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

Mr.. Oakley obeyed the summons. 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
ing room; but she looked like a ghost Of
her former self.
Then eusued 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 endeavoring TO save anything
out of the wreck-that whatever the un-
fortunate shareholders possessed must
pass into the clutches of company's credi-
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. Hes income had of course been
narrowed to "A 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. Newburgh,
when their friendly counselors, with grave
faces and kindly expressed sympathy, had
Il w bOstA wv WV
resent at this conference, that you might
understand the true state of the case. L
leave you to draw your W conclusions.
No, dear, do not reopen the discussion. L
trust to your own common sense and right
feeling. | am quite exhausted. Ring for
Wehner TO help me to my room. | can see
no one else to-day-nO 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. N~ewburgh had not long returned
to 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 ut the moment of trial.
"Do not keep the poor young man wait
ing" said Mrs. Newburgh.
at is frightful. having TO go deliberately
10 listen to an offer Of MARRIAGE cried
Mona, starting up and walking TO the win
dow instead Of the door.
II thought you would not mind"
81 thought SO; but | will go, dear gran
ME"
She came back quickly, kissed the old
wOman's cheek, and disappeared.
Mr.. Waring stood on the hearth-rug. He
was not so tall as Lisle; his broad shoul-
ders inc rather short neck further dimin-
ished his height. He was built more for
strength than grace, and though not fat,
was, it must be admitted, fieshy. His hair
was dark, almost black, abundant and
wavy, and his broad, good-humored face
Nvog rnnapnnnH from ahSp1nfn n1ainnasG nv
a pair of fine, soft, dark. brown eyes. He
was in general ruddy and ~fresh-looking,
but the excitement, indeed it 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
m~orning-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 m aureole.
II am so much, so very much obliged to
you for seeing mel' exclaimed Waring,
starting forward to take her hand, which
he shook ~nervously, and dropped immedi-
ately. Mona murmured something, he did
HUI near Wldl, anu sat uOWu DcSlue IIS IRE.
Warning resumed his position on the
hearth-rug. An awful paused ensued.
Mona gazed at the glowing Goals, and
thought Of Lisle's expressive voice and
perfect, easy self-possession. Waring cud-
geled his brain for some suitable phrase to
open the dreaded yet longed for CONVERSE
ton. The result was a restless change of
attitude, and the words, Awful nasty
weather" His voice was strong and harsh.
81 hope you took no cold on your journey
10 town.
"Not a cold; ! had n slight chill" re-
turned Mona, who had some sense of hum
or.
you are amused, l dare say" he cried,
his power Of speech unlocked by the magic
of her smiling eyes; you must be amused,
to hear me laundering like an idiot about
the weather, when my heart and mind are
filed with hope and fear. Tell me, Miss
Joscelyn, did Mrs. Newburgh show you
my letter."
she did"