Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1898-04-16

Fe1s bNN ~ W
by, and leave 1t to q stranger"
Perhaps not: but honestly. Pauline. he
old mo that you were eccentric--I know
that you are adofable-and that he would
not dare 70 leave Darrell Court to You unless
you were married TO some one In whom he
felt conference.-the that some one, Pauline.
is your humble slave here. who adores You.
Listen, dear-I have not finished. He said
ncth!a. ahca. leaving The Ceurt 10 . s.rsn-
ger; but he did say that unless we were mar.
ried he himself should marry"
She laughed moekingiy.
II do not believe IT," she said. III he had
Intended to marry, he would have done so
years ago. That Is merely a threat to fright
EN- me; but l am not 10 be frightened. No
Darrell was ever q coward-I will not be
coerced. Even IL l liked you, Captain Lang
Ton, would not marry you after that
threat"
He was growing desperate now. Great
drops stood on his brow-hls lips were so hot
and tremulous that he could hardly move
them.
BE reasonable, Pauline. Sir Oswald
meant what be said. lie will most certainly
marry, and, when you see yourself deprived
OF this rich inheritance, you will hate your
ioiy -Hate Nllu ueteSt H.
II would not purchase twenty Darrell
Courts at the price OF marrying a man do
not Ike" she said, proudly.
You think 1t an idle threat-it Is not 50.
Sir Oswald meant II in all truth. Oh, Pau
line, love, riches, position, wealth, honor-all
lie before you; will you willfully reject
them?r
II should consider II dishonor TO marry for
fha sofia ~ pufortrn Mall rar.A - T..gn
not do IL Ii will be mine without that and
II not would rather o thousand times 30
without IL than pay the price named, and
you may tell Sir Oswald So"
There was no more plty-no more tender
ness In the beautiful face. II was all agloY
with Scorn, lighted with pride, flushed with
contempt. The spell Of the sweet moonlight.
was broken-thc Darrell spirit was aroused
the fiery Darrell pride was all ablaze.
He felt angry enough 10 leave her at that
moment and never look upon her again; but
his position was so terrible, and he had so
much at stake. He humbled himself again
and again-he entreated her in such wild
passionate tones as must have touched one
less proud.
II am a desperate man, Pauline" he cried
at last; a ! pray you, for Heavens sake
10 not uTlNt Inc 10 despair.
But no words OF his had power TO move
her; there was nothing but scorn in the beau
tlful face, nothing but scorn in the willful,
passionate heart.
"Sir Oswald should have known better
than to use threats 10 a Darrell"' she said,
with a fash of her dark eyes; and not the
least impression could Aubrey Langton
make upon her.
He was silent al last in sheer despair. 1t
was all over; he had no more hope. Life
had never held such a brilliant chance for
any man, and now 1t was utterly lost. In.
stead of wealth, luxury, happiness, there was
nothing before him but disgrace. He could
almost have cursed her as she stood there in
the moonlight before him. A deep groan.
one OF utter. uncomfortable anguish escaped
his lips. She went nearer TO him and started
back In wonder at the white, settled despair
on bis face.
Captain Langton.'' she said, quietly, Il
am sorry-I an sorry-I am indeed sorry
that you feel this 50 keenly. Let me com-
fort YOU"
He appealed TO her again more passionate
ly than ever, but she interrupted him.
You mistake me" she said; II am grew
ell to see you suffer, but / have no thought Of
altering my mind. Let me tell you, once
and for all, ! would rather die than marry
YOU, because / have neither liking nor rs-
spect for you; but your sorrow | cannot but
feel for"
You have ruined me- he said. bitterly,
"and the curse of a broke2-hearted mar will
rest upon your
Il do not think the DaIrells are much
frightened at curses" she retoTted and then.
In all the magnifcence Of her shining gems
and g~olden-hued dress, she swept from the
spot.
Yes, he was ruined, desperate. Half an
hour since, entering that conservatory, he
had wondered whether he should leave 1t a
happy, prosperous man. He knew now that
there was nothing but blank, awful despair,
ruin and shame, before him. He had lost
her, too, and love and hate fought fercely in
his heart. He buried his face in his hands
and sobbed aloud.
A ruined man, Was ever so splendid a
chance lost? Ii drove him mad to think OF
il! All was due TO the willful caprice OF a
willful girl.
Then he remembered that time was pass
Ing, and that he must tell Sir Oswald that he
had failed-utterly, ANONYMOUSLY failed.
He went back TO the ballroom and saw the
baronet standing In the center OF a group OF
gentlemen. lie looked anxiously at the cap
tain, and at his approach the little group fell
back, leaving them alone.
what news, Aubrey9' asked Sir Oswald.
The worst that / can possibly bring. She
would not even hear OF It,"
And you think there is no hope either
now or at any future timer
II am, unfortunately, sure OF i. She tod
me I'm plain words that she would rather die
than marry me. and She laughed at your
threats"
Sir Oswald's face flushed; he turned away
haughtily.
The consequence be OH her own head!'
he said as he moved away. Il shall make
ElInOr Rocheford an offer tonight he i'd
ed 10 himself.
The captain was in no mood for dancing;
the music and light had lost all their charms.
The strains of q beautiful German waltz NIL
ed the ballroom. Looking round, he saw
Pauline Darrell. in all the sheen OF her jewels
ana the spiendol vi her s~olden-hued dress.
Waiting with Lord Lorrimer. Her beantl-
full face was radiant; she had evidently Tor
gotten all about him and the threat that was
10 disinherit her.
Sir Oswald saw her too as he was search
ing for Elinor-saw her radiant, triumphant,
and q~ueenly-and almost hated her for the
grand dover OF loneliness that would never
now enhance the grandeur Of the Darrells.
He found Elinor RochefOrd with Lady
Hampton. She had been hoping that the
captain would ask her TO dance again. she
looked toward him with a faint smile, but
was recalled to order by a gesture from Lady
Hampton.
Sir Oswald, with a low bow, asked II Miss
ROCKFORD would like a promenade through
the rooms. She would faln have said NO.
but one look from her aunt was sufficient.
She rose In her quiet, graceful way, and &C
c~ompanied him.
They walked 10 what was called the white
drawing-room. and there, standing before
magnificent Murillo, the gem OF the Darrell