Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1898-04-30

1t was wonderful to see the contrast that the
two girls presented-Pauline tall, slender,
queenly, in her sweeping black dress, all
passion and magnilicence; Miss Rocheford,
fair, dainty, golden-haired, and gentle.
They walked in silence down one Of the
garden-paths, and then Miss ROCKFORD said,
in her low, sweet voice:
If you like roses, Miss Darrell, | can show
you a beautiful collection"
Then for the first time Pauline's dark eyes
were directed toward her companions face.
II am a bad dissemblcr, Miss Rocheford,''
she said, proudly. II have no wish to see
your flowers. l came here TO see you. There
Is a seat under yonder tree. Come with me,
and hear what | have TO say"
Elmo followed, looking and feeling terri
bly, frightened. What had this grand, i'm
perious Miss Darrell to say to her? They sat
down side by side under the shade of a large
magnolia tree, the white blossoms of which
filed the air with sweetest perfume; the
smiling summer beauty rested on the land
scape. They sat in silence for some minutes,
and then Pauline turned to Ellnor.
miss Rocheford," she said, II am come TO
give you a warning-the most solemn warn
Ing you have ever received-one that IL YOU
have any common sense you will not refuse
to heed. l hear that you are going TO marry
my uncle, Sir Oswald. Is 1t true?'
"Sir Oswald has asked me TO be his wife,"
Elinor replied, with downcast eyes and q
faint blush.
Pauline's face cleaned with scorn.
"There is no need For any of those pretty
airs and graces with me" she said. II am
going to speak stern truths TO You. You, a
young girl, barely twenty, and all your life
before you-surely you cannot be so shame
lessly untrue as even to pretend that you are
marrying an old man like my uncle for love?
You know it is not so-you dare not even
pretend IT."
Elinor's face flushed crimson.
why do you speak so to me, Miss Oar
rell?" she gasped.
Because | want TO warn you. Are you
not ashamed-yes, ! repeat the word, asham-
ed-to sell your youth, your hope Of love,
your life itself, for money and title? That is
what you are doing. You do not love Sir
Oswald. How should you? lie is more than
old enough to be your father. If he were q
poor man, you would laugh his offerto scorn;
but he is old and rich, and you are willing TO
marry him to become Lady Darrell, of OAR
rell Court. Can you, Elinor Rocheford, look
me frankly in the face, and say it is not SOP"
No, she could not. Every word fell like a
sledgchsmmer on her heart, and she knew 1t
was all true. She bent her crimson face, and
hid it from Pauline's clear gaze.
Are you not ashamed to sell yourself? If
no truth, no honor, no loyalty impels you 10
end this barter, let fear step in, You do not
love my uncle. 1t can give you no pain to
give him up. Pursue your present course,
and | warn you. Darrell Court ought TO be
mine. | am a Darrell, and when my uncle
took me home 1t was as his heIress. For q
long period | have learned to consider Oar
rell Court as mine. 1t Is mine," she contin-
ued-''mlne by right, for | am a Darrell
mine by right of the great love | bear tt
mine by every law that is just and right!
ElinOr ROCKFORD, | warn you, beware how
you step IN between mt and my birthright-
beware! My uncle is only marrying you to
punish me; he has no other motive. Beware
how YOU lend Yourself to such punishment
j am not asking you TO give up any love. II
you loved him, l would not say one word
but it Is not a matter Of love-only of sale
and barter. Give it upv'
"How can you talk so strangely TO me,
Miss Darrell? | cannot give it up; every
thing is arranged"
you can il you will. Tel my uncle you
repent OF the unnatural compact you have
made. BE Il true w~omMn-trne 10 the instinct
Heaven has placed in your heart. Marry foI
love, nothing else--puIe, honest love-and
then YOU will live and die happy. Answer
me-wlll you give ii up?'
81 cannot" murmured the girl.
You will not, rather, Listen to Inc. !
am a true Darrell, and a Darrell never breaks
a word once pledged. II you marry my uncle,
/ pledge my word that | will take a terrible
vengeance On yOu-not a commonplace one,
but one that shall be terrible. ] will be re.
venged upon you if you dare to step in be
tween me and my just inheritance! Do you
hear me?"
~ hear. You are very cruel, Miss Darrell
You know that | cannot help myself.
must fulfill my contract
Every WELL" said Pauline, rising; "then
have no more to say. But remember, / have
given You full, fair, honest warning. | vii
be revenged upon YOU"
And Miss Darrell returned to the house
with naughty head proudly raised, while
EllnOr remained in the garden, bewildereC
and aghast.
Two things happened. Elinor never re
vealed a word of what had transpired, anC
three weeks from that day Sir Oswald Oar
rell married her in the old parish church o.
Audleigh Royal.