Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1898-06-25
.0vE'S VICTORY
BY BERTHA NJ. CLAY.

the blue sky seemed nearer to her.
Speak to me, Sane!' she cried; ~ am
frightenedv'
lie drew her nearer 10 him.
ut Is only fancy. my darling. When one
has anything weighty 10 say, II seems as
though earth and sky were listening. Look
at me, think of me. and tell me all"
she could never remember how she began
her s%tory-how she told him the whole his
tory OF her life-of the happy years spent
with her father In the Rue d'Orme, when
she learned TO love art and nature, when she
learned to love truth for It's own sake, aud
was brought up amidst those kindly, simple
hearted artist friends, with such bitter scoTn,
such utter contempt OF all conYeRtionalities
of her keen aud passionate sorrow when
her father died, and Sir Oswald took her
home to Darrell Court, telling her that her
past life was at an end forever, and that even
the name she had inherited from her father
must be changed for the name Of her race
how after a time she had grown 10 love her
HON with a keen, passionate love, born OF
pride In her race and In her name-of the
fierce battle that ragged always between her
stern, uneGinproinising truth and the worldly
polish Sir Oswald would have had her ac-
quire.
She concealed nothing from him. telling
aim of her faults as well as her trials. She
gave him the whole history of Aubrey Lang
tons wooing, and her contemptuous rejec-
ton OF his suit.
81 was so proud, Vane," she said humbly.
Heaven was sure 20 punish me. | surround
ed myself, as Il were, with n barrier OF pride.
scorn, and contempt, and my pride has been
brought low
She told him OF Sir Oswald's anger at her
refusal to marry Aubrey, OF her uucle's threat
that he would marry and dijinlerit, her, OF
her scOrnful diSbcliet-thcre was no incident
forgotten; and then she came To the evening
when Sir Oswald had opened the box to take
out the diamond ring, and had spoken before
them all OF the roll Of bauk-notcs placed
there.
THAT night, Vane," she said, there was
a strange unrest upon me-. I could not sleep.
l have had the same sensation when the air
has been ~oyerchargcd with electricity before
a storm; / seemed to hear strange noises. my
heart beat, my face was flushed and hot
every nerve seemed to thrill with pain. |
opened the window. thinking that the cool
night air would drive the fever from my
brain.
AS | sat there in the profound silence, |
heard, as plainly as | hear myself speaking
now, fOo~tStepS-quiet, stealthy footsteps-go
past my door.
Let me explain to you that the library,
where my uncle kept his casii-box and his
papers, is ON the ground floor; on the floor
above that there are several guests-chambers,
Captain l.angtOn slept In one Of these. Ny
uncle slept on the third floor. and, in order
TO reach his room, was obliged to 90 through
the corridor where the rooms OF Miss Hast
ings and myself were.
II heard those quiet, stcalthy footsteps,
Nane, and my heart for a few moments beat
painfully.
But the Darrells Were never towards. L
went 10 my door aud opened it gently. l
could see 10 the very end OF the corridor, for
at the end there was a large arclicd window,
and q faint gray light coming from il show
ell me a stealthy figure creeping silently from
Sir Oswald's room; the gray light showed
me also a glimmer of steel, and | knew, al
most b. instinct, that that silent figure car
ried Sir 0swald'S keys in its hands.
''In u moment | had taken my resolve. /
pushed my door TO, but did not close il; l
took OIL my slippers, lest they should make a
sound, and followed the figure down stairs.
AS | have said before, the DdrTclls were new
er towards; no dread came to me; l was in
tent upon one ~thing-thc detection OF the
w%rongdoer.
Not more than a minute passed while i
was taking of my shoes, but when | came 70
the foot Of the grand staircase light and fig
ure had both disappeared. i cannot tell
what impulse led me 10 the l~ibrary-perhaps
the remembrance of Sir 0swald's money be-
ing there came to me. | crossed the hall and
opened the library door.
Though | had never liked Captain Lang
ton, the scene that was revealed To me came
upon me as a shoek-one that | shall never
forget. There was Captain Langton with
my uncle's cash-box before him and the roll
OF bank-notes in his hand. He looked up
when ] entered, and n terrible curse fell from
his llps--a frIghtful curse. His face was
fearful to see. The room lay In the shadow
OF dense darkness, save where the light he
carried shone like q faint star. The face it
showed me was one | shall never forget; it
was drawn, haggard, livid, with bloodless
lips and wild, glaring eyes.
'iic laid the bank-notes down, and, going
to the door, closed it softly, turning the key;
and then clutching my arm in a grasp Of iron,
he Kissed rather than said:
"'lVtat fiend has brought you hereY
'Hc did not brighten me, Vane; | have
never known fear. But his eyes were full Of
mnrderous hate, and / had an idea that he
r'ould have few scruples as to taking my
lite.
$50, Captain Aubrey Langton,' | said,
slowly. YOU are a thief! You are robbing
the old friend who has been so good TO your
ale dragged me to the table on which the
money lay, and then l saw a revolver lying
there, too.
Zone word he Missed, 'one whisper above
yonr breath, and you shall diev
II know my face expressed 10 fear-noth-
ing but scorn and contemplation his grew
more livid as he watched me.
at Is all your faultv he Kissed into my
ear; ii is your accused pride that has driven
mo to this! Why did you not p',mise to
marry me when my life lay In your handsg
Il %laughed-the idea OF q Darrell married
10 this midnight thief!
~ told you | was a desperate man. he
went on. 4 pleaded with you, 1 prayed 10
you, l laid my life at your feet, and you
trampled on IL with scom. l told you of my
debts, my difficulties, and you laughed at
them. II | could have gone back to London
betrothed to sou, every city Insurer would
nave been willing to lend mt money. ! am
driven TO this, for l cannot go back to face
ruin. You have driven me to 1t; you are the
thief, though my hands take the money.
Your thriee-accursed pride has ruined met
~ shall go to Sir Oswald I said, and
wake him. You shall not rob himr
"'Yes,' he returned, 4 shall. l defy you.
/ dare you; you shall tell no one.'
ale took the revolver from the table and
held IL to my head; | felt the cold steel touch
my forehead.
Now hesaid. your life Is In your own
hands; you must take an oath not to betray
me, or | win fire.
~ am not afraid to die; l would rather
die than hide such sin as yours. You can
not brighten me; l shall call for assistance.
"'wait a moment he said, still keeping
that cold steel TO my forehead, and still keep