"
you will be my wife2' interrupted War
fog eagerly in his turn.
81 will, Mr.. Waring, and try TO be n good
one" She grew very pale rs she spoke.
You are n great deal too good for me:
and as you do not care for any other fell
low, perhaps you may end by caring for
me-"
There was nm awkward pause, then War
ing walked over to the ~writing-table and
took up a paper-knife with which he played
nervously.
There are one or two things ! should
like TO tell you, if you do not mind?"
What can he be going TO confess?"
thought Mona. She, however, only bent
her head in silence.
Il have not been as steady rs | ought to
be" resumed Warning, looking down and
growing red. you see, my brother and
myself We're brought up by IN old bachelor
guardian. We had no women in the house
and that made us rather rough. Then |
have lost a good bit ut cards aud races.
Pm a little too fond of play, but-UoT that
you are so very good as to promise me
your hand, | have an Object TO live for, and
i will never touch n card again, and never
lay anything beyond n pony OH IA race, and,
and I'll try 20 be-not unworthy of you. |
will indeed Vow, have | your permission
to 90 and tell Sir Robert Everard? lie isl
good fellow, and Wen settle something
about Mrs. Newburgh. She ought to get
out of town away from annoyanccs."
"Thank YOU" returned Mona, touched
by his eagerness TO serve her. 81 am most
grateful to you, Mr.. Warning
Couldn't you manag 10 call me Les
lieI' he said. entreatingly. IF you knew
how | long-to hear my name from your
lips! and TO caIl You Mona. It's not a hap
Ply enough name for you, but | love il all
the same. can't call you Mona, if you
say Mr.. Waring."
NNN''' Wv ''''''HN i'eA '''A''
well, never mind to-day; but | may so
to Sir Roberto"
"You may" said Mona, with white lips.
"Thank your cried Warning, his eyes
lighting up, his whole face radiant, and so
far carried away with joy that he took and
kissed her hand, letting 1t drop directly.
VI suppose ] ought to 90 away nOwp" he
said, humbly. but I should like to stay.
IL IL almost ipnnncCih1a 70 halfavn t1ot yn,
have really promised TO marry me, that /
may stay and talk TO you, and will not
have to give up my place TO anyonel That
fellow Lisle always came and turned me
out when we were ut Harrowby Chase:
but he isn't half bad. Do you know, il was
he that advised mo to try my chance with
your"
L "Did You want advisingS" said Mona, IN
an unsteady voice.
"No, not advising, only hearteninq up!
Tell me-would you like 10 travel on the
Continent? haven't been much abroad
myself. or course | always go 10 Paris for
the Grand priX, and TO the Baden Races
but you
Everything must depend on my grand
mothers condition." interrupted Mona.
"And, Mr., Waring-if you do not think it
very rude-I think ! must go to her now"
you are looking very white" he SAID,
tenderly, $50 l will leave you; but | hope
you are not unhappy, and if there is any
thing you would wish me to do, you will
say sou
Poor Mona lonGed TO cry.
II only wish you to 90 away" she said,
pressing her hand TO her heart. 81 am n
good deal shaken and upset; tomorrow
ooh, yes! ! may come tomorrow And
Mona Il may call you Mona, mayn't ~
when you are talking to Mrs. Newburgh.
just say to her from me that il would he
so much better If wG-if, that is, if the
marriage was to take place soon-quite
soon! | should be so much better able to
be of use. You'll not think me IA bore for
insisting on this? but it would really he
better, putting my feelings quite out of the
question"
81 shall be guided by what you and Sir
Robert and grannie think best" faltered
Mona. 81 am afraid ! must go now"
"When may ! como tomorrow" asked
Warning, lingering.
"a aa- -. 49,