Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1897-08-14
M0NA'S CHOICE.


Mr.. Oakley obeyed the Mrs.
Newburgh, revived by her new hopes, was
up and dressed when Sir Robert and the
solicitor arrived. She had. with the help
of Wehner's arm, descended to the draw
her former self.
Then ensued a long, melancholy discus
sion, at which Mrs. Newburgh insisted her
granddaughter should be present, and
from which the latter gathered that IL was
of no use e~ndeayoring TO save anything
out of the wreck-that whatever the I'M
fortunate shareholders possessed mus
pass into the clutches Of company's eredi.
tors: a call had already been made. and
would be followed by others, until all was
swallowed up. II was therefore deemed
more prudent for Mrs. Newburgh to reside
In the house she had bought, than to move
to another for which she would have to
pay rent. Hoe income had Of course been
narrowed To 4 miserable eighty or ninety
pounds a year, and even on that she could
not long count.
"You see, Mona, the condition to which
we are reduced" said Mrs. Newburgb,
when their friendly counselors, with grave
faces and kindly expressed sympathy, had
withdrawn. 81 ~purposely asked you to be
resent at this conference, that you might
understand the true state of the case. L
leave you to draw your own conclusions.
No, dear, do not reopen the discussion. L
trust to your own common sense and right
feeling. l I'M quite exhausted. Ring for
Wehner to help me to my room. can see
no one else to-day-1o one-remember,
Mona"
Thus cut Off from remonstranoe, Mona
felt she was left to her fate, and Mr.. War
ing; grannie was resolved TO leave the de-
cision-the responsibility-to her.
Mrs. Newburgh had not long returned
10 her own room, and had just taken some
refreshment, when Mr.. Warnings card was
brought. A strong feeling Of humiliation
and disgust rose in Mona's heart; the calm
indifference of which she boosted the pre-
vious day failed her at the moment of trial.
ID not keep the poor young man wait
ing" said Mrs. N~ewburgh.
at is frightful, having to godeliberately
70 listen to an offer of marriage" cried
Mona, starting up and walking 10 the WIN
dow instead of the door.
II thought you would not mind"
az thought so; but I will 20, dear gran
ME"
She came back quickly, kissed the old
woman's cheek, aud disappeared.
MI. Waring stood on the h~earth-rug. He
was not so tall as Lisle; his broad shoul-
ders and rather short neck further dimin-
ished his height. He was built more for
strength thar grace, and though not fat,
was, 1t must be admitted, fieshy. His hair
was dark, almost black, abundant and
wavy, and his broad, g~ood-humored face
was redeemed from absolute ~plainness by
a pair of fine, soft, dark brown eyes. He
was in general rudy and fresh-looking,
but the excitement, indeed il may be said
the terror of the moment, had blanched
his cheeks, till he met Mona's eyes, when
he blushed ~furiously.
She hesitated after she had crossed the
threshold, and closed the door, standing
tall, stately, infinitely sad, in the simplest
morning-dress or black silk and cashmere
she possessed, a lace scarf pinned round
her throat with an old-fashioned brooch.
her bright hair turned loosely back sur
mounting her fair pale face like an aureole
II am SO much, so very much obliged u
you for seeing meg' exclaimed Warng
starting forward to take her hand. which
he shook ~nervously, and dropped immedi
atsly. Mona murmured something, he die
not hear what, and sat down beside the fire
Waring resumed his position on tbs
hearth-rug. An awful paused ensued
Mona gazed at the glowing Goals. anC
thought OF Isles expressive voice m
perfect, easy self possession. Waripg cud
geled his brain for some suitable phrase Z
open the dreaded yet longed for converse
ton. The result was a restless change 0
attitude, and the words, Awful mast
weather" His voice was strong and harsh
II hope you took no cold on your iourne
70 town"
"Not . cold; l had 9 slight cA:Ik" e
turned Mona, who had some sense Of hun
or.
You are amused. / dare say" he cried
his power OF speech unlocked by the magi
of her smiling eyes: ''you NUT be amused
to hear me laundering like an idiot abou
the weather, when my heart and mind ar
filed with hope and fear, Tell me. Mis-
Joscelyn, did Mrs. Newburgh show 20
my letter."
.She did,