Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1898-07-23
WINNlE'S TRIU MPH
by THE AUTHOR OF FAIRY GOLD,
CHAPTER I.

CHAPTER /.
"You have been such a time away, Tired
snp!ck!"
The lady spoke with a little aggrieved
smile. and in tones Of reproach, as of those
or a person SO accustomed to regard and
consideration that the mere involuntary
absence of her votaries is resented as an
approach to neglect, placing as she did SO
her tiny feet, In their dainty black silk
stockings and kid shoes, oil rosetted and
gold-buckled, nearer, on her velvet-covered
fender-stool, to the warmth of the crimson
glowing fire.
Hand me my large fan, please-that
black-bugled affair. Thank you;" and
she adjusted the black glittering fan to
shade her pale smooth cheek from the ar.
dent glare, and arranged her fine cambria
lace-edged handkerchief over her little,
plump, white jewelled hand to protect its
fairness also.
Some vain exacting young beauty she
doubtless appears, this fair dame. Hasty
judgments are always unwise-nearly al
ways incorrect.
Madam Vivian had been a beauty with
cut Doubt and possessed q beauty Of her
w yet-had been Just as vain and exact
ing rs most young, courted, fattered beau
ties are-no more. no less-and was as
gracefully imperlous, as self-sufficient,
self-willed. and self-possessed, rs hand
some, naughty, well-bred, well-born,
and wealthy elderly ladies generally
are.
Despite her dark brilliant eyes, her
smooth fair cheek, her scarcely lined brow,
her well-cut lips and white even teeth
all her " beauty, her own natural gift
without a touch Of art TO aid it-Madam
Vivian, of Roseworthy, was ffty-six years
OF age, and wore on her hair, which was
beautiful, lustrous, wavy, and silver-gray,
a fragile kind Of diadem of black lace, all
besprlnkled with glittering tremulous
stars and crescents Of jet, TO denote her
state of widowed mourning. although 1t
dated back some seven years before.
The person addressed as Tredennick,
therefore, was not that subseryient, hum.
ble-minded, and somewhat timid individ.
ual who had the unparalleled good fortune
TO be the husband of a flattered, imperious
beauty; nor was he her son, although his
years numbered some twenty-four less
than hers.
"My dear aunt" he said, quietly, "the
East lndiaman ChittoOr is rather different
in character from your little BluebclJ, in
the days when you went yachting, to 60
here and there by the favor of wind and
tide"
Dear me, Tredenuick, l should think !
know THAR said Madam Vivian, rather
petulantly. But you have been away O
very long time, l repeat-it seems TO me
that each Of your voyages are longer than
the last. OF course | know there are M
attractions in England tomake you hasten
home"
The black glittering fan in Madam Wv,
fans hand, and tie black begemmed lace
on her silvery HAIR, stirred and huttered
with an air of misery and ~reproach.
The keen, expressive blue.gray eyes OF
Stephen ~Tredennick, Captain Of the East
lndiaman Chittoor, sparkled with q pass
ing CLEAN Of amusement; and then he re-
piled, as quickly as before
mo attractions outside the home my
dear aunt is kind enough to welcome 0
poor sailor TO-"
The compliment and tribute, warmly n.
they were expressed, nevertheless failed
in quite pacifying Madam Vivian. Sh,
fluttered her fan more impatiently for 1
few moments, glancing athwart it will
her dark eyes flashing In a manner which
showed what deadly service the dainty
weapon might have done in the days O
: her early ballroom campaigns.
1T is your own fault entirely, Stephen
she said, sharply and suddenly; "you NIGH
have other attractions, and other homes t
welcome you, If you cared"
Eyes, but l do not care, aunt" he re
piled more quietly, a certain stern lool
coming into his kind blue eyes; 1--WE hav,
said all we can say on that subject, ani
you know my mind"