Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1897-11-09
MONA'S CHOICE.
By Mrs. ALEXANDER.

Inc usuhi iatc OF segacy hunters" re
turned Mona. smiling.
You are no legacy hunter. Mona. de
Hare that cantankerous uncle Of yours car
have nc more heart than a flint"
IL do not believe be Is quite heartless,'
said Mona, thonghtfully; II believe he IL
fond OF me, and will soon recall me-
When hope you will have more spirit
han to ~respondr' cried madame, indig.
nantly; che deserves 10 be left to hirelings
for the rest Of his days"
That would be n cruel punishment for
In outbreak OF temper-ir was nothing
more. Come. dearest Deb. I am tired and
depressed; l will go to bed. DO you know
that it IS very delightful the idea OF break.
fasting tete-d-tote with YOU to morrow
is 1t, my darllng' All, IL warns my
heart to hear you say so, IL you belonged
TO me now; IL You were my own, owH
child, oh, II would give me the strength Of
n dozen women TO work for you and fight
for you; not but I'd do it all the same, only
ia have a right 10 you then"
Until | married some selfish tyrant OF
a man, who would show his love by separ
afing ms from you" returned Mona, tax
ing her hand in both hers with IN affec
tionate smile.
u ufhl Gay WIS one vi AHlc. DCDTl
says busiest, and II was exceedingly wet
Mona sat indoors very contentedly, busy
with book OF needle, and Uncle Sandy
made no sign.
The following evening, Kenneth made
his appearance, with IN exceedingly per
turbed aspect.
We'll, Nh. Macalister, what newsf" crieC
Nine. Debrisay, putting down the tea pot
to shake hands with him.
"Good-evening, Kenneth. You do not
look too happy" said Mona.
Happy he repeated; II am just miser
able. | am thinking Uncle Sandy's gone
clean daft. lie wa up in the city at our
place, and saw Mr.. Sinclair-that Is the
principal partner. Came in all the rain 10
a cab from Moorgate Street. lie told Mr.
Sinclair that he was going to adopt me
and requested | might be allowed TO leave.
as he could not 60 to his place In the High
lands without me. So | was called up, and
old Sinclair made me q speech about my
good fortune, and my excellent conduct
while In the service Of the house Q don't
believe he knew my name rightly half ar
hour before); and the two old fellows com
plimented eech other. | fancy Mr.. Sin
clair thinks | am come in for ten thous-
and a year Mt least. This morning all the
clerks were congratulating me, and ! felt
like n thief"
"Why should you, KENNETH I assure
you | should have been m6re miserable
than you look, il | thought my uncle had
quarreled with you about me. have per
feet confidence in your loyalty"
And You may have that, Cousin Mona
but it's many n long day before ! can be OF
any use TO you
Let me give you a cup Of tea, Mr., Ken.
Meth said madame, kindly. ut is my
opinion" she continued, as she poured il
out. that neither one or other OF you viii
ever see n sou OF your uncle's money. He
will get all he can out OF you. and then
leave all he has to some church or institu.
ton, or something wicked OF that kind"
mo, / do not think that returned
Mona, thoughtfully. IL believe he Is quite
earnest in his intention now, but he might
get angry again and change his mind"
After ALL cried Mime. Debrisay, ~
don't believe he has much to leave behinG
him. He talks big: but for all the cry }
suspect there is not much wool"
There is no telling" said Kenneth.
"But / think he is rich. Ny poor mother
thought he was ferry rich
1--WE shall never know till poor Uncle
Sandy has no further need OF our services, 4"
said Mona, smiling. so there is no use
co~njecturlng."
..rhat is.type. En- but s n ~dreadfuly,
SSeS Is,s.SSv W.; NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
your threshold. I could not stand that.
lust told him that | was willing TO ODE.
him in many ways, but hat neither OF u
hal any right TO quarrel with her. So AZ
ter some words-a good many words-h'
told me 10 do as | liked, but was never tt
name your name To him. He is awfu
intercollegiate fretting the flesh of his
bones. We are TO start for C~raigdarroch
on Monday"
Some more talk and friendly conjecture
made time pass quickly till emmett ros'
TO bid them goodnight
Mona could hardly believe that Unci'
Sandy would leave town without seein.
her. md she kept a good deal indoor unit
the Monday fixed for his departure; bu
the old man made no advance.
Nine Debfisay insisted on her being
guest for at least n month, to which th'
fear of offending her kind hostess compelled
Mona TO agree. Otherwise, the rest ant
concenial companionship were very de
lightful.
Uncle Sandy had been gone about
week, and the last days OF July were tas
slipping away when one warm sultry Al
%ternoon, as Mona was out shopping Tor
madame, whose soul expanded at sale
time. n smart footman overlook her, ac-
costing her with the words, IF you
please'm, Lady Finistoun would be glad
10 speak To you"
Lady Finistount" repeated Mona, look
Ing round. Where is shef"
.'Her Iadyship Is In the carriage. close
by"
Following the man, Mona was o shaA'
ing hands with her former ally. ,
II was SO afraid I should miss you, dear,
cried the young peeress, shaking hands
warmly with her. Il was afraid you had
vanished from me altogether. BERTHE told
me about meeting you abroad with q o
ierful old millionaire OF an uncle Come
10, me- drive you wherever you are going,
or. better still, let me take you to see Dapy.
such a dear, darling baby. You Will be
enchanted with him. Dc come In. Open
the door, William"
.Oh. veg, / should be so delighted 10
Gee yonr baby, dear Evelyn" said Mona
The next minute she was seated beside
Lady Flnistoun, and driving toward thai
lady's house.
awhy did You not let me know you were
Ia town. /.
II have not been long here" returned
Mona, land I have been busy. Nor did
think Of looking you up. You see 1t Is no
use attempting to be on the old footing.
We must drift apart
s'Oh, nonsense! You look as weil-in-
deed better than ever. You will never lose
your style, Mona, and l dare say you will
marry very well, especially with this rich
uncle behind YOU"
my uncle has an heir"
moi Has he, How very disgraceful
Never mind, dear, you are evidently q fa-
vorite of fortune. Where are you staying
nowy'
with Madame Debrisay."
Sand what have you done with the un'
clei"
"He has quarreled with me and left me-
"Oh, You foolish girl. How did you OF
fend bimf"
..It IA too long n story In tell Won now