Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1898-11-26

ut IS not all true and applicable to me-"
returned Madam; peevishly; II have the
will, but / certainly have not the way
unless / wish to catch my death of cold
with salt spray and northwest wind.n
She sank back in her chair, drawing a
crimson Indian shawl around her with an
other shiver. You wrap mp in those ex.
traordinary macintosh things: and felt
hats and bo0t-tops--such AM eccentric cos.
tune for n young lady!-and SO, | dare
say. hail, rain, and snow are alike to you:
but my different species Of outdoor attire
prevents me from attempting such fea;s
of exercise
yes, your style Of costume prevents
you," the younger lady assented, with a
grave, scrutinizing glance ut the snowy
hair, the straightforward figure, the soft
languid hands buried in the warm Grim.
son folds of the shawl when the wealth.
er gets fine, you must come up to Tregar.
then and see my improvements"
Madam Vivian shivered again-affccted.
ly this time.
THANK you, my dear-I caa hardly
fancy that wretched old ruin an inviting
place to explore in such weather as this,
Listeni" She pointed one finger at the
curtained window, and shrugged her
shoulders, as old people do to convince
young people of their ignorance and SIM
plicity on most discussed subjects.
Eyes, it rains z little" the younger lady
said, ~imperturbably; but IL will not rain
for three weeks, l trust. Tregartheu will
be ready for its master then"
Really" exclaimed Madam, beginning
to turn the diamond rings on her dimpled
fingers, and smiling II little obviously; 81
fancied that the house was n hopeless
ruin, and that it would require at least
half "A years rebuilding and renovating.
Perhaps in your opinion ii would, Mad.
am, y her companion rejoined, coolly and
indifferently us before. II think it is safe.
ly habitable now ut least"
"Oh, | dare say you awe worked won.
ders, my dear" said Madam. graciously,
and smiling still: but il is of no use hop
ing TO make that most restless person,
Captain Tredennick, settle down in the
home Of his fathers, as he should have
done long ago-ah, twenty years ago"
went on Madam Vivian, more peevishly
than she had yet spoken-'twenty years
ago, instead of going into the NaVy-thc
Merchant Navy, tOo-the first of his name
who ever did so! He should have looked
after his property, married some suitable
girl with money and of good birth, and
had a name and n place in the county, in
stead Of being more like a waif or a stray
than anything else"
The old discord, freshly touched, Jared
yet as il had Jared these many years.
Perhaps that most restless person,
Captain T%redennick, enjoys life" the
lady suggested, coldly. "Be it n waif or
stray, or whatever else the puissant pc.
tentates of the Cornish aristocracy choose
TO call him. he is TO be envied in that case"
II don't believe he enjoys il one bit
more than men who marry and settle
down properly" retorted Madam Vivian,
sharply. People are never one whit hap
pier, for being allowed TO follow their own
unconventional ideas and whimHcal
fancies u%nopposed and untrammeNd. !
thought Stephen looked exceedingly old
and weatherbeaten, quite n said, solid,
elderly man, with frizzled HER, when he
was here last-old enough 2Or fifty instead
of forty"
"And l." said the younger lady, n pleas.
ant, affectionatc smile lighting up her
cold, proud, unbelievable eyes, Thought
he looked just as kind and pleasant and
generous as ever"
IL do not gainsay my nephew's excellent
qualities Of head and heart in the least, !
assure you," explained Madam, stifly; Il
regretted his prematurely-aged appear
ance, and his lack OF all near home ties.
1t grieves me to think that l shall never
see Stephen Tredennick's children"
How can you tell, Madam" questioned
her companion, with a quizzical smile.
stephen Tredennick may be bringing a
wife home in the ChittOOr at this moment
"Some one to make him miserable, then,
If he is" said Madam, ~sardonically. Men
of his z are always taken in by the first
designing girls that get n chance of be-
witching them. / have often told him
that | expected to see some pallid, lazy
young A~nglo-Indian or brown skinned
Hindoo brought home to me as Mrs.
Stephen Tredennick.n
"C'cSt pOSSibICr' assented the younger
lady, laughing. stephen Tredennick al
ways had peculiar tastes about feminine
charms; still, it would supply the dismal
vacancy in Trcgarthen"House, Madam, il
the yellow young Anglo-Indian, or the
swarthy Hindoo maid were installed there
as mistress"
Madam Vivian's chiseled lips frightened
after the old naughty fashion.
81 should not consider the vacancy of
the mistress Of Tregarthen's place filed il
Stephen Trcdennick were unhappy enough
to be deluded into a low marriage" she
said, icily; land, so far from having a
niece to acknowledge, / should from that
time cease to have a nephew!'
The proud old lady stihed the pang in
her heart which her own words had occa-
stoned, and sat composedly turning her
rings, and warming her daintily -slippered
feet, as if she die not know that the loss
of hin who had been for more than thirty
years as a son to her would send her gray
hairs with sorrow to the grave.
Poor Stephen" commiserated the
younger lady, mockingly; she had better
not meddle with matrimony then, as he /.
sure to do something as odd aud uncon
ventional as most of his simple, chivalrous
kindly deeds-poor old fellow"
Il am sure my nephew will never marry
anyone whom | should be ashamed tc
own" said Madam, holly.
And am equally sure of the same
thing" returned the other lady, conpos.
eddy.
Madam was silent. She was getting the
worst of the discussion-she always die
with this opponent-and sat for q long
time buried in her downy chair and hei
crimson shawl, gazing dreamily and sadly
at the bright fire. Playing with diamond
rings, and toasting gold-buckled shoes
however easy and interesting IN employ
ment, is apt to pail and become weari
some. Many other employments, occupa
tions, and interests had palled and become
wearisome to Madam Vivian of late years
Handsome, proud, and stately as she was
she was an old woman, and growing
feeble and helpless one. A lifetime spen'
in the society Of downy chairs, Indian
shawls, and diamond rings, oddly enough
is not always conducive to heightened
years of strength and activity. Madam's