Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1898-05-14
CHAPTER NXyI.
SIR oswALD's DOUBTS

Ii was the close of q spring day. Lady
Hampton had been spending il at Darrell
Court, and General Deeriug. an old friend OF
Sir Oswald's, who was visiting in the neigh
borhood, had joined the party at dinner.
When dinner was over, and the golden sun
beamTsyere still Frightening the beautiful
room. ne asked Sir Oswald 10 show to him
the plcture-gallery.
You have q tine collection he said
every one tells me that: but it is not only the
pictures | want 20 see, but the Darrell faces.
l heard the other day that the barrels were
generally acknowledged to be the hand>om-
est race in England"
The barou's clearcut, stately face flushed
a little.
II hope England values Us for something
more useful than merely handsome faces"
he rejOined. with a touch OF hdutcur that
made the general smile.
Certainly" he FASTENED TO say; but in
this age, when personal beauty is said TO be
or the decrease. IL is something tn own-a
handsome face
The pictVe-gallery vas a very extensive
one; il was wide and well lighted, the floor
was covered with rich crimson cloth. white
statues cleaned from amid crimson velvet
hangings, the walls were covered with rare
and valuable pictures. But General Deering
saw n picture that day in the gallery which
he was never TO forget.
Lady Hampton was not enthusiastic about
art unless there was something 10 be gained
by ii. There was nothing to excite her Gu
ridity NOW, her last niece being married Sn
her ladyship could afford to take matters
calmly; she reclined az her ease on one Of
the crimson lounges. and enjoyed the luxury
Of a quiet nap.
The general paused for a while before
some OF Horace Veruet's battle-pieces; they
delighted him. Pauline had walked on TO
the end OF the gallery, and Lady Darrell, al
ways anxious 10 conciliate her, had followed.
The picture that struck the general most
were the two ladies As they stood side by
side-Lady Darrell with the sheen OF gold in
her hair, the soft lustre of cleaning pearls on
her white neck, the fairness of her face
heightened by It's dainty r~ose-leaf bloom, her
evening dress of sweeping white silk setting
off the graceful, supple lines OF her figure,
all thrown into such vivid light by the Grim
son carpet on which she stood and the back
ground of crimson velvet; Pauline, like some
royal lady in her trailing black robes, with
the massive coils of her dark hair wound
iOAhlh tiC statCiui, hhbSItN itah, uith NV
grand face with It's dark. glorious eyes, and
rich, ruby lips. The one looked fair, radiant,
| and charming as q Partisan coquette; the
other, like a Grecian goddess, superb, mag
n%ificent, queenly, simple in her exquisite
beauty-art or ornaments could do nothing
for her.
Look said the general to Sir Oswald,
'that picture surpasses anything you have
on your walls"
Sir Oswald bowed.
"Whnt a beautiful girl your niece is!' the
old soldier continued. 'See how her face
resembles this of Lady Edelgitha Darrell.
Pray do not think me impertinent, but | cam
not imagine, old friend, why you married, so
devoted to bachelor life as you were, when
you had a niece 50 beautiful, so true a OAR
rell, for your heiress. ! am puzzled now that
l see her."
'She lacked training. said Sir Oswald.
'Trainings' repeated the general, con-
temptuously. What 10 YOU call training?
DO you mean that she was not experienced
i'm all the little trifing details of a dinner
table-that she could not smile as she told
graceful little untruths? Training! Why,
that girl Is a queen among women noble
soul shines in her grand face, there is royal
grandeur OF nature about her that training
could never give. l have lived long, but |
have never seen such a woman"
''She had such strange, out-of-the-way, UNI
real notions, | dared not-that is the TRUTH
dared not leave Darrell Court TO her"
II hope you have acted wisely" said the
general; ''but, as an Old friend and a true
one, 1 must say that l doubt it,"
MY wife, | am happy 10 say, has plenty
of common sense observed Sir Oswald.
'Your wife," returned the general, look
ing at the sheen OF the golden hair and the
shining dress, sis pretty, graceful, and ami
able, but that girl has all the soul; there is
as much difference between them as between
a golden buttercip and a dark, stately,
queenly rose. The rose should have been
ruler at Darrell Court old friend"
Then he asked, abruptly
what are you going to do for her, Sir Os-
wald?!"
II have provided for her" he replied.
Darrell Court, then, and all its rich reye.
nues go to your wife, l presume?'
Yes, TO my wife" said Sir Oswald.
sUnconditionally?" asked the general.
Most certainly" was the impatient reply.
"Weli, my friend" said the general, yin
this world every one dyes IS he or she likes;
but TO disinherit that girl, with the face and
spirit Of . true Darrell, and to put O fair,
amiable blonde stranger In her place, was
to say the least ecccntric-the world will
deem Il %, ut any rata. Ii / were forty years
younger / would win Pauline Darrell, and