Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1898-09-10
|WINNIE'S TRIUMPH
By THE AUTHOR OF FAIRY GOLD"

retorted Madam. stephen knows that
he has behaved unkindly and displeased
me, and wants to make up with a pres
ent."
"How-how has Captain Tredennick
displeased you, Madam" inquired Win.
ME, the blood rushing back to her heart,
and leaving her very lips pale.
Madam's eyebrows were elevated again,
In surprise at modest, timid Winnie's
downright close questioning.
"By paying me a ten days visit, after
three years absence, and making q bust
ness excuse to go off againr' vouchsafed
Madam, with a frown. But for his writ
ing and making me such a faithful prom.
Use to come back in twelve months, and
stay at least a quarter of a year with me,
| think should have declined to receive
Captain Tredennick on his return; still, I
must confess that I knew he had heavy
business matters to transact ut Lhoyds'
and with several foreign merchants.
'Oh, yes, of course said Winnie, white
and red by turns with the anguish OF
hearing a fault ascrihed TO her idol. ~
am sure Captain Tredennick would not go
unless he could help it, when he knew
that it would grieve you, Madam"
"Why, h do you know Of Captain
Tredcnnick, Winriei" asked her patron
ess, half tauntingly and half sharply.
Only what saw OF him, Madam" an.
swered Winnie, looking down, and max.
ing wrong stitcha, in her embroidery,
"You know he came over to see father two
days before he went"
"Oh, yes, l know" said Madam, affably
the told me; also that Mr.. pascoe had
come to spend the evening, and that you
treated him very cru ely. For shame,
WINNER
"Why, l didn't SEQ him or speak to him
at all while Captain Tredennick was
there!' exclaimed Winnie, hastily. 1T
was after he was gone that he-they went
on SO; and l went out Of the house. The
mean wretch! l wish he was al JerichoY
broke out Winnie, with confused, passion
ate tears and gestures.
my dear, pray control yourself" said
Madam, coolly. why did they go on so,
as you express it,"
"Bacause-because-I don't know; be-
cause that nasty, hateful, prying creature"
answered Winnie, shaking all over, and
crying, went on saying things; and man.
ma tosk his part, and rather scolded me;
and"
"Oblige me, Winifred, by being a little
more lucid in your language; and pray
stop that %unladylike crying and shaking"
said Madam, in a very cold, hard tone,
knitting her fine p~enciled brows together.
What did Mr.. Pascoe say to make your
father scold you, and make you run out
Of the house?"
He called mt names, Madam" replied
Winnie, drying her tears, and composing
herself with q Strnpn angry nfpnrt 'aoi1 I
was a CAD about and q fiirt; and father
scolded me, though l did not deserve it"
Her pale, quiet face was flushed, and al
most sullen, from a sense Of injury. "As
If anything that mean false story-teller
could say would make me think more Of
him, or be afraid of him." she added,
scornfully.
And whom did Mr.. Pascoe accuse you
of flirting with?" asked Madam, smiling,
but looking rather perturbed also.
Winnie hesitated, dropped her work on
the floor, and Madam caught q glimpse Of
a frightened spasm passing over her face
as the girl said, reluctantly, the angry
cloud darkening her patient brow
"A person whom he had no business to
dare to name-of whom he know nothing.
To dare to speak SOP she muttered.
"Ah," said Madam, looking both vexed
and pleased, II have no doubt he was
wrong, Winnie. j nm sure you are too
cautious in your conduct for anyone to be
able to bring a true charge of forwardness
or filtration against you. You know girls
cannot be too circumspect in their be-
havior, my dear, nor too careful to avoid
the empty attentions of men who give
them a passing notice, and then forget
thaYN, a.Ix, - 49, Ia -.
amongst their companions. Never err
but on the right side, my dear" concluded
the lady, who tiirted gracefully now as she
had done all through her w%ifehood, when
she had plenty Of constant admirers-as
she had done in the days OF young belle.
ship, when she reckoned her lovers in
number like her gloves, and thought as
little of them after their first charm had
departed.
Winnie did not reply to the improving
exhortation, although she had listened to
it most attentively and believingly. She
thought of those farewell words in the
freight Of the little red-tiled kitchen; she
thought of Stephen Tredennick's parting
kiss; and the sound Of Madam's words
seemed to beat on her heart with a cold,
strange pain. 1t was not the first pain
that her love had cost her, poor Winnie
Caerlyon! 1t was not to be the last.
II am sure that it was untrue and un-
fair of MIR. Pascoe to speak so, Winnie
DEAR" Madam continued, more naturally
and kindly; because / know that any
thing OF that sort is quite fore ign to your
nature. ! should be greatly disappointed
indeed IL / found that it was not"
Miss Trewhella's discreet, gentle tap in
~terrupted the smooth little homily meant
for the reproof, guidance, direction, and
warning Of Madam's protegCc.
"A large box sent up from Trewillian
station, Madam-irom London"
"Oh, my furs!' said Madam, looking
quite eager and eXpectant, despite her
sighting remark. Bring it in, Trewhella,
please"
The great case was dragged in, and the
cords and packing papers were cut and
pulled off by the united efforts Of Winnie
and Miss Trewhella-the latter genteel
person moaning when the cords hurt her
fingers, and the pincers caught her nails
instead of the nails in the lid, and the
former working away flushed, excited,
and smiling at the thought Of seeing Mad
ANS new splendors and admiring them
oh! SO much-for the sake of the kind.
thoughtful, generous donor.
''There now-at last! Oh, my goodness!
Dear Madam, it's magniicent-it's splen-
did! Oh, Miss Trewhella, did you ever
see anything SO beautifulP Look at the
collarette and the muff, and the depth
of that splendid silvery thing round the
~velvetl'
tits very handsome, indeed, Miss Win
nie-quite fit for a queen to wear" said
Miss Trewhella, with q genteel air of
complete satisfaction in having at last
seen what she considered a perfect articles:
light furs become Madam so much, too"
ooh. it's sunerh. exnnisitnr, mnrn,nrod