Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1898-04-09
LOVES VICTORY
ny BERTHA NJ. CLAY.

"Oh, aunt she said, Il Ike the captain 50
much betterI'
Lady Hampton did not lose her good hui
mor-Ellnor was not the FIRST refractory girl
she had brought to her senses.
"Ncver mind about liking the captain. my
dear; that Is only natural. He Is not in love
with you. | can see through the whole bust
ness. II Darrell Court goes to Miss Darrell,
he will marry her. He can marry no girl
without money, because he is, | know, over
head and ears IN debt Major Penryn was
speaking of him to-day. The only way 10
prevent his marriage with Miss Darrell is for
You TO take Sir Oswald yourself."
Elinor's face flushed.
Lady Hampton certainly understood the
art of evoking the worst feelings. Jealousy,
envy, and dislike stirred family in the gentle
heart OF her niece.
~ hope you will DO your very best to win
Sir 0Swald's affections continued Lady
Hampton, "for / should not like to see Oar
rell Court fall into the hands Of that proud
girl"
Nor should l." assented Miss ROCKFORD.
The evening OF the ball arrived at last, and
Lady Hampton stood like a fairy godmother
in Elinor's dressing-room, experimenting
the toilet that was 10 work such wonders.
LdUO Ildulptbn utIStll IOOhNu NNlg ihipOoAfh
in her handsome dress of black velvet and
point lace, with diamond ornaments. Eli
nor's dress was q triumph OF art Her fresh,
fair, gentle loneliness shOne ~ perfection,
aided by her elaborate costume of white silk
and white lace, trimmed with green and sill
Yer leaves. The ornaments were all of sill
ver-both fringe and leaves; the head-dress
was a green wreath with sil"er flowers.
Nothing could have been more elegant and
effective. There was a gentle flush on the
fair face and a light in the blue eyes.
That will do, Elinor." said Lazy Hamp-
ton, complacently. Your dress is pertec-
ton. have no fear now-you will have no
rival"
Perhaps Lady Hampton had never dislik-
ed Pauline Darrell more than on that night,
for the magnificent beauty OF the girl had
never been so apparent. Sir Oswald had
given his niece carte blanche In respect 10
preparation for the ball, but she had not at
first taken sufficient interest In the matter TO
send 10 London, as he wished, for q dress.
Later on she had gone TO the large wardrobe,
where the treasures accumulated by the
Ladies Darrell lay. Such shining treasures
of satin, velvet, silk, cashmere, and such
profusion OF laces and ornaments were there.
She selected a superb cOStume-a magnih-
cent amber brocade, embroidered with white
flowers, gorgeous, beautiful, artistic. IL was
a dress that had been made for sOme former
Lady Darrell
How well IL became her! The amber set
of her dark beauty as golden frame does a
rich picture. The dress required but little
alteration: il was cut square, showing the
white, stately, graceful neck, and the sleeves
hung after the Grecian fashion, leaving the
round white arms bare. The light shining
upon the dress changed with every move.
ment: it was as though the girl was enyelOp-
ed In sunbeams. Every lady present enyied
tia: dress, ard pronounced 1t to be gorgeous
beyond comparison.
faullne's rich curls OF dark hair were stud
ded with diamond stars, and a diamond
necklace clasped her white throat-this was
Sir Oswald's present. Her artistic taste had
found yet further scope; for she had en-
HANGED the beauty OF her dress by the addi-
ton OF white daphnes shrouded in green
leaves.
Sir Oswald looked at her i'm admiration
her magnificent beauty, her queenly figure,
her royal grace and ease OF movement, her
splendid costume, all impressed him. From
every fold Of her shining dress came a rich,
sweet, subtle perfume; her usually pale face
had on il an unwonted flush of delicate rose
leaf color.
"If she would but be like that sweet Eli
norr' thought Sir Oswald, II could not wish
for a more beautiful mistress for Darrell
Court
She stood by his side while he received his
guests, and her dignifed ease delighted him.
Had she been some Eastern queen" he
| sbn.,ht tshnr aaaaptriaifiae Nynul1 ha va hurf
no one. As 1t is" and Sir Oswald con-
Guided his sentence by a grave shake of the
head.
The captain, pleased with Miss Roche
ford's graceful loneliness, had been amusing
himself by paying her some very choice com
pliments, and she was delighted with them
IF Sir Oswald were only like him!' she
thought; and Aubrey Langton, meeting the
timid, gentle glance, said TO himself that he
must be careful-he had no wish 70 win the
girls heart-he should be quite at a loss to
know what TO do with it.
When he saw Pauline his courage almost
failed him.
allow am I to ask that magnificent girl to
marry me?" he said.
Sir Oswald had expressed a wish that Au-
brey and Pauline would open the ball; il
would give people an idea Of what he wish
ed, he thought, and prevent other gentlemen
from turning her head" by paying her any
marked attention. Yet he knew how dlfii-
cult it would be for any one to win Pauline's
regard. She made no objection when he ex-
pressed his wish to her, but she did not look
particularly pleased.
Captain Langton understood the art OF
dancing better perhaps than the art of war
he was perfect In it-even Pauline avowed
it. With him dancing was the very poetry
OF motion. The flowers, the lights, the sweet,
soft music, the fragrance, the silyery sound of
laughter, the fair faces and shining jewels
or the ladies, ali stirred and warmed Pau
lines imagination; they brought bright and
vivid fancies TO her, and touched the poetical
beauty loving soul. A glow came over her
face, a light into her proud, dark eyes, her
lips were wreathed In smiles-no one had
ever seen Pauline so beautiful before.
You enjoy this, do you notg' said Aubrey
Langton as he watched her beautiful face.
II shall do SO" she replied, very mucn
indeed;'' and at what those words implied
the captains courage fell to zero.
He saw how many admiring eyes followed
her; he knew that all the gentlemen in the
room were envying him in his position with
Miss Darreli. lie knew tnaL pretty as SoHit
of the girls were, Pauline outshone them q:
the sun outshlnes the stars; and he knew
that she was queen OF the fete-queen OF the
ball.
This is the first time you have met many
of the county people, is 1t notg' he asked.
She looked round indlfferently.
YES, Il Is the first time" she replied.
ado you admire any OF the men? know
how different your taste Is from that of mosI
girls. Is there any one here who has pleased
youY'
She laughed.
Il cannot cll," she answered; you forgeI
this Is the first dance. l have had no oppor-
tunity OF Judging"
II believe that i am jealous already" he
observed.
She looked at him her dark eyes made his
heart beat, they seemed 10 look through hin