Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1898-06-04
LOVES VICTORY
BY BERTHA M. CLAY.
CHAPTER XXI.
CAPTAIN LANGToN ACCEPTED.

WY
should Pauline show such great distaste for
his society and such avoidance of him?
There were times, too, when she could not
quite understand Aubrey Langtom She had
seen him look at Pauline with an expression
not merely of love, but with something of
alteration in his eyes; and then again she
would he startled by a look of something
more fierce and violent than even hate. She
herself was in love with him; nor was she
ashamed to own the fact even to herself.
She could let her heart speak now--its voice
had been stiiled long enough; still she would
have liked to know the cause of Pauline's
avoidance OF him.
On the second day of his visit Lady bar.
rell gave a grand dinner-party. Lady Hamp-
ton, who viewed the captains arrival with
great distavor, was, as u matter of course, 10
be present. All the n~eighbors near were in
vited, and Pauline, despite her dislike, 50 W
that she must be present.
Lady Darrell took this opportunity OF APP
pearing, for the first time since Sir Oswald's
death, el grdnde toilette. She wore q dress
OF blue brocade, a marvel of color and weav-
ing, embroidered with flowers, the very deli.
cacy of which seemed to attract notice. She
wore the Darrell diamonds, her golden head
being wreathed with q tiara of precious
stones. She looked marvelously bright and
radiant; her face was flushed with the most
delicate bloom, her eyes were bright with
happiness. The guests remarked TO each
other how lovely their young hostess was.
But when Pauline entered the room, Lady
Darrell was eclipsed, even as the light of the
stars Is eclipsed by that OF the SUM-. Pauline
wore no jewels; the grand beauty Of her face
and figure required none. The exquisite
head and graceful arched neck rose from the
clouds of gray tulle like some superb flower
from the shade Of its leaves; her dress was
low, showing the white neck and statuesque
shoulders; the dark, clustering hair was
drawn back from the noble brow, a pome-
granate blossom glowing in her thick coils.
Graceful and digniiied she looked without
the glitter of jewels or dress-simple, perfect
I'm the grandeur Of her own lovelineSS.
She was greatly admired young men gaZed
at her from a distance with an expression al.
most Of infatuation, while the ladies wills
pered about her; yet no one had the courage
TO pay her any great attention, from the
simple fact that Lady Hampton had insinu-
ated that the young widow did not care much
about Miss Darrell. Some felt i'll at ease in
her presence; her proud, dark eyes seemed TO
detect every little false grace and atfcctation,
all paltry little insincerities seemed TO be re-
realed to her.
Yet Pauline ON this occasion did her best.
Despite Sir Oswald's false judgment of her,
there was an innate refinement about her,
and it showed itself Tonight. She talked
principally to old Lady Percival, who had
known her mother, and who professed and
raal1Nv falt fln p1ngt 1rnfnpnl llipn and &c
lection for Pauline; they talked during din.
her and after dinner, and then, seeing that
every one was engaged, and that no one was
likely to miss her, Pauline slipped from the
room and went out.
She gave a long sigh Of relief as she stood
under the broad, free sky: flowers and birds,
sunshine and shade, the cool, fragrant gloam-
ing, were all SO much more beautiful, so
much more TO her taste, than the warm, gilt
tering rooms. In the woods a nightingale
was singing. What music could be compared
TO this? The white almond blossoms were
falling as she went down to the lakeside,
where her dreams, were always fairest.
IL wonder" unused the girl, ''why the
world of nature is so fair, and the world of
men and women SO stupid and so insane"
Pauline" said a voice near her, II have
followed you; ! could not help doing So"
She turned hastily, and saw Captain Lang
ton, his face flushed, his eyes flaming with q
light that was not pleasant to see.
How have You dared to do so?" she de-
handed.
Il dare do anything" he replied, "for you
madden me. Do you hear? You madden
me!'
She paid no more heed to his words than
she did to the humming of the insects in the
grass.
you shall hear mel he cried. "You shall
not turn away your naughty head! Look at
me-listen to me, or ] will"
"Or you will murder me-" she interrupted.
at will not be the first time you have used
that threat. / shall neither look at you nor
listen to YOU"
Pauline, | swear that you are driving me
mad. l love you SO dearly that my life is a
torment, a torture to me; yet i hate you so
that | could almost trample your life out UNI
der my feet. BE merciful to me. / know
that l may woo and win this glittering wild
Ow. i know that ] may be master Of Darrell
COurt-shc has let me guess that mlch-but,
Pauline, | would rather marry you and Starve
than have all the world for my own"
She turned to him, erect and naughty, her
proud face flushing, her eyes so full of sc0rn
that their light seemed to blind him.
81 did not Think" she said, that you
would dare to address such words to me. Ii
l had to choose this instant between death
and marrying you, | wonld choose death. /
know no words in which / can express my
scorn, my contempt, my loathing for you. If
you repeat this insult, it will be at your peril.
BE warned"
"You are a beautiful fiendv' he Kissed.
"You shall suffer tor your pridev'
yes" she said, calmly; Ego and marry
Lady Darrell. / have vowed to be revenged
upon her; sweeter vengeance I could not
have than to stand by quietly while she mar.
ries you"
You are a beautiful fendr' he Missed
again, his face white with rage, his lips dry
and hot.
Pauline turned away, and he stood with
deeply muttered imprecations on his lips.
II love her and [ hate her." he said; II
would take her in my arms and carry her
away where no one in the world could see her
beautiful face but myself. Icould spend my
whole life in worshiping her-yet | hate her.
She has ruined mel could trample her life
out. Go and marry Lady Darrell, she said
/ will obey her."
lie returned to the house. No one noticed
.Aat his face was paler than usual, that his
eyes were Swallowed and strange; 10 one
knew that his breath came in hot gasps, and
that his heart beat with great irregular throbs.
Il will WOO Lady Darrell and win her."
he said, a then Pauline shall suffer-"
What a contrast that graceful woman, with
her fair face and caressing manner, present
ed to the girl he had just left, with her pas
sionate beauty and passionate scorn; Lady
Darrell looked up at him with eyes of sweet
est welcome.
you have been out in the grounds she
said, gently; 1.-THE evening is very pleasant"
did you miss me, Lady Darrell-Elinor?'
he asked, bending over her chair.
He saw warm blush rising i'm her cheeks.