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

had awakened all the poets soul within mel.
The grand, sensitive nature thrilled-the
beautiful, poetlcal mind reveled In this hour
of natures most supreme loteliness' A
thousand bright fancies surged through her
heart and braIni a thousand poetical IDEAS
shaped themselves into words and rose 10
her lips,
SO time passed, and she was Unconscious
of II, 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 win
mingled admiration and surprise. Beside
him stood Sir Oswald, courtly, gracic.is, 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.
L Tie CNDldll ltll as lllbtGl it a. =
subjected to some wonderful microscopic
examination,
"She is one of those ~dreadfully shrewd
girls thai pretend 10 read faces he said to
himself, while he bowed low before her, and
replied with enthusiasm to the introduction.
0My niece is quite a Darrell, - said Sir Os-
wald, proudly. You see she has the Oar
rell face
Again the gallant captain offered some
fiattering 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"
IL hone said Sir Oswald, cautiously,
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 it, 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
hours in which 20 be dull" said Pauline.
do you like the country so wellY'
Il like Darrell Court he replied, with q
bow that seemed to embrace Sir Oswald, his
niece, and all his possessions.
You like it-in what wayY' asked Pau
line, in her terribly downright manner. II
is your first visit, and You have been here
only a few minutes. How can you tell
whether you like it?"
For a few moments Captain Langton look
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 ht
said deferentially, (which will make th'
place dear TO me while | live"
She did not understand him. She was IA
too frank and naughty for q compliment 81
broad. But Sir Oswald smiled.
ale i. losing 10 time" thought the stated!
old baronet; ''he is falling in love with her
just as | guessed he would"
IL will leave YOU" said Sir Oswald, 't'
get better acquainted. Pauline, you vii
show Captain Langton the ayiary."
Yes she assented, carelessly. But vii
you send Miss Hastings here? She know
the various birds far better than | do
Sir Oswald, with q pleased expression OF
his face, walked away.
so you have an aviary at the Court. Mis-
Darrell. II seems 10 me there is nothin.
wanung mere. lou do not seem interested
do you not like b'rdsY'
mot Gagged ones" she replied. u low
! bsra-~~I-.--. 90 liVin
friends. but no. biight-plumaged birds Il
golden cages. They should be free an
wild in woods and forests, filling the sun
mer air with joyous song. ! love them we.
them
You like unrestricted freedom" he OF
served.
II do not merely like it, l deem il an absC
lutte necessity. | should not care for lif
without it,"
The captain looked more attentiyely at hel
1t was the Darrell face, surely enough-feat
ures OF perfect beauty, with a soul OF fir
shining through them.
Yet he said, musingly, cautiously fee
Ing his way, there is but little freedom
true freedom-for women. They are boun
down by a thousand narrow laws and OF
seryances-caged by a thousand restraints.
There Is no power on EARTH" she return
ed, hastily, that can control thoughts O
cage souls; while they are free, it is untru
to say that there is no freedom"
A breath OF fragrant wind came and stil
red the great white lilies. The gallant caI
tain saw at once that he should only lose i
arguments with her.
"Shall VIC visit the aviary?' he asked.
And she walked slowly down the path, h
following.
"She is like an empress" he thought. II
will be all the more glory for me II | can wi
such a wife for my own"