Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1898-12-10

about white roses that make them seen
almost sacred flowers to me, / neve.
could make an adornment of those lovely
living buds and half Enclosed petals"
She paused half fearfully again. Mad.
am Vivian would have received this con
fession with such q delicate keen edged
rldicule-how was 1t that naughty Mil
dred, Lady Mountrevor, was so much
quicker to comprehend, so much mort
quietly sympathizing, even in her prout
reserve?
"Have your" she said, aud the darkness
Of a shadow seemed to overspread her
white polished brow and lark brilliant
eyes. She turned partly aside, and Winnie
saw her long fair jeyelled fingers close
and tighten convulsively for an instant
around the emerald locket resting on heI
neck. $50 have l."
The words seemed to escape from her
lips without her knowledge and Winnie
half doubted II they were meant for her
ear.
"Ah," remarked Winnie, with a sigh, as
they left the room together, my associa-
ton with them is connected with a grave
"A lonely grave, far away"
Aud, as she sadly spoke, the white roses
SSliSu Nv hldBlCNlIy WAL lllC UleIllOTy VI
that far-off lonely grave on their sweet
dying breath, the rush and sway OF the
wintry storm sweeping round the old
Cornish mansion seemed to re-echo softly
in the murmuring of thick-clothed elm
boughs in the scented summer morning
breeze, and the still warm radiance of the
wide lamp-lit hall and marble staircase
changed to the glowing sunlight in that
sheltered nook where the daisies bloomed
n the dewy roses twined their wreathing
stems, and where the morning rays, gold
en- and briGht-ah, so bright, so glad, so
sparkling!-fell on the long polished oak
coffin and its dazzling plate enriched with
white blossoms as it was lowered swiftly
and surely into the darksome grave.
with a grave-a grave far away" Lady
Mildred paused suddenly, and even amidst
her confused surprise Winnie noticed how
the pale lips parted widely and u wild
eager look bla2ed in the proud dark eyes.
: is mine!' she whispered hoarsely, the
wild eagerness of her gaze fading into one
OF far-away dreary Darkness.
Another moment, however, and, ere Win
ME could question or scarcely compre-
bend, her companion had passed the TIRES
hold of the drawing-room, and entered the
presence of smiling well-dressed dinner
guests and Madam Vivian, and Mildred,
Lady Mountrevor, was the courteous, I'M
ruflled, stately peerless once more.
The soul of the amiable Miss Trewhella
might have been illumined by the glad
ness of content could she hut have known
how effectually her malicious hints had
aided in spelling poor Winnie C~aerlyon's
enjoyment Of her first dinner party at
RoSeworthy House. All unconscious as
she was of any cause for such an effect,
she could not but perceive that Madam
Vivian's chill courtesy and smilingly po-
lite Indifference to her presence was not
the reception she would have been favored
with had she been welcome. Any doubts
she might havc had rs to the author of the
invitation were at an end before the even.
ing wa half over.
81 did wrong TO accept It'll did wrong
to come at ALL" Winnie thought, with
keen pain and modification "Why did
Lady Mountrevor ask me? Madam did
not wish it, ! see quite plainly. wish tho
evening were over-I wish / were home
again!' she said, earnestly, with the tears
rushing TO her eyes, as she withdrew to =
distance from the guests, who seemed
quite occupied in each other and :heis
hostesses.