Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1898-06-18
LnniIEn 4-i;;Vr.
PRIDE Low.

not go beyond 1.-THE golden present was
enough for her. The full, happy, glorious
life that beat In her heart and thrilled in her
veins could surely never be more gladstone.
She loved and was beloved. and her lover
was a king among mcn-a noble, tue-heart-
ed gentleman, the very ideal of that OF which
She had always dreamed, she did not wish
for any change. The sunrise was blessed be-
cause it brought him 10 her; the sunset was
as dear, for it gave her time 10 dream of him.
She had n secret longing that this might go
on forever; she had q shy fear and almost
child.likc dread of words that must be spok-
en-, seeing that, let them be said when they
would, they must bring a great change into
her life.
In this she was unlike Sir Vane; the prize
he hoped TO win seemed TO hin so beautiful,
so valuable, that he was in hourly dread lest
Others should step In and try TO take it from
him-lest by some mischance he should lose
that which his whole soul was bent upon
winning.
He understood the girliSh shyneSs and
sweet fear that had changed the queenly wo-
man into n timid girl; he l9ved her all the
more for ii, and he was determined to win
her if she was TO be won. Perhaps she read
that determination in his manner, for of late
pii' ltNN "NolNNN Illils Civ lNlllt'lll'A VIII
Miss Hastings, and when that refuge was
denied her, she sought Lady st. Lawrence;
but nothing could shield her long.
"Miss Darrell" said Sir Vanc one after
noon, 81 have a poem that | want to read to
YOU"
She was seated on a low stool at Lady st.
Lawrence's feet, her beautiful face flushing
at his words, her eyes dropping with shy,
sweet pleasure that was almost fear.
"Will you not read it TO me now, and
hereP' she asked.
no; II must be read by the sea. 1t is like
q song, and the rush of the waves is the ac-
compartment. Miss Hastings, if you have
brought up your pupil with any notion of
obedience, enforce it now, please. Tell Miss
Darrell to put on her hat and com down 10
the shore"
Miss Hastings smiled.
you are too old now, Pauline, TO be die
tated to In such matters" said Miss Hast
ings; 'but if Sir Nane wishes you to go out,
there is no reason why you should not oblige
him.
Lady ST. Lawrence laid her hand on the
beautiful head.
my son has few pleasures" she said;
give him this one"
Pauline complied. Time had been when
anything like a command had instantly
raised a spirit Of rebellion within her; but In
this clearer light that had fallen upon her
she saw things so differently; it was as
though her soul had eyes and they were Just
opened.
She rose and put on the pretty, plumed hat
which Miss Hastings brought for her; she
drew an Indian shawl over her shoulders.
She never once looked at Sir Vane.
"Iour goodness Is not only an act of chart
ty," he said, but IL Is also a case i'm which
virtue will be It's own reward. You have no
notion how beautifully the sun is shining on
the sea-
So they went out together, and Lady st.
Lawrence looked after them with q sigh.
"Shc is a most beautiful girl, certainly, and
/ admire her. If she only had Lillith Daven-
ants money!
Sir Nane and Pauline walked in silence
down to the shore, and then the former turn
ed to his companion.
miss Darrell" he said, twill you tel mo
why you were not willing to come out with
newly you have avoided me and turned
the light Of your beautiful face from me?"
Her face flushed, and her heart beat, but
she made no answer.
Il have borne my impatience well for the
last three days." he said; NOW ! must speak
to you, for | can bear it no longer, Pauline.
Oh, do not run away from me! l love you,
II | want you to be my wife-my wife,
darling; and will love you'll will cherish
you'll will spend my whole life In working
for you. | have no hope so great, so sweet,
so dear, as the hope Of winning you.
She made HIM no answer. Yet her silence
was more eloquent than words.
ut seems a strange thing TO say, but, Pau
line, l loved you the first moment / saw you.
Do you remember, love? You were sitting
with one of my books in your hand, and the
instant my eyes fell upon your beautiful face
a great calm came over me. j could not de-
scribe IL; l felt that in that minute my life
was completed. My whole heart went out
to you, and knew, whether you ever learn
ed to care for me or not, that you were the
only woman In all the world for me-"
She listened with a happy smile playing
round her beautiful lips, herdark eyes droop-
ing, her fiower-like face flushed and turned
from his.
you are my fate-my destiny! Ali! if
you love me-, Pauline-if you will only love
me, | shall not have lived in vain! Your
love would incitc me to win name and fame
not for myself, but for you. Your love
would crown a king-what would it not do
for me? Turn your face to me, Pauline?
You are not angry? Surely great love wins
great love-and there could be no love great
er than mine."
Still the beautiful face was ayerted. There
was the sunlight on the sea; the western
wind sighed around them. A great fear came
over him. Surely on this most fair sunny
day, his love was not to meet q cruel death.
His voice was so full of this fear when he
spoke again that she, in surprise, turned and
looked at him.
Pauline" he cried, "you cannot mean to
be cruel TO me. L am no coward, but [ would
rather face death than your rejection
Then it was that their eyes met; and that
which he saw in hers was q revelation to
him. The next moment he had clasped her
to his heart, and was pouring out a torrent OF
passionate words-such words, so tender, so
loving, so full of passion and hope, that her
face grew pale as she listened, and the beau
tiful figure trembled.
II have frightened you, my darling" he
said, suddenly. "Ahl do forgive me. / was
half mad with Joy. You do not know how
l have longed to tell you this, yet feared
l knew not what-you seemed so far above
me-, sweet. See, you are trembling now! |
am as cruel as q man who catches in his
hands a white dove that he has tanned, and
hurts il by his grasp. Sit down here and
rest, while / tell you over and over again, in