Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1898-06-04
CHAPTER NNXH.
. mAvE MN My nEvENaE!o


1t was n warm, beautiful morning. with a
dull haze lying over the fair summer earth
and Pauline Darrell, finding even the large,
airy roomSt too warm, went out to seek her
favOrite shade-thc shelter of the great cedar
tree. AS she sat with Der book in her hand
of which she never turned a pagc-Miss
Hastings watched her, wondering AT the dark
shadow that had fallen over her beauty,
wondering at the concentration of thought
in her face, wondering whether this shadow
OF disappointment would darken all her life
or If it would pass away, wondering if the
vengeance to which she had vowed herself
was planned yet; and to them, 80 silent and
absorbed, came the pretty, bright vision of
Lady Darrell, wearing a white morning dress
with blue ribbons in her golden hair. The
brightness and freshness of the morning
seemed to linger on her fair face, as she drew
near them with q smile on her lips, and a
look of half-prOud shynesS in her eyes.
IL Am glad you are both here she said;
II have something to tell YOU" The blush
and the smile deepened. perhaps YOU can
guess what it is. Miss Hastings, you are
smiling-Pauline, you do not look ut me.
Captain Langton has asked me TO be his wife,
and | have consented"
lB' olN IldlNtNl' MISS IldNllilSN tbllglull-
lated her, and wished her much happiness.
Pauline started at first, claspIng her hands
while her face grew white, and then she re-
covered herself and kept perfect silence.
Pauline" said Lady Darrell, n am very
happy; do not shadow my happiness. Will
you not wish me joy"
81 cannot" replied the girl, in trembling
voice; 'you will have no Joy"
fI,A,, ,,sA. \ IL nIIs. II
face, she seemed TO recover herself more
completely.
Il will wish YOU" she said, bitterly, "as
much happiness as you deserve
That would be but little" returned Lady
Darrell, with a faint laugh; 81 do not hold
myself a particularly deserving person."
Then Miss Hastings. thinking they might
come to a better understanding alone, went
away, leaving them together.
Lady Darrell went up TO the girl. She laid
her hands on her arm appealingly, and raised
her face with a pleading expression.
Pauline" she said, her lips trembling
with emotion, latter all, l was your uncle's
wife; for his sake you might show me 4 lit
tie kindness. Marriage is a tic for life, not
a bond for one day. Oh, Pauline, Pauline,
If there is any reason why | should not mar
ry Aubrey Langt0n, tell it-for Heavens
sake, tell 1t! Your manner is always so
strange to him if you know anything against
him, tell me now before it is too ~late-tell
me!'
There fell over them a profound silence.
broken only by the sweet CHEEKY music of q
bird singing in the cedar tree, and the faint
signing of The wind among the leaves.
Tell me, for Heavens sake!' repeated
Lady Darrell, her grasp tightening OF Pau
lines arm.
IL have nothing to tell" was the curt reply,
Pray do not hold my arm SO tightly, Lady
Darrell; | have nothing to tell"
do not deceive me-thcre must be some
reason for your strange manner Tell it to
me now; before it is too late"
There was almost an agony Of pleading in
her face and voice. but Pauline turned reso-
lutely away, leaving her beneath the cedar
alone.
II must be mistaken" IHdy Darrell
thought. "What can she kht Of him? |
must be wrong to doubt him; surely il |
doubt him | shall doubt Heaven itself. 1t is
her manner-her awkward manncr-nothing
more"
And she tried her best to dismiss all
thoughts Of Pauline from her mind, and give
herself to her newly found happiness.
Pauline" said Miss Hastings, sorrowful-
ly, when she ~rcjDined the girl, Il cannot un-
derstand YOU"
Il do not quite understand myself" re-
turned Miss Darrell. Il did not think | had
any weakness or pity in my heart, hut | find
it is there"
"l on frlghten me-" said Miss Hastings.
| ttIUhat unol.ac N.nu & N cfroV,raO n Dn,lfnn
throw it off, this black shadow that cnvel-
opes you, and forget this idea of vengeance
which has SO completely changed your
She looked up with a smile-a hard, bitter
smile.
81 shall have had my revenge she said,
gloomily, "whcn she has married him."
Nor could any cntreaties, any prayers OF
the kindheartcd woman move her to say
more.
Whether the mysterious and uncertain as
pect of things preyed upon Miss Hastings
mind, whether she grieyed over her pupil
and allowed that grief TO disturb her, was
never revealed, but In tho month of August
she became seriously ill-not enough to be
obliged to keep her room, but her health and
her strength failed her, and day b. day she
became weaker and less able to make any
exertion.
Lady Darrell sent for Doctor Helmstone,
and he advised Miss Hastings TO 20 to the
seaside at once, and to remain there during
the autumn. At her earnest request Pauline
consented to accompany her.
1.-THE change will do you good as we'll as
myself" said the anxious lady; and Miss
Darrell saw that she was thinking how much
better it would be that she should leave Oar
rell Court.
II will 60" she said. II know what you
are thinking of. My vengeance is nearly
accomplished. There Is no reason now why