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

Dnc lltdlu uiiH III idIluiONS ollcuCC. III
kiss had answered for her.
At that crisis IN their lives they were save,
by an accident; q poor little common acci
dent that happens every day. The spring Ia
the bracelet that Sydney wore gave way a
she held him to her: the bright trinket fell
on the grass nj her feet. The man never no
ticed II. The woman saw her pretty orna-
ment rs il dropped nom her arm-saw, and
remembered Mrs. Linley's gift.
Cold and p%ale-with horror of herself con-
fesscd in the action, simple as il was-she
drew back from him in dead silence.
He was astounded. In tones that trembled
with agitation he said TO her: Are you ill?'
shameless and wicked she answered.
Not ILL.," She pointed TO the bracelet or
the grass. Take il up; | am not fit to touch
it, Look on the inner side"
He remembered the Inscription: 40 sgd
ney Westerlield 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; | despise myself. / have lived
among vile people, and | am vile like them"
She moved Il few steps away with a heavy
sigh. kitty! y she said to herself. Poor
little Kitty!'
lie followed her. "Why are you thinking
OF the child" he asked, lat such a time as
this?'
She replied without returning on looking
round; distIust Of herself had inspired her
with terror OF Linley from the time when the
bracelet had dropped on the grass.
Il can make but one dtUnement,' she said.
I'VE must see each other no more. | must
say good-by 10 kitty-l must 90. Help me
TO submit to my hard lot; | must 60"
He set her no example of resignation; he
sbrank from the prospect that she presented
To him.. Where ale YOU 10 go If you leave
usT' he asked.
Away from England! The farther away
from OF the better for both of us. Help me
with your interest; have me sent TO the new
world in the west with other emigrants. Give
Inc something TO look forward 10 that is not
shame and despair. Let me do something
that is innocent and good ;aay find a trace
of my poor lost brother. Oh, lei me go! Let
me gO!'
Her resolution shamed him. He rose TO
her level ia spite Of himself.
81 dare not tell you that YOU are wrong"
he said. Il only ask you To wait u little till
we are calmer before You speak of the future
again. He pointed to the summer house.
'Go in, my poor girl. Rest and compose
yourself while | try 10 think"
He left her ana paced up and down The
formal walks in the garden. Away from the
maddeniug fascination OF her presence his
mind grew clearer. lie resisted the tempta-
ton to think of her tenderly; he set himself
10 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 earti. l.inley looked
YEARLY toward the eastern heaven. The
darkness dauuted him; h, saw IN it the slad-
ow of his own sense Of guilt. The gray glinl-
mering of the dawn, the songs of birds as the
pure light softly climbed the sky, reused and
relieved him. With the first radiant rising
of the sun he returned 10 the summer house.
"Do | disturb your he asked, waiting at
the door.
mo"
"Will you come Odt AID speak TO me?"
She Appealed at the door, waiting TO hear
what he had to say 10 her.
IL must ask yOu TO submit TO a sacrifice OF
Your own feelings" he began. "When |
kept away from you in the d~rawing.rUom
last night-whcn my strange conduct made
you fear that you had offended mel was
y lliS W VIM Iltt W lANN 4 ON0A ~ IL EObu
wife. / have been think!Ds of her again.
We must spare her a ais, overy too terrible TO
be endured While her attention is claimed by
the guests who are now in the house. In n
weeks time they will leave us. VIII you
consent TO keep up appearances? viii you
live with us as usual until we are left by our
sclyes"'
1T shall be done, Mr., Linley. only ask
one favor Of you. My worst enemy is my
own miserable, wicked heart. Oh, don't you
understand me2 ! am ashamed TO look at
you!"
He had only TO examine ais own 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 shdddered ut that open recognition OF
the guilty love which united them I'm spite of
their horror OF ii, and took refuge from him
in the summer house. Not a word more pass
ed between them until the unbarring of doors
was heard in the stiffness of the morning and
the smoke began 10 rise from the kitchen
chimney. Then he returned aud spoke 10 her.
You can get back 10 the hoaSc," he said.
$50 up by the front stairs, and you will not
meet The servants at this early hour. If 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 ill.,"
She bent her head Ia silence. He looked
after her rs she FASTENED away from him
over the lawn; conscious Of admiring her,
conscious Of more than he dare realize to
hin.self. When she disappeared he turned
! i,..I IA. ,r.,t ,4ln.. .l. .-l -. ..at.4.,.
With lis seusc Of the duty he owed 10 his wife
pci .,eEtiy present 10 his mind, the memory
of that fatal kiss stlll lett its vivid impress
s!on on him. What a ScoGndrel | am" he
said 10 himself as he stood alone In the sum.
mer-house, looking at the chair which she
had just left.