Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1898-10-22
CHAPTER XIV.

q u IL NC wv luNO, uC Sdll w lllIl
self, as he fastened his steps down the
winding descent of the road at the farther
side of Tregarthen Head-"I wish | could
have gone to deliver Mildred's message
yesterday EVENING" must not be too late
now
He q~uickened his steps ~again-the Coast,
guard station On the rising cliff beyond
was very near nOw-he would not lose a
minute more than he could help.
Heaven bless Mildred! What a kind
generous nature she has, he went on
thinking, pleasantly. What Il brave,
true, high-spirited, beautiful wife she will
be in the years to come--a proud, noble
minded, generous, loving motheH whom
her children will naturally turn to in rev
erence and admiration! How kindly she
spoke of poor little Winnie Caerlyon! She
will be a real friend to her, | am sure,
quick-tempered and naughty as she is--as
naughty as my Old grandfather, Proud
Tredennick, rs people used to call him.
She is warm-hearted and true to the core
somewhat similar in character, yet full Of
dissimilarity, 10 my poor little Winnie
herself"
1t had a pleasant sound, the last phrase,
to Stephen T~redennick's ear, and he re.
peated 1t again ere he angrily ruminated
on another topic.
How dare they gossip about her! How
dare they couple my name with hers
poor innocent child! Because / ventured
to bestow on her a few friendly words and
a friendly gift! II / heard them, they
should stow their words faster down their
Threats than they could utter them he
said, w%rathfully. And Aunt Vivian is
most blamable of all! She gave the gossip,
ing umo stability by her unkindly treat
ment. AS If the child had done any wrong
thought any wrong! All are unjust, I'M.
kind, tyrannical towards her--ny poo
little WINNER
He had almost reached the Coastguard
station now, and his feelings had quite
reached an altitude of indignation and
chivalric resolve which would have dis
mayed Madam Vivian's very soul within
her, as the result Of her own injudicious
ness, could she but have known It: but
happily for her peace Of mind-she knew
nothing further han the fact hat her
much-indulged, imperious niece had made
the abrupt and capricious request that she
might be allowed to invite Miss Caerlyon
to spend the evening at Roseworthy, to
which request Madam, in much surprise,
and outward -seeming graciousness, gave
her assent.
Outside the whitewashed porch Captain
Tredennick paused for n moment, in the
hope that the busy little h~ousekeeper her
self might dart out on an errand, and save
him from abruptly confronting the high
tempered step-mother.
"She is cutting the Observation-Disclosures for
the children's supper with her big apron
and her big knife, | dare say he nut
tered, laughing; "or mir ling the baby
that she regrets is so quiet
He listened to the voices that he could
family hear through the closed doors and
windows--listened for that clear gentle
one he remembered so well; but it was not
TO be heard.
al wish Mildrnh had come with me-" he
said, uneasily; "Eildred could go In and
bring Winnie back with her better than |
can"
He listened again, uneasily and long
ingly, before he knocked, and paused even
when he was told to enter, listening in
vain.
How 10 you do, Miss Caerlyons" he
said, entering through the narrow passage
to the meagre-furnished, tidy little sitting
room, with a most fictitious assumption OF
easy cheerfulness. II am the bearer of a
note from my cousin, Mildred Tredennick,
to your daughter, Miss Caerlyon. Is she
at homer"
Good evening, Cappun T~redennick,"
Mrs. Caerlyon said, rising hastily, but
confronting him with hostile stiffness and
.straightness, keeping the stocking she was
darning pulled over her left hand, and the
worsted needle in her right. "Do We want
to see WinifredS' she demanded.
'Yes, il you please" he answered, try
ing to smile conciliatingly, and finding
the effort to be a total failure in front of
Mrs. C%aerlyon's petrifying stare. Madam
Vivian and my cousin Mildred van her
to spend the evening with us, and / am
deputed to bring her back with me. II
you will be kind enough to tell her and al
low her to come" he concluded, sharply,
Mrs. Caerlyon's cold stare and gloomy
face irritating him beyond measure in the
anticipation of a curt refusal.
While he spoke, he glanced about anx-
iously for a sign of the little shabby black
straw hat, the thin gray plaid shawl, or
haply that fatal sealskin jacket. Anxious
ly he longed for the sound of the light
football, the soft patient voice. More anx-
tously than he could have believed posi-