Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1897-01-23
,.sydney.n he Whispered. " love your,

one Htdiu uim III IdpHliOuS SiltIcc. neJ
kiss had answered for her.
At that crisis IN their lives they were save,
by an accident; = poor little common ncci
dent that happens every day. The spring Ia
the bracelet that Sydney wore gave way a.
she held him to her: the bright irinket fell
OH the grass at her feet. The man never no
ticed il. The woman saw her pretty orDa-
ment as IL dropped from her arm--saw, and
remembered Mrs. Linley's gift.
Cold and p%ale-with horror of herself con-
fessed in the action, simple as il wss-she
drew back from him In dead silence.
He was astounded. I'm tones that trembled
with agitation he said to her: Are you illy'
"Shameless and wicked" she answered.
Not ILL.," She pointed to the bracelet on
the grass. Take IL up; / am not tit to touch
IL. Look OF the inner side"
He remembered the inscription: ITO Sgd
ney Westeriield with Catherine Linley's
love" His head sank on his breast: he UNI
derstood her at last. ~ on despise me" he
said; ''and | deserve it,"
mo; l despise myself. l have lived
among vile people, and | am vile like them"
She moved a few steps away with a heavy
Sigh. Kitty she said to herself. Poor
little Kittyl'
lie followed her. why ale you thinking
OF the child" he asked, lat such a time as
thisy'
She replied without returning on looking
rdand; dlstiust of herself had inspired her
with terror of Linley from the time when the
bracelet had dropped on tie grass.
Il can make but one ~atOnement," she said.
I'VE must see each other no more. / must
say good-by to Kitty-I mist w. Help me
IN. sttI,ttt r. -. la.l yaA. \ ..st -z
lie set her no example of resignation: he
shrank from the prospect that she presented
10 him. Where are you 10 go if you leave
usr' he asked.
Away from England! The farther away
from on the better for both OF us. Help me
with your interest; have me sent to the new
world Ia the west with other emigrants. Give
Inc something to look forward to that is not
shame and despair. Let me do something
that IS innocent and good may find a trace
OF my poor lost brother. Oh, let me go! Let
me gO!'
Her resolution shamed him. He rose 10
her level in spite OF himself.
Il dare not tell you that you are wrong"
he said. Il only ask you 10 wait a little till
we are calmer before you speak of the future
again" He pointed to the summer house.
go in, my poor gill. Rest and compose
yourself while | try TO think"
Tie left her and paced up and down the
formal walks in the garden. Away from the
maddening fascination OF her presence his
mind grew clearer. lie resisted the tempta-
ton TO think of her tenderly: lie set himself
TO consider what IL would be well to do neXt.
The moonlight was seen no more. Misty
and stariess, the dark sky spread It's majestic
obscurity over the earth. Linley looked
YEARLY toward the eastern heaven. The
darkness daunted him; b. saw In it the shad-
Ow of his Owl sense of guilt. The gray glin-
merinx OF the dawn, the songs OF birds as the
pure hight softly climbed the sky, reused and
relieved him. With the tirs. radiant rising
of the sun he returned 10 the summer house.
'Do | disturb you?' he asked, waiting at
the door.
NO"
Twill you come oct ard speak TO me?'
She Appealed at the door, waiting to hear
what he had to say 10 her.
II must ask you 10 submit TO 4 sacrifice of
your W feelings" he began. when I
kept away from you in Inc d~rawing-rOom
last nlght-when my Strange conduct made
you fear that you had offended mel was
trying to remember what l owed 10 my good
wife. / have been ~thinklDg of her again.
We must spare her a discovery too terrible to
be endured while her attention Is claimed by
the guests who are now in the house. In a
weeks time they viii leave us. VIII you
consent to keep up appearances? VIII you
live with us as usual until We are left by our
~selyes?'
1T shall be done, Nj. Linley. / only ask
one favor OF you. My worst enemy is my
own miserable. wicked heart. Oh, don't you
understand me? / am ashamed TO look at
yoar'
He had only 10 examine ais W heart and
to know what she meant. Say no more,'
he answered, sadly. I'VE will keep as much
away from each other as we can"
She shuddered at that open recognition OF
the guilty love which united them In spite of
their horror OF IL, and took refuge from him
in the summer house. Not a word more pass
ed between them until the unbarring of doors
was heard i'll the stiffness of the morning and
the smoke began to rise from the kitchen
chimney. Then he returned and spoke TO her.
You can get back to the house, lie said.
$50 up by the front stairs, and you will not
meet the servants at this early hour. III they
do see YOU, you have your cloak on; they
will think you have been in the garden ear
lier than usual. AS you pass the upper door
draw back the bolts quietly, and | can let
! myself in."
She bent her head IL silence. He looked
after her rs ske fastened away from him
over the lawn; conscious OF sdmiring her,
conscious of more than be dare realize TO
himself. When she disappeared he turned
back 10 wait where she mad been waiting.
With iils sense of the duty he owed 10 his wife
peL..eEtiy present 10 his mind, the memory
of that fatal kiss still lett its vivid impress
sion on hin. What a scoandrel l an % he
said to himself Ms he stood alone i'm the sun
~mer-house, looking at the chair which she
had just left.