Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1898-01-01
M0NA'S CHOICE.
By MRS.

u u NtuAUt III Hot ptIliitt u 8oluk INV
o walk to the farm-yard or round the gar
den II IL did; tea and the newspaper; more
work or music on Mona's part, moro sleep
on Mr.. Craig's; q little talk with Kenneth,
then supper and bed. Day afterday alike.
Mona dill not think she could live through
another winter.
At last the post brought excitement.
surprise-an entirely new set OF ideas-~iD
a letter from Nine. Debrisay.
MY DEAREST MONA suppose you think
me one of the most worthless and migrate
full women in the world! Well, Just wait,
and you will excuse me. My dear, imagine
me writing behind a big fan to hide my
bushes! About n week ago ! had come in
very tired from one OF my first attempts to
do my usual days work, and was refresh
ing myself with a cup OF ten, when In
walked my general. l sent for another
cup, aud we sa' down cozily together.
"'You are looking very ill., he said, so
staccato that he made me jump:
81 dare say ] am, said ]. 1t is fatiguing
AT first. In another week | shall be all the
better for my work. IL would do me small
good 10 sit here alone
That's true he returned, as IL he felt
the truth I'm the bottom OF his heart; that's
Just what | think and we each drained n
goblet-no. | mean n emp. so deep was our
III ICllOI OtllL FtlAA = ~ a. ook " ttss
thoughts, 4 don't like TO see you killing
yourself
"'lndeed I do not want to do anything
of the kind; life is still worth living for me-
That's because you have a good heart"
he cried. fortissimo.
"'Don't %latter, said |.
al do not--I never did, SAID he. Now,
| am rather lonely-so are you: suppose
You come abroad with me and take care of
me' It's not much OF All offer 10 a hand
some woman still In her prime said he,
very civilly.
the world sayr
"'Well gag the world, my dear Madame
Debrissy, II you have no objection 10 so
through q little ceremony!
Good gracious, general ! cried, do
you want 10 marry me"
81 do said he, very stoutly. 4 haven't
much to offer YOU, but l CT leave you
enough for independence. We have both
borne the burden of the day, so let us spend
n peaceful evening together. | am q gruff
sort OF fellow, but not bad at heart: and
Iii not growl more than ! can help. Just
turn il over in your mind, and ! Will com"
tomorrow for an answer. III you say yes,
we might get things arranged, and start in
ten DAYS or so for Nice"
well dear, I have said Yes and |
think | have done well. We are 10 be mar
ried at the registry office, as neither OF US
are at the romantic age when we might
want 20 make a religious festival OF 1t.
Herr and Frau Nachtigall IRE TO To my
witnesses, and an ancient veteran, an old
comrade OF General Fielden's, is TO be his:
| think the dear old fellow Is quite fond OF
me. lie brings me presents every day: one
time n pair Of gloves lined with fur; then a
watch III belonged TO his wife, ] imagine,
but it is good and pretty, then a warm
cloak. He is strong in wraps, and is quito
cheerful about being married. Well, Mona,
I'll do my very best 10 make him happy
and comfortable. He is a good soul and a
real gentleman. lie sends his love TO you,
and says he is quite ready and willing to
adopt you at any time: so, dear, you
have not lost me-you have kept me and
gained another and a much more potent
friend. Write aud tell me what you think
of all this. | shall long 10 see you, and
Uncle Sandy must spare You to us when
we come back TO Paris In the spring.
Always your loving friend.
&c. DEBRIsAY."
Mona read this important communities
ton with sincerest pleasure. Il will go
and write n letter Of congratulation, and
will send her poor g~rannie's cat's-eye and
diamond bracelet for a wedding present;
IL Is the prettiest thing I have. i wonder
will my uncle think Of giving her any
4 litiC UNIV bNb~iCiithh q S'ANn Wa
heard tap-tapping rs he approached after
an expedition to the poultry-yard with
Kenneth.
"Oh, Uncle Sandy she cried, as he
came in and threw himself into his partic'
ular chair, II have just had q letter from,
Madame Debrisay. She Is going to b<
married.
Married. Aweel, there's nae fule like
an old falel III be bound she's goin' to
tax some I'D that might be her SOM he
exclaimed, with severe contempt.
You are wrong, uncle; she is going to
marry General Fielden-whO must be ff'
teen or twenty years older than she is-a
nice old gentleman, who wants someone
TO take care OF hin and make his last days
comfortable; so they think II wiser and
more respectable to be married."
That sounds mair reasonable. Has the
general ony siller' These soldier men scat
ter mair than they gather. It's just q mis-
fortin' to the country 10 have the like o
them to support"
"He is not rich,' returned Mona, leaving
her uncle's abstract observation unanswer'
ed, "but fairly well off-at least for al
they will want. am very, very glad Of
this news; for though dear Madame Deb
risay has worked SO hard. | do not think
she has laid by anything, and the time will
come when she can work no more
That's true. Mona; but it's no every
young lassie would think OF, an il mak's
me think o. yourself. I'll not forget you
my dearie; and I'll no put il of ony mair,
I'll 90 doom to Glasga', the week after
next, and see Mr.. C~ochran-that's my
man o. business-about putin a codicil Il
my will. Ye see, I hoped and hoped you
and Kenneth would max it cot together,
l wished ye bath to profit by my bits o
property-but that's a over"
Dear uncle, you must think OF Kenneth
first; then, il you like to remember me,
shall be very grateful"
"Tu not forget ye, But you mauna an
ger me; We do sometimes. You are q Draw
lassie-that I am not denyin'-but ye think
too much o. yourser-you think nae MOI
good enough for We. There's yon barone,
Sir st. John Isle he'd ask you to-mor
row IL you'd let him! lam auld and cauld
but Pm no sac dottled that l Gamma read
what's in q mons een-and he's a gran
gentleman. I'd like the folk to see Sandy
Craig's niece her leddyship.'"
"But. uncle, l thought you dcspised and
d~isapproved Of titless"
''Eh, they are just senseless toys, but
Gamma pit them Dol o. the world, and I ik'
the best o. a things to come to me ant
minel Then a fine rich man wouldna carr
for a tocher wi his wife, and so I'd ha,
mair for Kenneth-wha must marry som,
guide, respectable, well-to-do lassie, VIII,
will need siller wi her mon."
..oll ,.~~vn a. ~s,s1l h. tina enAu11
to talk about refusing Sir st. John Lisl'
when he asks me! Now ! am going Il
write to madame-what shall say 70
you"
"Eh, my best respects. an ! hope q bless
ing will LIGHT on her new undertaking
But I see the boy coming wi the bax; he'll
hae the ScotsmdA, sac ye must read . bitti,
FIRST. I'm varra keen to see how the elec