Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1897-01-23

A STORY.
BY wHaKiE COLLINS.


The instant a'."yw rt * "'~ y iy
the appearance .. a .igule c~l.lersiag into the
moonlight from the farther end of the shrub
berry and rapidly approaching him.. He was
near enough 10 see that II was the figure of n
woman. Was il one of the female servants
hurrying back 10 the house after an inter-
view with a sweetheart? In his black even
mg dress he was, in all probability, complete
ly hidden by the deep shadow in which he
stood. Werld he be less likely 10 ~frigltcn
the woman il he called to her than il he al
lowed her 10 come close up TO him in the
dark? lie decided on calling to her.
Who is out so late2' he asked.
A cry of alarm answered him The figure
stood still for a moment, and then turned
back as if to escape him by flight.
Don't be frightened he said. Surely
you know my Noice?'
The figure stood still again. lie showed
himself in the moonlight, and discovered
Sydney WesterIield.
Your ne exc. aimed.
She tr,lnbled; the words in which she an
severed him We're words IN fragments.
THE garden was 50 quiet and pretty-l
Thought there would be no ~harm-p!ease let
me so back-l'm afraid | shall beshut out"
She tried TO pass him. My poor cnild,'
he said, what is there 10 be frightened
about? have been tempted ont by the love
ly night, like YOU. Take my arm, II is SO
close in here among the trees. Ii we 20 back
10 the lawn the air Will come to you freely"
She took his arm; he could feel her heart
throbblng against il. Kindly silent, he led
her back to the open space. Some garden
chairs Were placed here and there; he sug-
gested that She should rest Tor aw hile.
"pm airaa shan be shut out" she re-
peated. Pray let me get back"
lie yielded at once 10 the wish that she ex-
pressed. You must let me take you back"
he exclaimed. They are al asleep ut the
house by this time. No! no! d0n't be fright
ened again. have got the key Of the door.
The moment nave opened il you shall go in
by YOURSELF
She looked at him gratefully. you are
not offended with me now. Mr.. L;nlcy." She
said. You are like your kind self again.
They assembled the steps which led to the
door. Linley took the key from his pocket.
1t acted perfectly in drawing back the lock,
but the door, when he pushed it, resisted
him. He put his shoulder against il, and eX-
erted his strength, helped Dy his weight. The
door remained immovabie.
ildu OlC VI llt dlltN-NllllIE ND IlitI
thar usual after The party, and hot aware
that Mr.. Linley had gone into the garden
noticed the door. and carefully fastened the
bolts on the inner side? That was exactly
what had happened.
There was nothing for it but 10 submit 20
circumstances Linlcy led the way down
the steps again. I'VE are shut out" he said.
Sydney listened in silent diSmay. lie
seemed tc be merely amused: he treated tleir
common misfortune Us lightly as if il had
been a joke.
There's nothing so very terrible in our
situation" he reminded her. The Serv-
ants Offices will be opened between & ard Z
o'clock; the weather Is perfect: andlh sluii-
mer house in the French garden has one
easy-chair in il 10 my certain knowledge, in
which you may rest and sleep. I'm sure YOU
must be tired-let me take YOU there
She drew back and loohcd up at the house.
Cant we make them hear uS?' she asked.
'Quite impossible. Besides" lie was
ebOut to remind her of the evil construction
which might be placed on their appearance
together, returning from the garden AT an
advanced hour of the night; but her innocence
pleaded with him to be silent. lie only said:
~ Oh forget that we all sleep at the top of
our old castle. There Is no knockpr To the
door and no bell that rings up stairs. Come
To the stmlmcr house. In an hour on two
more we shall see The sun rise"
she took his arm in silence. They reached
the French garden without another word
having passed between them.
The summer house had been designed, in
harmony with the French taste OF the last
century. from a classical model. Ii was a
rough copy ia wood Of the temple of Vesta
at RrElt. Opening the door for his compan
ion, Lialey paused before ne followed her in.
A girl brought up ny Il careful mother would
have understood and appreciated his heSita-
ton; she would have concealed any little
feeling OF embarrassment that might have
troubled her At the moment, and would have
asked him TO come back and let her know
When the rising of the SIN began. Neglect
ed by her mother, worse than neglected by
her aunt, Sydney's fearless ignorance pat Q
question which would have lowered the poor
girl cruelty in the estimation OF Il stranger.
Are you going TO leave Inc here by myseli?'
she asked. why don't you come in?'
Lihley thought OF his visit 10 The school,
and remembered The dCtCstable mistress. He
excused SydncS he iclt iOr her. she held
the door open lor hian. Sure Of himself, he
entered the sIln!Gcr house.
As \ niarh Of respect Ga her part, she Of
ieied the armchair 90 him; 1t was the one
comfortable seat III the neglected place. He
ihHiSttu that She should take it; and, search
irg the summer house, Iound & wooden stool
for himSelS. the small circ,iar room ,e-
ceiyed but little OF the dim outer light-thcy
we're near each Otllcr-thcy were silent. sgd
ney burst suddenly into a nervous little
laugh.
Why do you taught" he asked, good-hu-
moredly.
1T seems so strange w. Linley, for us TO
be out here In the moment when she
made that reply her merriment vanished; she
looked oat sadly, through the open door, at
the stiffness of the night. What should |
have done" she wondered, iii | had been
shut out OF The house by myself?' Her eyes
rested on him tilnidly; there was some
thought n her which she shrank from 3X-
pressing. She only said: IL wish l knew
ho% TO be worthy OF Jour kindness"
Her voice warned hiIG that she was strug,
S.ing with strong emotion. In one respect
hen are al alike; tley hate TO see Il wonan
In tears. Lin.ey treated her like q child; he
smiled. and patted her on the shoulder.
Nonsense" he said, gayly. There is no
merit in being kind TO my good little govern
ess."
Sac TOOK tia. comforting hand-it was a
harmless impulse that she was unable to re-
sist~-she bent over it and kissed il gratefully.
He drew lis hand away from her as II tie
soft touch Of her lips had been fire that burn
ed ii. "Oa,' she cried, have | done wrongT'
No, my dear-Eo, no."
There was aIi embarrassment In his man.
ner, he inevitable result OF his fear of him
self IL he ialtcred III the IcsOiute exercise of
seli-Iest:aint which was perfectly incompre-
hensible TO Sydney. lie moved his seat back
a little, SO as TO place himself farther away.
Something in that action, at !liattimc, shock
ed and Inundated her. Completely misun-
Outstanding him, she thought he wasIemind'
ing her of the distance that separated them
in social tank. Oh. the shame Of it. the
shame OF it.. Would Other gOyernesses have
taken q liberty with their master? A fit OF
historical sobbing burst IFS way through heI
las. reserves OF ~self-cOntrOl; she started to
her feet and ran out of the sumner house.
Alarmed and distressed, he followed hei
instantly.
She was leaning aga'n>t It's pedestal OF q
statue ia the garden, p%antiug, Shuddering, Q
sight TO touch The Heart Of a far less sensitive
man than the man who now approached her
80 I -