Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1898-02-12

Wv NA ~
on herself.
"wili you think me weak, selfish, worth
less, IL / cannot leave you without saying
how dearly / love youi To think how near
I came TO calling you my wife; and now we
are but strangers TO each other. Don't
you see how bitterly hard II was' OH you
were right to break with me, IL you could
not love me. II would have been misery
to us both IL you could not have loved me.
But IL was all utter despair at the time. To
think that you preferred poverty and the
desertion OF your relatives to me. and all !
could have given you then"
"Ah, Mr.. Waringl' cried Mona, covering
her face with her hands, "can you forgive
me3r
II do not reproach you," he returned.
'I was not worthy of you, or | should not
have gone to the bad as l did, because /
was disappointed. But when ! came back
to Life from that terrible fever, | felt an
other man. felt I had q duty 10 myself
that forbade this unmanly abandonment,
and I have been stronger ever since. !
wa even getting over the painful longing
for you. And now we have met, and / am
worse thar everl And you you seem
sweeter than ever. l feel as IL | could not
leave your
He pushed the chair from him, and came
to stand beside her, his eyes full Of love
and sorrow. his plain face beautifled by the
spirit that animated him.
The fire OF heaven seemed 10 Mona to
have descended on her heart, and filed II
with Joy unspeakable. She let her hands
drop, and. quivering from head to foot, she
almost whispered
Then do not leave me-"
"Ah, Mona!' said Waring. drawing close
to her, "do not tempt me 10 a renewal OF
suffering! am too desperately in earnest
TO be played with; and | dare not hope that
you, who rejected me when | could have
given you a life Of ease, would STARE my
wild, uncouth home with me now Sweet
est, how de l hope
He drew her gently into his arms.
Take me with you, - said Mona, raising
her eyes TO his, and letting him read in
them more than words could say.
my darl!ngl it is more than / can be-
level Mona. in our short engagement |
do not believe you ever gave me a kiss. II
you will give yourself to me now, put your
arms round my neck and kiss me Of your
own free will"
There was an instant's hesitation. and
then her arms stole gently to his neck, and
her lips were pressed to the brown cheek
he bent to them, but for a second, before
his lips were on hers, clinging to them soft
ly, p~assionately, as il he drew his souls
life from that sweet mouth.
mo, not yeti cannot let you go yet!
Tell me, when did you learn to love me-"
sY oo,naf call Ia.1ia hara pavor
been Indifferent to you since-since | re-
fused to marry you; and when I saw you.
I soo began to think should like oatone
to you"
Then it 10 only pity. p~erhaps'"
IL do not know what ii is" said Mona,
with a sigh, as she rested her head against
his shoulder; II only know that you must
not leave me-
And all this time Of delicious torture''
cried Waring, when | ruled myself with
a rod Of iron lest / should show you the
love that was burning my heart out, you
imposed upon me with iciness Of mere
friendship. No man could nave dreamed
that there was any warmth under such an
exterior"
How did you come to speak TO me al
last'" asked Mona, with a smile.
1T was an inspiration, - said Waring. Il
do not know how many kisses you owe me
for the miserable moments l have had
here"
in a low % Voice. s" her a esssek @i sf5~1 Sse said Saia.
her frame trembling, rs he drew her to
him.
Not one," he whispered, and he releas
ed her, while his heart beat with the glori-
Gus consciousness that she loved as pas
sionately as l. did himself. II am afraid,
Mona" he resumed, after q delicious sill.
ence, that your uncle will not like TO LEI
You come into the wilds with me. But the
place is not really bad; il has been cleared
for a considerable time, and"
Poor Uncle Sandy" she interrupted.
81 think he would be willing TO give you
the best he had; and i am by no means
sure he considers me that.
Needs must. He will miss you dread
fully"
Then viii be the opportunity to suggest
Mary as my successor"
Exactly. Shall | ask Kenneth 10 join
me in making n double demand' You are
the ruling spirit here"
That would be too much. But, pray,
| cPNo0 w III uhNAC to7uuss - NN@SA ~
be told at once"
Dinner was got through somehow.
Both Kenneth and Mary instinctively felt
that something or other had taken place,
the former had a shrewd idea what.
About a couple OF hours after the family
meal. a knock was heard at the door OF
Mona's room, where she had intrenched
herself till the awful explanation with her
uncle had been accomplished.
Your uncle wants 10 speak to you,
| Mona" said Waring.
"Oh, Lesliel How is hei''
THE glass is at fair weather. Come
along"
Uncle Sandy was looking pale, and was
sitting unusually upright in his armchair
in the library when Mona, with down-cast
eyes. and the air Of a culprit, came in,
closely followed by Warning.
"Aweel," he said, in q solemn and some
what tremulous tone, II nave been hearing
what the grandson o. my auld master has
to say. Moo, Mona, my BARN, are you
willing to TAX this mon TO be your welded
husbandf"
~ am. uncle" she said, softly and clear.
ly.
IF ye are, a n has a right to withstan'
you. would be weel content II We had
not to gae sac far ava; and I'll feel your
loss sair, but We maun follow the hu"band
you've chosen"
Dear uncle" said Mona, the tears hang,
ing on her long lashes, lit will grieve me,
too, to leave you; you have been q father
to me, and l thank you"
She knelt beside him and kissed his thin
hand.
AN a father I'll be to We, my lambie.
Mrs. Leslie, my niece, shall have ten
thoosan' pounds TO her tocher; and it's
glad I'll be that some Of my hard earnin's
60 to the son OF the hoose By which l earn
ed II. But I'll lie a lonely mon when ~
leave me-"
you need not lie, unless you choose.
You can have q niece to read to you and
write for you, and take care Of you. Think