Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1898-03-12

had awakened all the poets soul within her. |
The grand, sensitive nature thrilled-the
beautiful, poetlcal mind reyeled in this hour
of natures most supreme loyeliness. A
thousand bright fancies surged through her
heart and BRAIN; q thousand poetical ideas
shaped themselves into words, and rose to
her lips.
so time passed, and she wa Unconscious
of il, until a shadow falling over the great
white lilies warned her that some one was
near.
Looking up quickly, she saw a tall, fair,
handsome young man gazing at her with
mingled admiration and surprise. Beside
him stood Sir Oswald, courtly, gracious, and
evidently on the alert.
Captain Langton," he said, "let me in
troduce you to my niece, Miss Darrell"
Not one feature of the girls proud, beauti-
full face moved, but there was some little
curiosity In her dark eyes. They rested for
a moment on the captains face, and then,
with a dreamy look, she glanced over the
heads of the white lilies behind him. lie
was not her ideal, not her hero, evidently.
In that one keen, quick glance, she read not
only the face, but the heart and soul OF the
man before her.
The captain felt as though he had been
subjected to some wonderful microscopic
examination,
'She is one of those dreadfully shrewd
girls that pretend TO read faces" he said 10
himself, while he bowed low before her, and
replied with enthusiasm TO the introduction.
'My niece Is quite a Darrell" said Sir Os-
wald, proudly. You see she has the Oar
rell face"
Again the gallant captain offered some
flattering remark-a neatly turned compli.
ment, which he considered ought TO have
brought her down, as a skillful shot does a
bird-but the dark eyes saw only the lilies,
not him.
''She is proud, like all the Ddrrells," he
thought, my father always said they were
the proudest race in England
~ hope said Sir Oswald, cOurteously,
THAT you will enjoy your visit here, Aubrey.
Your father was my dearest friend, and IL
gives me great delight to see you here"
IL am sure of ii, Sir Oswald. / am equally
happy; ! cannot see how any one could be
dull for one minute in this grand old place"
Sir Oswald'S face flushed with pleasure,
and for the first time the dark eyes slowly
left the lilies and looked at the captain.
81 find not only one minute, but many
llDllN III Nllltl w NC Nhll' o"A' q 'i''>
'Do you like the country so well?'
Il like Darrell Court" he replied, with a
bow that seemed to embrace Sir Oswald, his
niece, and all his possessions.
"You like tin what wayY' asked Pau
line, in her terribly downright manner. 1T
is your first visit, and You have been here
only a few minutes. How can you tell
whether you like it?'
H.. 60, ,n,,anN 4, ,tat, I atyipn lnplE-
ed slightly confused, and then he rallied.
Surely q mar Of the world was not to be de-
fed by a mere girl.
Il have seen that at Darrell Court" he
said deferentially, (Which will make the
place dear to me while | live
She did not understand him. She was far
too frank and naughty for a compliment so
broad. But Sir Oswald smiled.
"He is losing 10 time" thought the stately
old baronet; "he is falling in love with her,
just as | guessed he would"
Il will leave YOU" said Sir Oswald, ITO
get better acquainted. Pauline, you will
show Captain Langton the ayiary.'
Yes" she asscnted, carelesSly. but Will
you send Miss Hastings here? She knows
the various birds far better than | do
Sir Oswald, with a pleased expression on
lbs lace, walked away.
so you have an ayiary at the Court, Miss
Darrell. II seems to me there Is nothing
WANING mere. on do not seem interested
do you not like birds?'
Not Gagged ones she replied. 81 love
birds almost as though they were living
friends, but no, bright-plumaged birds in
golden cages. They should be free and
wild in woods and forests, filling the sum
mer air with joyous song. | love them well
then"
you like unrestricted freedom?' lie OBJ
served.
Il do not merely like it, / deem it an abSo
Lutte necessity. | should not care for life
without it,"
The captain looked more attcntiyely at her
1t was the Darrell face, surely enOugh-teat
ures OF perfect beauty, with a soul of trt
shining through them.
Yet he said, musingly, cautiously feel
ing his way, there is but little freedom
true freedOm-for women. They are bount
down by a thousand narrow laws and oD
servanceS-caged by a thousand restraints.
''rhere Is no power on EARTH" she return
ed, hastily, that can control thoughts o
cage souls; while they are free, it Is untrue
to say that there is no freedom
A breath of fragrant wind came and stir
red the great white lilies. The gallant cap
tain saw at once that he should only lose il
arguments with her.
"Shall we visit the aviary?" he asked.
And she walked slowly down the path, HI
following,
"She is like an empress he thought. II
will be- all the more glory for me If | can Wi
such q wife for my own"