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

Ii was wonderful to see the contrast that tue
two girls presented-Paullne tail. slender,
queenly. in her sweeping black dress. ali
passion and magni6cence: Miss Rocheford,
fair, dainty, golden-haired, and gentle.
They walked In silence dow, one OF the
garden. paths, and then Miss Rocheford said,
in her low, sweet voice:
"If you like roses, Miss Darrell, I can show
you a beautiful collection"
Then for the first time Pauliae's dark eyes
were directed toward her companions face.
IL am a bad dissemblcr, Miss Rocheford.''
she said, proudly. II have no wish 10 sec
your flowers. | came here to see you. There
Is a seat under yOnder tree. Come with me,
and hear what I have 10 say"
Elinor 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 10 EllnOr.
Miss RochefOrd," she said, # am come to
give you a ~warning-the most solemn warn
ing you have ever receiyed-one that II YOU
have any common sense you viii not refuse
to heed. hear that you are going 10 marry
my uncle, Sir Oswald. Is It trueg''
'Sir Oswald has asked me 10 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 50 shame
lessly untrue as even 10 pretend that you are
marrying an old man like my uncle for love?
You know il 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 10 warn yuu. Are YOU
not ashanled-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 10 be your father. If he were a
poor man, you would laugh his Offer 70 scorn;
but he is old and rich, and you are willing to
marry him to become Lady Darrell, OF BAR
rel Court. Can you. Eiiuor ROCKFORD, look
me frankly in the face, and say il is not sop
No, she could not. Every word fell like a
sledgehammer on her heart and she knew II
was all true. She bent her crimson face, and
hid Ii from Pauline'S clear gaze.
Are you not ashamed TO sell Yourself? II
no truth, no honor, no loyalty impels you 10
end this barter, let fear step in. You do not
love my uncle. 1t car give you no pain to
give him up. Pursue your present course,
and | warn you. Darrell Court ought 10 be
mine. ! am a Darrell, and when my uncle
took me home II was rs his helress. For a
long period | have learned to consider Oar
rell Court as mine. II il mine She cOntin-
ued-"mine 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 iQ between ne and my birthright-
beware! Ny uncle is only marrying you to
punish me-; he has no other motive. Beware
how YOU lend Yourself 10 such punishment
! am not asking you % give up any love. II
YOU loved him, | would not say one word;
but it Is not a matter II loye-Uuly OF sale
and barter. Give it up!'
How can you talk so strangely TO me,
Miss Dsrrcll9 | ann give it up: every
thing Is arranged
You can il you Will. Tell my uncle you
repent of the unnatural compact You have
made. BE II true w~Oman-true 70 the instinct
Heaven has placed in your heart. Marry for
love, nothing clse-pure, honest lOye-and
then YOU will live and die happy, Answer
me-wIll you give it up
II cannot muTmured the girl.
you will not, rather. Listen 10 me. /
am a true Darrell, and a Darrell never breaks
a word once pledged. Ityou marry my uncle,
l pledge my word that | will take a terrible
vengeance on you-not a commonplace one,
but one that shall be terrible. ! will be re-
yenged upon you if you dare TO step IN be-
tween me and my just inheritance! Do YOU
hear me?'
IL hear. You are very cruel, Miss Darrell.
You know that | cannot help myself. l
must fulfill my contract.
Very well, I" said Pauline, rising; then |
have no more TO say. But remember, | have
given You full, fair, honest warning. will
be reyenged upon YOU
And Miss Darrell returned to the house,
with naughty head proudly raised, while
Elinor remained in the garden, bewildered
and aghast.
Two things happened. Liner never re-
vealed a word OF what had transpired, and
three weeks from that day Sir Oswald Oar
rel married her in the old parish church OF
Audleigh Royal.