Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1898-05-14
CHAPTER XIV.
A PULLING QUESTION

MlA5 Hastings, although she noticed a nun
dred faults in the girl which slre would faIn
have corrected. had nevertheless a true,
strong, and warm affection for her pupil; she
was not one therefore 10 play into the enc
my's hand; and, when Lady Darrell fixed
he: eyes upon her, full Of eagerness and
frightened by curiosity. Miss Hastings quiet.
ly resolved not 10 CRAFTY her.
disappointment about whatY' she asked.
III do not understand you, Lady Hampton"
About the property explained Lady
Hampton, impatiently. She made so very
sure of 1t. / shall never forget her insolent
confidence. Do tell me, is she not greatly
annoyed and Disappointed
Not In the way ycu mean, Lady Hamp-
ton. She has never spoken Of such a thing
Her ladyship felt piqued; she would have
preferred to hear that Pauline did feel her
loss, and was grieying over il. In that case
she would have been kind 10 her, would have
relented; but the reflection that her pride
was still %unbending annoyed her, and she
mentally resolved to try if she could not
force the girl into some expression of her
feelings. Ii was not an amiable resolve, but
Lady Hampton was not naturally an ami
able woman.
Fortune favored her. That very day. as
she was leaving the Court, she saw Pauline
standing l~istlessly by the lake side feeding
the graceful white a She ven up to
her with a malicious smile, only half-yailed
by her pretended friendly greeting.
How do you do, Miss Darrell2 You are
looking very melancholy. There is nothing
the matter, / hOpe?"
For any one 10 attempt 10 humiiiate Pauline
was simply a waste OF time the girls natural
character was SO dignihpd that all attempts
of the kind fell through or told most upon
her assailants. She answered Lady liamp-
ton with quiet politeneSs. her dark eyes hard
ly resting for n moment upon her.
You do not seem 10 find much occupation
for your leisure hours continued Lady
Hampton. You are making the round of
the grounds, | suppose? They are very beau-
tiful. | am afraid that you must feel keenly
how much my niece has deprived you Of"
1t was not a ady-like speech; but Lady
Hampton felt irresistibly ilnpelled to make
1.-THE proud, defiant, beautiful face provoked
her. Pauline merely smiled; she had self
control that would have done honor to one
much older and more experienced.
Your niece has deprived me Of nothing,
Lady Hampton She returned, with a cur
OF the lip, for which the elder lady could
have shaken her. Il possess one great AL
vantage of which no one living can deprive
me--that is, the Darrell blood runs in NY
veins"
And, with a bow, she walked away leav
Ing her ladyship more angry than she would
have cared to own. So Pauline met all hel
enemies. Whatever she might suffer, they
should not triumph over her. Even Sir Us
wald felt himself compelled to yield To hel
an admiration that he had never given be
fore.
He was walking ono c~"e.!ng an the ter
race. The western sunbeams, lingering OF
the grand old building, frightened IL into
beauty. Flowers, trees, and shrubs were al
in their fullest loneliness. Presently Sir Us
wald, leaning over the balustrade of the ter
race, saw Pauline sketching in the ground,
below. lie went tG her, and looked over hel
shoulder. She was just completing a sketei
of the great western tower OF the Court; anC
he was struck with the vivid beauty of the
drawing.
You love Darrell Court, Pauline?" he
said, gently.
She raised her face 10 his for a minute; the
feud between them was forgotten. She only
remembered that he was a Darrell, and she
his nearest of kin.
IL do love it, uncle" she said, 'as pilgrims
love their favorite shrine. Ii Is the home OF
beauty, of romance, the cradle of heroes
every stone is consecrated by a legend. Love
is q weak word for what l feel"
lie looked at the glowing face, and for a
few moments a doubt assailed him as to
whether lie had done right in depriying this
true Darrell of her inheritance.
But, Pauline" he said, slowly, ''you
would never have"
She sprang from her seat with a ~quickness
that almost startled him. She had forgotten
all that had happened; but now ii all return
ed to her with a bitter pang that could no
be controlled.
FLUSH, Sir Oswaldr' she cried, interrupt
Inc him; at rs too late for us to talk about
Darrell Court now. Pray do not misunder'
stand me; | was only expressing my belief
She bent down TO take up her drawing
materials.
II do not misunderstood you, child" ht
said, sadly. "You love it because it Is the
home of a race you love and not for its mere
worth in money"
Her dark eyes seemed TO fash with fire.
the glorious face had never softened SO be
fore.
"You speak truly" she said; that is ex
actly what 1 NEAL"
Then she went away, liking Sir OSWALD
better than she had ever liked him in her life
before. lie looked after her half sadly.
"A glorious girlp he said to himself; "a
true Darrell! i hope l have not made a mis-
take"
Iadv narraIt ~ala M couplajrt N ho,
husband of Pauline; the girl gave her ne
tangible cause of complaint. She could no
complain 10 Sir Oswald that Paullne's eyes
always rested on her with q scornful glance
half humorous, ~half-mocking. She could
not complain of that strange power Miss Oar
rell exercised OF making her always feel Sc
small" She would gladly have made friend.
with Miss Darrell; she had no idea OF keep
ing up any species Of warfare; but Pauline
resisted all her advances. Lady Darrell had
. strange kind OF haif-fear, which made hei
ever anxious to conciliate.
She remarked to herself how firm and
~steadfast Pauline was: there was no weak
ness, no cowardice in her character; she wa
strong, self-rciiant; and. discerning that.
Lady Darrell asked herself often. what
Will Paaiine's vengeance be?'
The question puzzled her far more than
she would have cared to own. What shape
| would her vengeance assume? What could
she do to avoid II? When would II overtake
herr
Then she would laugh at herself. What
was there to fear In tho wildly uttered, drar
matic threats Of Q helpless girl? Could she
take her husband from hers No; II was not
In any human power 10 do that. Could abe
take her wealth, title. position, fr0m herr
| No; that was impossible, Could she make
her unhappy? NO, again; that did not secm
10 b In her power. Lady Darrell would Try