Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1898-11-05

Su0 WAS, recovered her smiles anu easy,
graceful manner in a few moments.
81 am not quite sure about the boar
and tiger hunting, Mildred, dear she
said, with a light laugh; but | think you
may be able to realize your Nile and Med
i%terranean longings before another year"
Eyes" Mildred muttered, angrily, to
herself, "in that odious Lord Mountreyor's
yacht! That would just suit him and Mad
am both! They would drive me mad in
six weeks-the clever intriguing OF the
one, and the inane platitudes of the other
"a painted, padded fop!"
She was alone for a few minutes, while
Madam superintendent some millinery
preparations in an adjoining apartment,
and, YEARLY surveying the dingy houses,
the rows of first-iioor windows, the trim,
f~lowN"covered balconies, the white pave.
mentI, the duh, dusty ~decorousness of the
dull, fashionable street, Mildred let her
thoughts fly off rs birds from a cage to the
vista which her own wild, reckless words
had conjured up-poOr, beautiful, I'M
tanned, prisOned falcon as she wasl
''Oh, how ! should delight in it," she
said, with a passionate gasp, ito be free,
to be away from London, and fashionable
people, and dusty streets, and crowded
bathrooms, and idiotic partners who wear
c%oronetsr'
The speech seemed rather an inconsist.
ent one for n young lady who h~abitually
wore Paris-made robes, and was particular
about the shade of her parasol and gloves
being In perfect unison. But Mildred
Tredennick, loving beauty and beautiful
things just for their own sake, and pos
"
Sessing an innate exquisite taste for colors
and effects which could endure no outrage
of it's perception, always chose just as that
perfect taste guided for, were the cost lit.
tie or much. 1t generally was much; but
then, as she said in her own girlish phrase.
ology, she had money enough and,
moreover, Mildred Tredennick was charm.
ingly inconsistent at all times.
"And how ! should like to 90 to India,
and ride at daybreak-a long stretching
gallop by the sea-shore, as BERTHE told me
he used to have!n And thSn the Gagged
falcon dropped her proud head, and a
dreary look clouded her bright eyes.
"Bertie, my darling" Mildred whispered
with a tender glow and soft Pickering
smile on her face that peer or coronet
never could, never would bring there,
why don't you write to me? BERTHE, my
own dear love, three long months, and not
a line! Oh, BERTHE, what would | not give
TO be free to ramble about the world with
you! How happy we should be-"
You are an exceedingly eXtravagant
girl, my dear" said Madam, re-entering
the room; "but | must say that that dress,
with those graduated shades Of blue satin
and poult-dc-SOic, andthat exquisite white
Brussels lace, is simply perfection"
But exquisite dresses were no novelty to
Miss Tredennick; and, besides, she felt
weary and low-spirited today. She posi-
lively refused TO "try on the dress, say
ing that one annoyance Of the kind was
sufficient.
Don't you feel well, MildredY" Madam
asked at length, with the air Of one who
vas enduring martyrdom.
mo, l DON'T" replied Mildred, shortly.
You had better lie down, and let Nor
ton or Trewheila battle your head with
eau-dc-cologne, and take a little red Law
ender," advised Madam, in the same tone
Nonsense. Madam cried Miss Tired
ennick, almost rudely; IL never surrender
myself helplessly into the hands Of serv
ants when | feel out Of sorts, to be fused
about and nur.r3 like n sick lap-dog.'
And the curtained doorway fluttered and
the door banged as Miss Tredcnnick swept
out.
"And you have no conception, Stephen"
Madam said, late that evening to her
nephew, who had come TO dine with them,
and later still TO escort them to Holdings
ley House you have no conception now
Mildred has tried me to-day! First about
her dress, which she would not try on,
though it requires some alteration, and
then about Lord Mountrevor, who called
at three o'clock and she would not see
him! l cannot tell what is the matter
with the girl" concluded Madam, almost
in despair. II will not undertake her
chaperonage during another season if she
does not alter. must say that she is not
much comfort or society to me either"
At the moment Madam would not for
her fortune three times over have wei.
coined her unmanageable ward as her
quiet, affectionate, kind-hcarted %nephew's
wife, and at the same moment, oddly
enough, with her final words. her thoughts
went with sudden quick regret to one who
had been the most thoughtful, patient,
gentle, obedient, and agreeable of young
companions.
Poor little WINNER she said to her
self, with q sigh. IF Mildred were ten
times rs handsome and clever, she would
never be one-half as amiable and lovablt
as that poor foolish little creature!"
blessings brighten as they take their
flight" Winnie, departed to an unattain
able distance, gone from all chance of ex'
erting the wlles and charms which Mad,
ANS jealous suspicion dreaded, had be
come quite a treasure to be mourned owe
and a standard whereby to measure.
"If the silly petulent little thing had not
rushed off TO America in that absurd and
ungrateful fashion, without even coming
to bid me goodbye, l should have taken
her back again, perhaps" Madam unused,
Cousin Stephen" said Mildred, weari,
ly. as she entered a few minutes after.
wards, and they stood in one of the deer
windows together, ''you have no idea what
"a heavy, weary, dull, miserable day this
has been. And, dc you know, Stephen,
strangely enough, i have been thinking OF
Winnie Caerlyon all the afternoon.
know she was a nice gentle little creature
from what Madam says, and | am sure
she was sensible and pleasant to talk with
from what you say; and l have been wish
ing all the day that / had her to chat with
me, and battle my head, or help me to cry
or scold, or something's wouldn't let
Morton hear me. Aunt Vivian has been
in terrible dudgeon with me; and, as fol-
that disagreeable, sly, crafty woman, her
maid, ] should like TO see her come nurs
-
mind against Winnie Caerlyon, and l told
her sol'
What did Madam sayi" asked Stephen
Tredennick, trying 70 restrain a smile,
"oh. size inquired, in her grandiloquent