Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1897-04-17

III aii llt ueSOlduOD Oh SOLITARY space. abu
left the famous restorative air free to build
up dilapidated nerves, without an object 10
binder its passage ut any point Of the CON-
pass. The lonely. drab-colored road that led
to the nearest town offered 20 visitors taking
airings a view of a low, brown object in the
distance, said to be the convent in which The
nuns lived, secluded from mortal eyes. At
one side OF the hotel the windows looked on
a little wooden pier sadly In want Of repair.
On the other side a walled Enclosure accom-
modated yachts Of light tonnage, stripped OF
their rigging, and sitting solitary or "a bank
OF mud until their owners wanted them. In
this n%eighborhOod there was a small ontly-
ing colony OF shops; one that sold fruits and
fish: one that dealt In groceries and tobacco;
one shut up, with a bill in the window invit-
ing a tenant, and one, behind the methodist
chapel, answering the double purpose OF a
postofiiee and a stOrehouse for ropes and
Goals. Beyond these objects there was moth
ing land this was the great charm Of the
place. to distract the attention of invalids,
following the doctors directions, and from
morning TO night taking care of their health.
The time was evening: the scene was one
OF the private sitting-rooms IN the hotel, and
the purpose in view was a little tea party.
Rich Mrs. Romsey, connected with com
meree as wife of the CHIEF partner in the firm
OF Romsey d Renshaw, was staying at the
hotel in the interests of her three children.
They were OF delicate constitution; their
complete recovery, after severe illness which
had passed from one TO the other, was less
speedy than had been anticipated, and the
doctor had declared that the nervous system
was, in each case, more or less in need Of re-
pair. To arrive at this conclusion, and to
recommend n visit To Sandyseal, were events
which followed eara4 other medically speak
ing) as a matter OF course.
The health OF the children had greatly inn
proved: the famous air had agreed with
them, and the discovery of new playfellows
had agreed with them. They had made ae-
quaintance with Lady Myris's well-bred
boys, and with Mr.. Ormond's charming lit
tie Kitty. The most cordial good feeling had
established itself among the mothers. Owing
a return for inequalities received from Lady
Myrie and Mrs. Ormond, Mrs. R0msey had
invited the two ladies 10 drink ten with her,
in honor OF am interesting domestic event.
Her husband, absent on the continent for
some time past on business connected with
his firm, had returned 10 England, and had
that evening joined his wife and children at
Sandyseal.
Lady Myrie had arrived and Mr.. ROmsey
had been presented to her. Mrs. Ormond,
expected to follow. was represented by a
courteous note of apology. She was not well
that evening, and she begged to be excused.
This is a great disappointment, Mrs.
Romsey said To her husband. you would
have been charmed with Mrs. Ornond-
highly-bred, accomplished, a perfect lady.
49, LhAl aa.san 40 - .aVrl NuA -.
ure will be an early one, and | shall find an
opportunity, my dear, OF introducing you to
my friend and her sweet little Kitty"
Mr.. Romsey looked interested for a mo-
ment when he first heard Mrs. OrmOnd's
name. After that he slowly stirred his tea
and seemed 10 be thinking instead of listen
ing 10 his wife.
Have you made the lady's acquaintance
here?' he inquired.
"Yes-and hope 1 have made a friend Tor
life" Mrs. Romsey said with enthusiasm.
"And so do l." Lady Myrie added.
Mr.. Rolnsey yer on with his inquiries.
AIS she a handsome woman"
Both the ladies answered the question to
gether. Lady Myrie described Mrs. Ormond
in one dreadful word-as classical BY
comparison with this Mrs. Romsey's reply
was Ineligible. mo even illness can spoil
her beauty ~
The sort of headache she has got to-
niglt?' Mr.. Romsey satirically suggested.
Don't be ill-natured, dear! Mrs. Ormond
Is here by the advice of one OF the first physi-
clans in London; she has suffered under Sc
rious troubles, poor thing"
Mr.. ROmsey persisted in being satirical.
Connected with her h~usoand%' he asked.
Lady Myrie entered a protest She was a
widow; and it was notorious among her
friends that the death of her husband had
been the happiest event in her married life.
But she understood her duty to herself as a
respectable woman. II think. Mr.. Romsey,
you might have spared that cruel allusion,"
she said with dignity.
Mr.. Romsey apologized. lie had his rea-
SONS for wishing TO know something more
about Mrs. Ormond; he proposed To with
draw his last remark, and to put his inquiries
under another form. Might he ask his wife
If anybody had seen Mr.. Ormond?
NO"
"Or heard of him?'
Mrs. Romsey answered in the negative
once more, and added a question on her own
account. What did all this mean?
"lt means" Lady Myrie i~nterposed, "what
we poor women are all exposed to--scandal."
She had not yet forgiven Mr.. Romsey's al
fusion, and she looked at him pointedly as
she spoke. There are some impcnetrable
men on whom looks produce no impression.
Mr.. Romsey was one Of them. He turned to
his wife and said, quietly: What l mean
is, that l know more of Mrs. Ounond than
you do. / have heard of her-never mind
how or where. She is a lady who has been
celebrated in the newspapers. Don't be
alarmed. She is no less a person than the
divorced Mrs. Linley."
The two ladies' looked at each other in
blank dismay. Restrained by a sense of con-
jugal duty, Mrs. Romsey only INDUCED In an
exclamation. Lady Myrie, independent of
restraint. expressed her opinion, and said:
Quite impossible!'
The Mrs. Ormond whom l mean,' Mr..
Ronsey went on, has, as l have been told,
a mother living. The old lady has been
twice married. Her name Is Mrs. Presty."
This settled the question. Mrs. Presty was
established, in her wv proper person, with
her daughter and ~grandchild at the hotel.
Lady Myrie yielded to the force OF evidence;
she lifted her hands in horror: This is too
dreadfulr'
Mrs. Romsey ooh a more compassionate
view of the disclosure. Perhaps the poor
lady is to be pitied." she gently suggested.
Lady Myrie looked at her friend in aston
ishment. MY dear, o must have forgot.
ten what the judge said about her. Surely
you read the report of the case in the news
papers,, "
mo; l heard of the trial, and that's ALI.
What did the Judge say?.,
"Sayr' Lady Myrie repeated. "What did
he not say! His lordship declared that he
had a great mind not to grant the divorce at
all. He spoke OF this dreadful woman who
has deceived us In the severest terms; he
said she had behaved in a most improper
manner. She had encouraged the abomin-
able governess. and, IL her husband had yield
ed to temptation, II was her fault. And more
besides that l don't remember"
Mr.. Romsey's wife appealed 10 him In de-
SPAR. what am l to dor she asked, help
lessly.
"Do nothing was the wise reply. Didn't
sou say she was going away Tomorrow
that's the worst of itv' Mrs. Romsey de-
clared. Her little girl Kitty gives a fare.
well dinner tomorrow to our children, and
I've promised to take them to say good-by."
Lady Myrie pronounced sentence without
hesitation, 'Of course your girls mustn't
go. Daughters! Think OF their reputation