Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1898-08-06

WHY sg ANN1
smiling in the same cynical amused fash
ion as he went, you've been dreaming
dreaming in your chair, my lad, You had
better wake up now, and Il into your
berth properly"
CHAPTER III.
The cold, lsaden-hued dawn Of the wild
March morning was just breaking over
the stormy sen, where the dark, lowering
horizon blended in mist with the level
waste, the dismal gray of the tossing an
CRY waters; the gloom Of dreary sameness
relieved only by the deadly whiteness or
the fierce breakers frothing n surging
around the buried forms OF the dark rock
Titans, whose cruel ministers they were,
wreatbing their stony brows, their muir
dcrous, %iron-nailed arms, with the trophies
Of their pitiless Misunderstanding lengths
Of cleaning sea-weeds, shell, cncrusted,
torn from ocean homes afar, leaves and
grasses of other lands helplcssly drifted
out TO sea, wreaths of crushed blossoms
which had bloomed scores of miles away
from that barren headland and its wild
shore. Alasl there had been more pre-
cious gifts given by the fierce white crest
ed waves to the cruel jaws and pitiless
lCuNiluB III luOSt blbNh, JdESNb' Ahi'
rocks lying in the lap of their ocean mis-
tress. Many q fair human grown, Il brave
young forest tree, n tender vine, II frail
sweet rose, had been the doomed blossoms
of the fatal wrcaths for the adjoining of
the Black Reef Of Tregarthen Head.
"Therc is not u worse spot, with the
wind inshore, between this and the Good
wins" and Captain Trcdennick, shutting
up his glass as he spoke, after n brief sur
vey Of the coast line, buttoned his thick
pea-jacket closer and turned towards IRE
garthen Head.
He had been up and out with the first
rays of light, quitting the house by a
singly-barred entrance, which fastened
with u spring lock and could be opened
only from the inside.
"Still, it should have been made safe
with the drop bolt" said the Captain as
he passed through; ~"lubberly work that,
to leave a door unfastened all night in such
a gale"
For no one Of course was awake or stir
ring al this hour save himself. The shut
tered windows, the drawn blinds, and
%sInokeless chimneys proclaimed the fact
from the outside, if there had been any
doubts in his mind.
The gale had not exhausted itself yet,
and ragged on almost us wildly rs on the
previous night, whilst the angry-looking
coppery-hued masses of cloud out on the
murky western horizon, streaming up
athwart the wild~gray sky in wisp-like
storm-driven wrcaths, gave dreary assur-
ance Of its continuance; and bitterly cold
and raw struck the damp March morning
air even to the sailors hardy lungs and
weather beaten face, rs he quilted the
shelter Of the wooded grounds of Rose
worthy for the bleak exposed clifT-road.
lie had taken but a few PAGES in this di-
rcction when he came 10 q dead stop, gaz-
ing ahead; and even for a moment his hand
mechanically fumbled with his glass-as
If his keen cyesight could have deceived
him! For it needed no telescope TO dis
Germ plainly and recognize the slight dark
figure standing in a sheltered turn of the
road.
"Neptuner' exclaimed Captain Treden-
nick in his amazemcnt, with n soft whistle
there is the little mermaid
The little dark figure turned hastily ut
the sound of advancing footsteps, and the
shy quick flush mounted to her face as
Captain Tredennick came up smiling.
' IOU lily NDll, lOl u NaAAl, aNbANtNNa
Miss Winnie C~acrlyonw he laughed. "Are
you come out to taste the salt sprayS 1t
blows right in ones face up from the
rocks"
mo, sir" she said, turning her small
pale face, looking quite wan and child-like
in the cold gray morning light, towards
the storm-beaten headland; II am going
home-I must be home by seven o'clock
"Going homer he repeated, remoustrat
ingly. surely you will wait to break
fast with us-or AVE you breakfasted al
ready?"
"Oh, nor' said she, hurriedly, and blush
ing again at the avowal. II don't MIND
in the least-I always go home early wher
| stay at Roseworthy for the night, unless
Madam has asked me TO stay; father anC
mamma and all Of them expect me" Sht
drew the faded wooden shawl over he
thin cloth Jacket, and shivered yiolentl!
as the keen sea breeze blew her wrapper
about. THE morning is very cold, is il
not, sir?" she said, trying to keep her teetl
from chattering, while her very lips grew
Iiuched and blue. 81 ran off without let
ting Mrs. Grose know-she would have in
sisted on keeping me until She had some
breakfast ready"
my dear child" said Captain Treden
nick, feeling quite fatherly in his earnest
ness, ''you should not have come out thi:
bleak morning fasting-after the wettins
and fatigue of last night, too. Pray come
back to the house, aud we will hurry the
servants up to get you a cup of coffee a
least"
"Oh, dear, nc sir-thank you" returned
Winnie, with gravely-astonished rebuk'
at his dreaming of such a proposal to her
II shall be home soon. / shall run very
fast down the slope beyond the Head
Good-morning, Captain T~redennick."
She stretched out her little hand in it
poor little knitted w~oolen-glove; and Cap
tain T~redennick, feeling himself a grand
father at least, took it and drew it safely
within his arm.
IF you are going to run, l shall run
too" said he, smiling protectingly, unit
/ see you run safe in at your father
door"
But Winnie colored deeply, lookeC
frightened, ~apologized, and refused.
swell YOU will allow me to walk besid