Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1898-03-26
CHAPTER sI.
n

ms gracious presence, tile heat and warmth
were great; the air was laden with perfume,
and the birds were all singing as though they
knew that the sun would soon reappear.
One glance at her pupils face showed Miss
Hastings there was not much TO be done In
the way OF study. Pauline wanted 10 watch
the mist rise from the hills and trees. She
wanted 10 see the sunbeams grow bright and
golden.
Let Us read under the lime trees, Miss
Hastings" She said, and Captain Langton
smiled approval. For the time was come
when he followed her like her shadow;
when he could not exist out OF her presence;
when his passionate love mastered him, and
brought him, "A very slave, TO her feet; when
the hope OF winning her was deafer to Lin
than life Itself; when he would have sacri.
feed even Darrell Court for the hope OF call
ing her his wife.
IL she knew OF his passion, she made no
sign; she never relaxed from her naughty,
careless Indifference; she never tried in the
least to make herself agreeable to him.
Sir Oswald watched her with keen ewes.
and Miss Hastings trembled lest misfortune
should come upon the girl she was learning
to love SO dearly. She saw and understood
that the baronet was slowly but surely max
ing up his mind; If Pauline married the cap
tain, he would make her his heiress; If not,
She would never inherit Darrell Court.
On this August morning they formed a
pretty group under the shadowy, graceful
lines. Miss Hastings held in her hands
some Of the fine fancy work which delights
ladies; the captain reclined n a tiger-skin
rug on the grass, looking very handsome,
for, whatever might be his faults of mind, he
was one Of the handsomest men in England.
Pauline, as usual, was beautiful, graceful,
and piquant, wearing a plain morning dress
of some gray materlal--a dress which on any
one else would have looked plain, but which
she had made picturesque and artistic by a
dash Of searlet-and a p0megranate blossom
in her hair. Her lovely face looked more
than usually noble under the influence Of
the words she was reading.
"Tennyson again. said the captain. as shc
opened the book. 1T Is 10 be regretted that
the poet cannot see you. Miss Darrell, and
know how highly You appreciate his works"
She never smiled nor blushed at his com
pliments, as she had seen other girls do. She
had a fashion OF fixing her bright eyes on
him, and after one glance he generally was
overcome with confusion before his compli-
mcnt rao cnucu.
II should not imagine that anything | could
say would flatter a poet" she replied thought
fully. Indeed he is, l should say, rs far
above blame rs praise"
Then, without noticing him further, She
went on reading. Captain Langton's eyes
never left her face; its pale, grand beauty
glowed and changed. the dark eyes grew ra-
diaut, the BEAUTIFUL lips quiyered with mo
ton. He thought 10 himself that a nan
rni0ht Law bOxvp HE Iifa anl apary hnpa I'm IL
10 WIN .ch love as hers.
Suddenly she heard the sound OF voices,
and looking up saw Sir Oswald escorting two
ladies.
what a tiresOme thiHgr' grumbled the
captain. I'VE can never be alone a single
hour"
81 thought you enjoyed society so much"
she said.
II am beginning to care for no society on
earth but yours" he whispered, his face
flushing, while she turned haughtily away.
You are proud" murmured the captain
to himself, "you are as naughty as you are
beautiful; but ] will win you yet"
Then Sir Oswald, with his visitors. adj
vanced. 1t was Pauline's aversion, Lady
Hampton, with her niece, Miss ROCKFORD.
Lady Hampton advanced in her usual
grave, artificial manner.
"Sir Oswald wanted to send for you, but L
said no. What cSn be more charming than
such a group undeSthe trees? j am so anX-
ious TO introduce my niece to You, Miss OAR
rell-she arrived only yesterday. Ellnor, let
me introduce you TO Miss Darrell, Miss Hast
ings, and Captain Langton."
Pauline's dark eyes glanced at the blush
ing, sweet face, and the shrinking, graceful
figure. Miss Hastings made her welcome;
and the captain, stroking HIS mustache,
thought himself in luck for knowing two
such pretty girls.
There could not have been a greater con-
trast than Pauline Darrell and Elinor Roche
ford. Pauline was dark, proud, beautiful,
passionate, naughty, and willful, yet with a
poets soul and a grand mind above all
w%orldliness, ali meanne,s, al Srt!ace. Eiiao:
was tImid, shrinking, graceful, lovely, with
a delicate, fairy-like beauty, yet withal keen
" alive 10 the main chance, and never for
getting her aunt's great maxim-to make tho
best of everything for herself.
On this warm August msrnins Miss Roche
ford wore q charming gossarner costume of
lilac and white, with the daintiest OF Partisan
hats on her golden head. Her gloves, shoes,
laces, parasol, were perfection-not a fold
was out of place, not a ribbon awry-con-
trasting most forcibly with the grand, pict.
uresque girl near her.
Lady Hampton seated herself, and Miss
Rocneford did the same. Sir Oswald sug'
costing how very refreshing grapes and
peaches would be on so warm n morning,
Captain Langton volunteered to go and order
some. Lady Hampton watched him as he
walked away.
"What a magnificent man, Sir Oswald
What a fine clever facet 1t is easy to see
that he Is a military mamie is SO upright,
so easy; there Is nothing like a military train
ing for giving o man an easy, dignihed car
rage. / think | understood that he was the
SON of q very old friend Of yours?"
seThe son OF the dearest friend l ever had
I'm the world" was the reply; land l love
him as though he were my own-lndeed ]
wish he WERE"
Lady Hampton sighed and locked sympa'
thetic.
tone-sis he one OF the Langtons OF Order
"No," replied Sir Oswald; my dear old
friend was Of a good family, but not greatly
blessed by fortune"
II was wonderful TO see how Lady Hamp-
hons interest in the captain at once died out
there was no more praise, no more admira'
ton for him. II she had discovered that ne
was heir to an earldom, how different II
would have beenl Before long the captain
returned, and then q rustic table was spread
under the lime trees. with purple grapes,
peaches crimson aud gold apricots, and rud'
dy plums.
tits quite picturesque Lady Hampton
! declared with y sutle. "mdEHnof.d earchiid