Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1898-12-10
WIN MES TRlU MPH
BY THE AUTHOR OF FAIRY GOLD"

cation, and Winnie was trying to adjust her
white Grape tucker without any assistance
from the lady In quasi-attendance, when
a loud impatient rattle of the door-handle
startled both, and, before Winnie could
utter u word Of permission to enter, the
bolt was shot back, and the door itself
flung against the wall, and a young gen.
tlcmau of some four or five years of age
made an abrupt and unceremonious en-
trance, rushing towards Winnie with a
violent clutch at the fragile hounces of
net and gossamer, and imperiously de-
mandlng-
"Wno are your"
"Who is this little boy.'' asked Winnie,
striving to rescue her attire.
Miss Trewhella drew her chin back, and
her head up, aud dropped her eyelids, with
a whitening air Of reproof.
This is Lord Eustace Mountrevor, Miss
C%aerlyon," she said, with a plying smile
and a cough; "a lovely boy! Were you
looking for me, Lord Eustace. darling,"
she inquired, with melting pathos and
sweetness, bending down rs IL she were
going to worship the small idol In the
crimson velvet tuuic,
mo, l wasn't.' retorted his lordship,
aiming a kick at his devotee. "Who are
your who are you, l sayi' he repeated.
with an impatient dance on Winnie's silk
train, and another clutch ut her gauzy
skirts.
my dear child" said Winnie, laying
violent hold Of his lordship," In her turn,
unclasping his hands, and keeping him
firmly at arms length In spite of his strug.
giles, while Miss ~Trewhella's eyes dilated
and she fairly snorted with surprise and
Indignation, ''stand quietly and speak like
n yoauy gentleman if you want me to IN.
swer you.'
mo, | sha'n'tl No, l sha'n't! Let me
go, your howlcd his ~lordship," killing
vigorously all round. "Jeanneton-Jean.
neton, / say! JIG UOus dcmdnde, Jeanne
TOM
miss Caerlyon," said Miss Trewhella,
quite in a spasm Of offended dignity, don't
hold Lord Eustace in that manner, IL you
please. Come to me, Lord Eustace, my
sweet love!'
But Lord Eustace, knowing perfectly
well, with IA child's unfailing acute per-
ception, that beneath all Miss Trewhella's
sugared tenderness OF words she enter
tanned as much real love for him rs for a
monkey, viper, or toad, or any other nox-
lous anu troublesome llttlc creature, re-
PEELED her caresses with ever more threat.
ening demonstrations!
Are you Lady Mountrcvor's little SON."
asked Winnie, gently, loo,;ing earnestly
and wistfully Mt the child. His existence,
seen in the light Of that far-off past, seemed
SO strange--that far-of lime over the re-
membrance Of which the years had drawn
q gentle yelling to soothe the unforgotten
sorrow, when she had shruuk before his
beautiful young mother, in the proud love
illness Of her early girlhood, as her joyous,
successful rival.
Why had she not been such indeed,
Winnie never could tell. She had not
married the cousin who loved and admired
her so, whose plighted wife she had been.
Why! The story Of Mildred Tredennick's
grand alliance, the coronet she had won
for her naughty brow, the title of my
lady," and the possession Of the Mountre-
yer rent-roll, were answer sufficient to Win.
ifred's simple, romantic nature: and her
fond, constant heart had repressed even
its w silent relief and qualification at
the unexpected news which reached her
across the Atlantic, for did it not tell of
pain and disappointment to him who, ms
Wv DCllNNCu, ndu lONtu DlOiu AhlIlEtll
Tredennick? And, besides, that tondly
cherished growth of her own wild folly
had been too severely crushed ever to
bloom again. What was it to Winnie
Caerlyon whether Tredennick of Tregar-
then lived welded or unwedded?
II am, cried the young gentleman, with
the air OF Il small emperor. MY father
Is Henry, Lord Mountrevor, and my
mothers Mildred, Lady Mountrevor. and
I am Eugtace, Lord Mountrevor; and ]
am
Decidedly an egotistical and vulgar lit.
tie boy!' spoke his mothers clear, naughty
tones behind him from the open doorway.
Miss Caerlyon, | beg to apologize for my
rude child. What brings you here, sir,
and where is your nurset"
She spoke in displeasure, without n
indulgent, motherly smile or caress, and,
with a feeling of surprise and dismay,
Winnie watched her firm white hand
grasp the child's shoulder tightly, push
him before her out Of the room, and shut
the door.
Between Lord Mountrevor and his
French nurse the boy has completely be-
come that domestic nuisance, n spoiled
pet!' she said, with a careless laugh.
"Ah, poor dear little fellow, he was only
asking me who l vast extenuated Win
ME, whose tender maternal heart this little
episode had troubled; causing her at the
same time a quick, intangible sensation of
wonder and pity for the young mother
whose child was evidently so small a source
of either pride or pleasure.
81 think he was giving you a good deal
OF gratuitous information beside replied
Lady Mountrcvor, in the same tone. II
cannot imagine who teaches the child to
speak in such detestably pdrUenu STYLE"
and the light of d~ispleasure in her lady.
ships flashing eyes shone right on Miss
T~rewhella's moonshiny, d~eferential sim
per, and extinguished it on the spot.
Twill you come into my sitting-room u n
til it is time for the guests to arrive?"
Lady Mountrevor said, courteously. II
fear they will be a very limited number
on such a terrible night as this. This way,
Miss Caerlyon. The room is warmer and
more comfortable than the drawing-room
just now, l think" and she pushed aside
one of the heavy velvet portiereS that hung
before the doors of all the principal rooms
in Roseworthy, and disclosed her suite of
,apartments-four in all-communicating
with each other-beautiful nests OF rooms,
all blue-velvet pile and amber-silk hang
ings, redolcnt of exotic perfumes from
rare foreign plants in tall marble jardt-
njerCs and flowers in a Dresden lily vase,
and aglow with the warm light of rudy
fires on the marble hearths.
Miss Trewhella paused to watch, scarce
ly crediting her powers of vision, until
i. l1.oI, l-e.. a. - ~
lowed by the naughty peerless in her long
robe of glistening snow-white silks, with.
out a touch of color to relieve their frosty.
wraith-like purity, save the massive bands
of dead gold and emeralds clasped on her
waxen arms, and the great locket hanging
from the black velvet ribbon around her