Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1897-12-18
CHOICE.
By MRS. ALEXANDER

said Uncle Sandy, wnen they all re-assem-
Sled In the library where a wood fire was
tracking. "But ! Gamma say that she
seems to me q wiselike ane. There's Just
uaething she will ma put her tongue 10;
aeither is there onything that is respeckit
by her. She is ay interrupting an moider-
ing aulder and wiser folk than herself.
She has wandered to and fro, and seen a
walth Of places; but it has no improved her
Intelligence. for when as said an dune,
,he Is just n haverin' taupy"
"Eh. Mr.. Craig, but you are cruel to
speak so OF a Teddy that Kenneth is so
pleased with, and who is 80 taken up with
Tim" said Mary, with q pretty, saucy
ymile.
az Wish TO hear nae mair ABBOTT her, said
Jncle Sandy, drawing an armchair a
he hre, and tumbling into 1t, while ms
tick, catching under the fire-irons, up
.eayed them with a huge clanR. III yon
tay here, Just bide still. for ! want a little
lpep TO max up for what that stormy wo-
nan broke In upon, and il ye Gamma, just
.ang in the other ROOM"
The young people readily took the !
md I'm the drawing-room held high councli
The topic under discussion was Mary's
eturn home. She thought she had been
rway long enough. But Mona strongly
Urged her remaining.
"You are rapidly becoming a prime fav-
rite with my uncle, and you must rivet
,our chains before we venture to breach
he question OF your marriage. Let me
write TO your mother begging an extension
VI leave.''
This advice prevailed, Mary adding to
ser consent with a soft sigh
81 am just too happy here"
: The fine weather which had prevailed
'or some weeks nav broke mp, and Octo-
Der presented itself In gloomy guise, with
Wild winds and driving rain. which per-
nitted but little outdoor exercise 70 the
girls.
Uncle Sandy himself WAS n little com
planning and cranky: but, on the whole,
1iuslc and reading. the state OF the stocks,
and bookkeeping. with Kenneth's help,
Kept them tolerably amused during this
period Of imprisonment.
Isle made no sign. Mona was not sorry.
His presence. without having a distinctly
disturbing effect, awoke painful memories,
obliged her constantly to think before
she spoke. Atlength a fairly bright norm
Ing broke upon the deluged country, and
Mona undertook 10 drive into Klrktoun to
execute divers commissions
Uncle Sandy objecting TO be left alone,
Mona departed with only ''the boy" in at
tendance.
Having finished her business, she turned
horses head homeward, and had
TO walk mp the steep road which
led from the loch to C~raigdarroch, when a
sportsman, with dog and eun, suddenly
emerged from a small wood which filed a
sheltered hollow, and approached her.
Che recognized Lisle, and paused to speak
him.
at IS more than a fortnight since | saw
he exclaimed, in an aggrieved tone,
his keen light eyes sparkled with the
Joy OF seeing her, and his hard mouth re-
axed into a pleasant smile.
81 suppose IL Is" returned Mona, smil-
ng.
at Is a delightful day for walking. VIII
not tell your servant TO take the trap
nome, and let me have the pleasure OF es-
you by the short way TO the house"
Mona thought for a moment, and then
will"
Directing the boy TO go on, she walked
m beside Isle. and they turned off almost
Immediately by a path to the left, that led
~ n sleeper and more direct line to the
Isle opened the conversation by saying
g: FL. s:'s:s, ss:a.s=as.s-sraas
port OF your uncle INTENDING TO marry y5a
to his wild Highlander OF q nephew. It
cannot be true!"
"whyt" asked Mona, demurely.
"Whys A creature like that
"He Is very good looking, and most ami
able in disposition"
But one knows how an amiable dispo-
sition may fare at your hands" he returned
bitterly. Tell me, for Gods
sake. is 1t possible can contemplate
such a sacrifcei Do you really think OF
yourself with n mere respectable
farmer'"
'Pray remember, II you please, that
Kenneth Macallster Is my near kinsman;
he cannot be socially beneath me-"
II dare say you think me an ill-ored
brute, but you know how profoundly in
terested / have always been in you, and
once in a crisis in your fate, you permitted
me to advise you"
II do not think you waited for permits
stomp said Mona, with an arch smile.
"I think / nevei made such a mistake in
lifel / am always burning 10 fmplore
forgiveness for my idiotic suggestion"
"what is there to forgive'" she returned
gently. ION the contrary. / ought to be
grateful to you for breaking through the
principle Of non-intervention, which, Of
course, would have prevented a man or the
world doing anything so quixotic as TO OF
Ter a way of escape to damsel in distress.
May / tell you what my OWE state OF
mind was at that unhappy junctureF"
"No, no! There is no use In looking
backl Let us thank Heaven for the pres
IL do not" said Lisle, gloomily. But
10 not be enigmatic. You are not going
to marry this-this cousin OF yoursF
"No, Sir st. Johnr' returned Mona, as
an air Of sadness. II cannot, zee
Ing that he has rejected me-"
"whatI" cried Lisle; rejected your"
'Yes. / hope you lsympatnise wiz re
In the shock have receivedi But emmett
prefers not to marry me-"
''Then old Craig wanted to arrange q
marriagef"
HE did; but his purpose has ,oeen rus
tratedr' returned Mona, with tragic en-
phasis.
Isle laughed.
81 understand. l think" he said. I'm
agine any man refusing you! l did not
think You had SO much quiet sarcasm"
al am unaware of it," returned Mona.
"And you will not listen to my explanar
tion,"
81 do not see what you have to explain;
and, were any explanation necessary. there
Is no time: we are close to the house.
/ suppose You will come in and see Uncle
Sandy,"
A'Most certainly. But. Miss Craig. l
must insist-I mean, ! must imp,ore you
to hear the explanation l wish TO make"
~ really want none!-perhaps ! under
stand more than yon think"
~ fear you may understand In a wrong
way
here comes Uncle Sandy and Mary. II,
in a paroxysm Of hospitality, my uncle
asks you to supper. do not stay. ! know
the menu, and you would not like it."
Then h,ttening to meet them, she ex.
claimed