Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1897-08-28
GXdlCE.
.las. ALEXANDER.

GEAR old Lady, OF course, at such a
painful crisis, old friends cCunt for n great
deal. | think, dear, you must cr''e back
with me to Charles rect. lean lot leave
you mere a,ole."
mo, Lady Mary, i will not leave the
house while poor grannic lies helpless here.
feel bound to keep by her TO the last"
A message from Sir Robert brought
Waribg as fast rs a wei. paid driver could
urge his horse. Mona vas not in the draw
ing when he reached II, and he was
somewhat discounted when Lady Mary
came and explained that Mona was too
much overcome 10 see him-thrt she was
in her own room.
But she will see me presently, will she
not?" he asked, appealingly. II thought
IL might be a comfort TO her TO talk to me-"
mo doubt IL will be. At this moment
she is terribly upset"
II was not till considerably l~ater-after
Waring and Sir Robert had arranged the
details OF the funeral, and all that apper-
tanned to it-that Mona was induced TO see
her afianced husband.
Mona was ready enough TO speak OF her
sorrow. She was gently grateful for his
sympathy, but she would not sit beside
him, her head on his shoulder, and his
RIM u her, nor did she permit a course
of consolation compounded OF whispers,
kisses and assurances that the whisperer
would be brother and sister and grand
mother and everything to her. She was
80 dazcd and overwhelmed that Waring
was gravely uneasy about her, and it was
an immense relief To him TO know that
Nine. Debrisay (who had heard Of the sad
event In some occult manner) was in the
house, and would spend tho night with her
fayorite pupil.
Established custom governs all things
the deepest grief-the widest Joy. The
dreary ~days-which fingered yet went so
swiftly-sped on, and poor Mrs. Newburgh
was laid in her grave. Her will, leaving
all she possessed to Mona, was duly read
her few jewels and personalities packed
up. The former went with Mona 10 Har-
rowby Chase.
Mona took cold on her journey, and for
a fortnight was very unwell-so feverish.
In fact, as to wander in her speech. and to
cause her kind hosts a good deal Of anxiety.
She was utterly lonely. She had no near
relative. TIL Everards were more closely
allied by friendship than by blood to Mrs.
Newburgh. She had heard Of many other
cousins in her Rrandmother's lifetime, but
she felt they did not count.
Pondering these things. she grew af-
frighted at the stern aspect of the world
she was going to face, for, rs she collected
her faculties and studied her circum.
stances. she grew more and more averse to
fulfill her engagement with Leslie War.
inc Tho orraat nnfiva una rnna md m
irresistible longing for freedom, however
poverty stricken, seized her. The idea Of
80 close a union with a mere ~good-natured
sportsman, who in no way touched her
imagination, whose offensive affection
wearied her, whose personal appearance
was unpleasant to her eyes, became in
finitely repugnant as she dwelt upon It.
Ii was hardly fair to him either 10 let him
plunge into the %irrevocable in ignorance OF
her aversion. Better let him bear a tenn
porary pang now than incur the misery
long drawn out Of an ill-assorted, unsym-
pathetic marriage.
Her resolution to break with him grew
rapidly stronger almost before she was
ware she had formed IL. Then she began
, see that she was enjoying Lady Mary's
ind hospitality under false pretenses.
She did not for a mn doubt that her
refusal TO marry Waring would bring
down, il not a storm of w~rath-for Lady
Mary and her family were far too we'll
bred to be violently angry-but an iceberg
of disapprobation. She must remove her
self from the shelter of their roof before
she struck the blow hat would give poor
Warning go much temporary pain. (She
felt sure il would be but temporary And
where could she 90, There was no one
but her faithful Mime. Debrisay on whom
she could count, and even she would be
very. very angry. Still her purpose grew
clearer and firmer as her nervous system
began to recover the shock it had sustained.
Meantime, Mona had not been idle. She
wrote TO her dear Deb" begging leave &c
visit her, as she felt herself an impeachment
to the party Lady Mary wished to assem-
BILE, and also because she had more 20 say
than she could write.
This brought a speedy. rapturous reply.
Then Mona applied herself to compose.
re-write, and copy her difficult letter to
Leslie Waring.
1t was even a worse task than she an
ticipated. All her selfish longing for de-
liverance was for the moment swallowed
up III SDTTOW lOE tuc pain suC a " "
infict. Nothing kept her steady TO her
purpose so much as her conviction that she
was doing right-that she was delivering
Leslie as well as herself. She was more
than one day over her task; for Evelyn
Everard, an exceedingly girlish girl, who
had taken a violent fancy to her, was con-
stantly running into her room with her
work, or book, or for the avowed intention
OF "enlivening" her.
1t was accomplished at last, however;
but Mona waited to post 1t till she was
safe in town, even though she left two oil
Warnings epistles unanswered. Indeed,
her replies had always been few and scanty,
80 much so, hat even he had become rest
less and dissatisfied. He hoped. however,
that q personal interview would put all
matters right.
1t was a gray clustering afternoon when
she reached st. Pancras. and found Mime.
Debrisay waiting for her.
my dear; you do look badl Come. get
into the cab. / will find your things"
81 have only this small portmanteau and
bonnet-box for the present."
That's right. / am sure you are not at
to be out in such weather; get in, dear"
~ must post this letter first, /" said Mona,
her lips quivering.
Every well. Give it to me. Oh, yes;
quite right" glancing at the address.
"You must keep him informed OF your
whereabouts. It's hard times for him,
poor fellow, all this delay" The hong
drive to Westbourne Villas passed almost
I'm silence ON Mona's side. To Nine. Deb
risay silence was abhorrent, and she poured
out much information respecting the
changes she had made In her dwelling
the additional pupils promised her next
month. II am glad I have the rest Of this
one comparatively free. / can give q little
time to you. my dear child. And here we
are, thank Godi You will be the better
of a cup Of tea"
Mona was, indeed, thankful to have, so
far, accomplished her purpose as to be I'M
der the roof Of her only sympathetic friend;
but her heart tainted within her at the
thought of the confession she had to make.
II Mime. Debrisay refused to harbor her,
what was she TO dor Meantime that busy
woman fitted to and fro. She stirred the
already glowing fire, made the kettle boil
up, infused the tea. and cut brown bread
and butter with immense energy.
There now" said madame, placing q
small table with q cup Of tea and plate of