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

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 it is the Sawbath. There
are some things will ma keep, and tho
Lords Day is not the same this side OF the
border"
Just so, uncle. When in Rome, do az
Rome does"
"Ay; when will q note reach himf"
III dare say at ten tomorrow morning"
THAT will do fine. GIVE me my book
and the ink. ann afford to lose time"
With many u muttered. in~articulate,
self-addressed comment, and n more dis
tinct complaint OF his dim eyes, his un-
steady hand, his general debility and rapid
decline, he managed to fill W. sides OF
uote-paper, which he put in an envelope
and carefully fastened IL up. requesting
Mona to address it to her cousin. Then be
sat silently watching her.
Yen send it safe and sure to the post"
Certainly; | will go myself. The SER
want is out, and so il Madame D.brisay-
The post-pillar is within n hundred yards"
"Ay, do-that's "A kind lassic; and you'll
come back to mer ] am varra weary the
eight! Eth, bat nm worn wi poor health
MAR than wi years"
Mola 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 n 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, ana
surmised that he was in debt, and afraiI
to ask his uncle for help.
"And no wonder" added the kindly
Irish woman. Pm sure Id rather go into
e 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
a. tight as he does; and ! like the young
man, though ] don't like to see him come
between his uncle AID yourself"
81 do not fancy Kenneth has a debt or a
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, and asked
Mona to take a walk with him, She read.
lily complied, and they were sooa on their
way to their fayor,te recreation ground,
kensington Gardens.
Kenneth wa unusually silent. lie an.
swered Mona's remarks rs briefly as posi-.
bic. seeming embarrassed and preoccupied.
At length, having skirted the round pond,
they slackened their pace rs they got M.
der the shelter OF the trees, and walked
down the wide glade toward the Serpcn.
tine.
what Is the matter, kennetht" she
asked. II fancy you have something %
your mind. think you might tell ne.
You know take an interest in you, and
sympathize with you"
"Ah! that's just what my uncle says.
He wants mt 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 amazenent,
and looked straight at her companion.
How very unkind Of you" she eXclaim.
ed. II did not think You would reject me
En- That's what my uncle says. lie
believes you are very fond OF me, but |
cannot see il; and. oh. Mona, he swears he
will leave all his money away from both
OF us If we don't marry; and | will never
call any woman wife but my sweet Mary
little Mary Black-the s~chool-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, I will not inter
fcre with you. Now, I'll help you to the
best of my ability; but ~first-please II pro
pose 10 me in due form"
You understand lam pledged to Mary
do not mention her at present"
"Well, then: will you marry me Mona''
"No. Kenneth. feel honored by YOU
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, ii 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 | nave utterly refused
you-then propose TO 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 withit."
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 lurk.
ing in the shadowy recesses Of the heart.
BY the time they reached Westoourne
Villas, he had talked himself into q con.
yiction that his wedding was not so far of
after all. But at the garden gate, terrible
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 wilr'-Qt was not neces.
sary to name the object Of their dread)-
but you must throw all the blame on me-
remember, Kenneth, 1t is quite true. II
tntiS "a ~ -haAy III ~ SasS, YUAN hos
marry you"
There will be somebody else then" he
said, with innocent conceit.
Never mind about that, Kenneth.
Think - IL 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 TO take
off her cloak and hat, and Kenneth. with
slow, reluctant steps. went up to face I'm
Gle Sandy.
"Oh, Deb!" cried Mona, throwing her
self into a chair beside that good lady,
who, on the door being opened, hastily hid
the stocking she had been darning under
the table. 'Oh, Deb, support ME! l have
been cruelty and heartlessly rejected BY
Kenneth Mncalister."
"Whyl Grand Dieu! What do you
mean," asked Nine. Debrisay. impatient.
ly. while she hunted vigorously for heI
needle. "Ahi here it is! Now don't tall
riddles and conundrums."
Whereupon Mona repeated the substance
of her conversation with Kenneth.
"Why, what has come to that cantank
erous cripple, your uncle, that he should
think of such a marriage for your Tha
long-legged Highlander isn't fit to wip,
your shoes-a creature that has only ex
changed his native wilds for O den O
thieves In the city. Why he isn't fit to 81
In tha sama room with Won Won kpow