Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1898-03-19
CHAPTER TX.
PAULINE STILL INCoRRIGIBLE.

Sir Oswald fingered over his wine. 1t was
not every day that he found a companion SO
entirely TO his taste as Captain Langton.
The captain had a collection of anecdotes of
the court, the aristocracy, and the meSs-room,
that could not be surpassed. lie kept his
own interest well in view the whole time,
making some modest illusions TO the fire.
quency with which his society was sought,
and the number of ladies who were disposed
TO regard him favorably. All was narrated
with the greatest skill, without the least
boasting, and Sir Oswald, rs he listened with
delight, owned to himself that, all things
considered, he could not have chosen more
wisely for his niece.
A second bottle of fine old port was dis
cussed, and then Sir Oswald said:
"You will like to go to the d~rawing-room;
the ladies will be there. / always enjoy
forty winks after dinner"
The prospect of a tetc-d-tCte with Miss Oar
rell did not strike the captain as being q very
raptureus one.
"She u.s." he said to himself, "a magnii.
Gently handsome girl, but almost too naughty
to be bearable. l have never, in all my life,
felt so small as ] do when she speaks to me
OF looks at me, and no nan likes that sort of
thing"
But Darrell Court was q magnificent estate,
the large annual income was a sun he had
never even dreamed of, and all might he his
Sir Oswald had said so; his, If he could but
win the proud heart OF the proudcst girl II
had ever been his fortune to meet. The stake
was well worth going through something dis
agreeable for.
IF she were only like other women,' he
thought, II should know how to manage her;
but she seems to live in the Clouds"
The plunge had to be made, so the captain
summoned all his courage, and went to the
drawing-room. The picture there must have
struck the least imaginative Of men.
Miss Hastings, calm, elegant, lady-like, in
her quiet evening dress Of gray silk, was
seated near a small stand on which stood a
large lamp, by the light Of which she was
reading. The part of the room near her was
brilliantly illuminated. 1t was q spacious
apartment-unusually so even for a large
mansion. 1t contained four large windows,
two OF which were closed, the gorgeous
~hangings of white and gold shielding them
from view; the other end of the room was in
semi-darkness, the brilliant light from the
lamp not reaching 1.-THE windows were
thrown wide open, and the soft, pale moon
light came in. The evening came in, too,
bringing with it the sweet breath of the lilies,
the perfume Of the roses, the fragrance Of
rich clover, carnations, and purple hello
tropes. Faint shadows lay on the flowers,
the white silvery light was very peaceful and
sweet; the dewdr0ps shOne on the gTass-it
was the fairest hour of natures fair day.
Pauline had gone to the open window.
Something had made her restless and UNI
quiet; but, standing there, the spell of that
beautiful moonlight scene Gained her, and
held her fast. With one look at that won
derful sky and its myriad stars, one at the
soft moonlight and the white lilies, the fever
of life died from her, and a holy calm, sweet
~fancies, bright thoughts, swept over her like
an angels wing.
Then she became conscious of a stir in the
perfumed air; something less agreeable
mingled with the fragrance of the lilies
some scent of which she did not know the
name, but which she disliked ever afterward
because the captain used it. A low voice
that would fain be tender murmured some
thing in her ear; the spell of the moonlight
was gone, the quickly thronging poetical
fancies had all fled away, the beauty seemed
to have left even the sleeping flowers. Turn
ing round to him, she said, in a clear voice,
every word sounding distinctly:
"Have the goodness, Captain Langton, not
TO startle me again. do not like any one to
come upon me in that unexpected manner"
II was so happy to find You alone" he
whispered.
II do not know why that should make YOU
happy. l always behave much better when
/ am with Miss Hastings than when l am
alone"
you are always charming" he said. 81
want to ask you something, Miss Darrell. Be
kind, be patient, and listen to me-"
II am neither kind nor patient by nature"
she returned; what have you to sayT'
ii was very difficult, he felt, to be senti-
mental with her. She had turned to the
window, and was looking out again at the
flowers; one little white hand played impa-
tiently with q branch OF gueldeF roses that