Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1898-10-08
WIN MES TRIU MPH
aY THE AUTHOR OF FAIRY GOLD"

VI il1E aOliiOIA VI rama 1OLD'
Was it the prescience of n coming crisis
Of fate that kept Winnie Caerlyon linger-
ing there. her little hands grasping the
cold, frost-rimed ironbars, gazing with n
dreamy smile ut the old home of the Tired
ennicks, and bordering curlously whose
could be the footsteps that had disturbed
the thin white crust OF frozen snow. while
the last faint rosy smile OF the winter sun
drew farther away, and, leaving her in the
cold gray evening light, shot his parting
rays Of level crimson radiance upon the
boles of the old chestnut trees and gnarled
oaks, and athwart the windings of the
snow-clad avenue?
Brightly, %radiantly, indeed, they shone,
for to Winnie Caerlyon's dazzlcd gaze they
seemed to illumine suddenly a mass of
rich color and glistening sheen like the
hues of an exotic blossom or the plumage
Of q gorgeous bird, glowing on the amber
and crimson hucs, the festooncd velvet
robes Of n woman's rich u beautiful ap-
parel- cleaning on dainty %lacquered
boots. slim, close-ftting furred jacket, CO
luettish velvet hat with its tuft of crimson
and amber feathers stirring in the keen
frosty breeze.
Fondly the pale red sun fingered and
shimmered here and there about the tall
swaying graceful form ere he a TO rest
in his western ocean-bed. rs if he thought
To exhibit to the companion who walked
beside her each hidden beauty thai his adj.
miring eyes had not yet discovered-the
glow and flash of proud bright eyes, the
peachy flush painting the pure, smooth
cheek, the dainty ear, the firm, rounded
Ill, A. - H.. f ~. - II
shining hair, the cleaning pearly teeth.
the ripe, curving lips. Winifred Caerlyon
did not miss one detail of that proud rare
beauty in the very flush of its spring-time
of youth, wealth, and high spirits, with
the added charms of all that wealth, in.
diligence, and an imperial self-will could
bestow to make it almost perfect.
The beautiful young lady of her rever-
entail Notwithstanding more beautiful
than ever now-looking so evidently to
him who walked beside her. with his al.
miring gaze fixed on the proud, low ely
face, h smile serenely bright us he re-
sponded to hers, all his regard devoted to
notice her slightest gesture, to catch the
least word that fell from those rosy,
scornful-curving lips, to re-echo the merry
laughter Of that clear, ringing voice. Oh,
how beautiful-how lOvablc-how worthy
If all honor, all regard, all dearest, highest
affection must she b~e-yOung, lovely, be-
loved, gifted, well-horn, wealthy, enviable
Mildred Tredennick!
For one moment the passionate fire of a
jealous despair leapcd into the patient
white face and the gray eyes of the girl
standing without in the cold shadow and
drifted snow looking in upon those two
figures in the sunshine-stalwart, hand
some, gallant, smiling stephen Treden-
nick, and the fair imperial woman who
was the object OF his devoted lover-like
attention-and then a darker shadow than
that of the clustering laurels fell on her
stricken brow, n numb cold W .ght seemed
to fall on her trembling limbs, and her
hands relaxed their rigid hold of the cold
iron bars, and through the cold frosty
evening shades Winnie Caerlyon stole
away swiftly.
With a dull heavy t%hrobbing at her
heart, IA dull intangible pain quivering
through her very soul, with compressed
lips and hands clasped tightly over her
breast, rs one who tries TO stifc the an
guish of n mortal inward wound, she sped
swiftly on in bewildered haste, scarce
knowing whittier that familiar road by
Iregarthen Head was leading her, seeing
nothing but those two figures in the sun.
light, hearing nothing but the echo of
Mildred T~redennick's clear imperious
tones. In her dizzy confusion of thought
and vision, she almost imagined that she
encountered them again face to face at the
cross-road leading to TolgOoth mines, and
ghpnnE hpnath1,yg1v ,g,I, f,,,, tha ,o,;,
that stood in converse together.
My word, Miss Caerlyon, you're enough
TO give one II start, pOSitively!' and in
alarm, partly real and partly simulated
Miss Trewhella caught up her silk flounce,
in her lcmon-colored kid-gloved hands,
and whirlcd around with a sharp little
scream, rs Winnie passed Gloss beside her
'Now didn't she give you n start, Mr..
Pascoe, too? I'm sure | never saw OF
heard her coming!'
Acquainted as Winnie had hitherto beer
with the fashionable waiting-woman's
resources in the way Of effective toilettes
her information had evidently fallen fal
short Of Miss Trewhella'S ability in thi.
direction; and she gaZcd confuSedly al
the splendid apparition, in order to make
sure that her unsteady sight and fast
t%hrObbing brain had not misled her as e
the identity of the person attired in rich
black silks and v~elvets, n gold chain, and
the long-coveted silky and jet-black Astra
khan furs.
Miss Vrewhella's hair was crimped and
Curled. Miss Trewhclla's complexion had
thc most extraordinary, charming blend
ing of roses and lilies in lieu of its usua'
sallowncss, aud one l~emOn-gloved hand
held a fragile lace mOuchOir, most deli
catcly pcrfumed with essence of wood
violet.
Winnie glanced from her to Mr.. Pascoe
whose gracious countenance wore an awk
ward, detected expression.
Evening. Winifred," said he. sulkily,
kicking the snow about with his boot.
II did not rise out of the earth, or droJ
down from the sky" observed Winnie
coldly, in reply to Miss Trewhella's excla
nation. IL saw You both standing here
as | came over from the cliff road"
"Ah, yes" said Miss Trcwhella, recov
e,ing herself with a genteel cough and
;mile, 1--WE were talking, Miss Caerlyou
Mr.. Pascoe and l."
The gentleman. hearing himself alluded
TO, looked up, more sulkily, if possible.
Il was ~speakin' n few words to Miss
Trewhella.' explained he, shortly and
roughly. rs if to deprive the conversation
of any complimentary significance with
which the lady strove to invest it; ''she
were a-tellin' me the news"
"Ah, yes" the lady responded, smiling
sweetly; II was just saying to Mr.. Pascoe
that it is such a pleasant thing-so suita,
b%le-quite charming indeed-and one gets
sadly lonely at Roseworthy; but now we
have Il pleasant prospect. Visitors, and SC
forth, you know, Miss Caerlyon, make a
great change"
"Oh, certainly" said Winifred, nodding
aslight adieu, and endeavoring to hurry
on, but the lady of the silk ~fiounces con
tinued, in q brlsker tOne of animation