Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1897-10-09
M0NA'S CHOICE.
CY Mrs.

Hes always AVA when he ia wanted.
Write him a note; nay, n half-pcnny card
will do as well. Tell him-stay, I'll write
myself, though 1t is the Sawbath. There
are some things will ma keep, and the
Lords Day is not the sane this side OF the
border"
Just so, uncle. When in Rome, do AZ
Rome does"
LAY; when will q note reach himf"
81 dare say at ten tomorrow morning"
THAT will do fine. GIVE me my book
and the ink. Icanna afford 10 lose time.
With many a muttered. i~narticulate,
self-addressed comment, and n more dis
tinct complaint OK his dim eyes. his I'M
steady hand, his general debility and rapid
decline, he managed to fiji two sides Of
uote-paper, which he put in an envelope
and carefully fastened it up. requesting
Mona TO address it 10 her cousin. Then be
sat silently watching her.
Yen send it safe and sure To the post"
Certainly; / will go myself. The SER
rant is out, and so il Madame Dsbrisay-
The p illar is within n hundred yards"
LAY, do-that's a kind lassic; and you'll
come back to mes ] am varrl weary the
right! Ell, bat | nm worn wi poor health
mair than wi years"
, Mona returned Immediately. but was re-
ceived with silence. The old man seemed
wrapped in thought, from which he only
reused himself to go TO bed.
The next evening, and the next, Ken
meth was closeted with his uncle. After
these interviews, he stayed but a very short
time with Nine. Debrisay and Mona-nor
did they seem to exercise an enlivening eff
'ect on the young Scot; indeed, Nine. Deb
risay remarked upon his depression, anf
surmised that he was in debt, and afraiJ
t. ask his uncle for help.
and no wonder" added the kindly
Irish woman. Pm SURE Id rather 90 into
c den OF raging lions, than face your uncle
IL | wanted money from him. ] am sorry
to say it, but it's wicked TO grab money
as tight as he does; and ! like the young
4 though ] don't like 70 see hin come
between his uncle AID yourself"
~ do not fancy Kenneth has a debt or n
money difficulty in the world; but he does
seem to have something on his mind"
The following Sunday was fine and crisp,
though still, and Kenneth came immedi.
ately after the early dinner, aud asked
Mona to take a walk with him, She read.
lily complied, and they were soon on Their
way to their fayorite recreation grounl,
Kensington Gardens.
Kenneth was unusually silent. He an.
swered Mona's remarks as briefly as posi-.
bic, seeming embarrassed and preoccupied.
At length, having skirted the round pond,
they slackened their pace as they got uH-
der the shelter Of the trees, and walked
down the wide glade toward the Serpcn.
tine.
"What Is the matter. Kennetht" size
asked. IL fancy you have something %
your mind. | think you might tell me.
You know ! take an interest in you. aul
sympathize with you"
"Ah! that's just what my uncle says.
He wants me 10 marry you, and cannot,
Mona. cannot, indeed, have pledged
my troth TO another young lady, and could
not break my word"
Mona stopped short in utter amazemcnt,
md looked straight at her companion.
How very unkind Of you" she eXclaim.
ed. IL did not think You would reject me
"Eh' That's what my uncle says. lie
believes you are very fond Of me, but !
cannot see Il: and, Oh, Mona, he swears be
will leave all his money away from both
Of us il we don't marry; and | will never
call any woman wife but my sweet Mary
little Mary Black-the school-master's
daughter"
A kindly, amused smile slowly dimpled
round Mona's mouth.
Did you tell him sou
to be his heir before he met YOU
Believe me, Kenneth, | will not inter
fore with you. Now, I'll help you to the
best of my ability; but first-please n pro
pose TO me in due form"
You understand | am pledged to Mary
ID not mention her at present"
"Well, then; will you marry me Mona;'
"No, Kenneth. | feel honored by your
offer, but | decidedly decline. There. now,
the blame OF di ,bedience rests with me.
You can tell Uncle Sandy that I refused
you"
You are a clever dell. Mona, and kind;
but this Is not varra honest
mo, it is not; but my uncle ought not to
be so foolish as to turn matchmaker.
Now he will attack me. and / can take
care of myself. You can keep quiet, and
by and by-when I have utterly refused
you-then propose 10 marry your ain truo
love- and my uncle will yield. | teel with
and for you, and ! will do my best TO help
you. We will manage Uncle Sandy. Now,
for the rest OF our walk, you shall tell me
all about Mary from the very first"
Then l must begin at the beginning OF
my life, for Mary is just bound up with it.. 4"
go on" said Mona, looking up in his
face, with a sunny smile, and Kenneth
''went on" considerably. He felt a new
creature when he was thus enabled TO I'M.
bosom himself. Thoughts uttered seemed
so much stronger than they do while Turk:
ing in the shadowy recesses OF the heart.
BY the time they reached Westoourne
Villas, he had talked himself into q con.
viction that his wedding was not so far of
after all. But at the garden gate. terrib;s
reality grasped him and looked him In the
face. Within those walls Uncle Sandy
awaited him.
"He will be awful angry. Mona" whis
pered Kenneth. pausing before he rang the
bell.
II dare say he will"-Qt was not neces.
sary to name the object of their dread)-
but you nus throw all the blame on me-
remember, Kenneth, 1t is quite true. II
there was no Mary in the case, l could moi
marry you"
There will be somebody else then,' hs
said, with innocent conceit.
Never mind about that, Kenneth.
Think % II you like; but do not be too pos
tive with Uncle Sandy. II Re chooses TO
hope a little, let him."
When they went In, Mona retired totake
of her cloak and hat, and Kenneth, with
slow. reluctant steps. went up to face Tn.
Gle Sandy.
"Oh, Deb!' cried Mona, throwing her
self into a chair beside that good lady,
who, on the door being opened, hastily hit
the stocking she had been darning under
the table. 'Oh, Deb, support me! l have
been cruelty and heartlessly rejected by
Kenneth Macalister."
"Why! Grand Dieu! What do you
mean" asked Nine. Debrisay. impatient.
ly. while she hunted vigorously for heI
needle. "Ahl here it Isl Now don't tall
riddles and conundrums."
Whereupon Mona repeated the substance
of her conversation with Kenneth.
"Why. what a come to that cantank
erous cripple, your uncle, that he shoult
think Of such a marriage for you. Tha
long-legged Highlander isn't fit to wip.
your shoes-a creature that has only ex
changed his native wilds for a den O