Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1898-03-05

know She had SIN a clllln y laltn.
. Then came an interruption in the shape OF
| a footman, with Sir Oswald's compliments,
and would the ladies go to the drawing
room? There were visitors.
''Who are they?' asked Miss Darrell, alb
rnptly.
The man replied:
"Sir George and Lady Hampton"
II shall not CO." said Pauline, decidedly:
''that woman slckens me with her false airs
and silly, false graces. ! have not patience
TO talk 10 her."
''Sir Oswald win not be pleased" remon-
strated Miss Hastings.
'1hat | cannot help-it is not my fault. i
shall not make myself a %hyp0crlte to please
Sir Oswald"
Society has duties which must be dis
charged, and which do not depend upon our
liking; we must do our duty whether we like
IL or not"
II detest society," was the abrupt reply
sit is all a sham.'
Then why not do your best 10 improve IL?
That would surely he better than to abuse IT,"
There il something in that confessed
Miss Darrell, slowly.
IF We each do our little best toward max
ing the world even ever so little better than
we found it," said Miss Hastings, " shall
not have lived in vain"
There was a singular grandeur OF generosi.
~ about the girl. II she saw that she was
wrong in an argument or an opinion, she adj
mitted ii with the most charming candor.
That admission she made now by rising at
once to accompany Miss Hastings.
The drawing room at Darrell Court was a
magnificent apartment; II had been furnish
ed under the superintendent Of the late
Lady Darrell, a lady of exquisite taste. Ii
was all white and gold, the white hangings
with bullion fringe and gold braids, the white
damask with a delicate border of gold; the
pictures, the costly statues cleaned in the
midst of rich and rare flowers; graceful orna-
ments, tall, slender vases were filled with
choicest blossoms; the large mirrors, with
their golden frames, were each and all per-
feet in their way. There was nothing gaudy,
brilliant, or dazzling; all was subdued, in
perfect good taste and harmony.
In this superb room the beauty of Pauline
Darrell always showed TO great advantage:
she was in perfect keeping with its ~splendor.
As she entered now, with her usual half
naughty. half-listless grace, Sir Oswald look.
ed up with admiration plainly expressed on
his face.
"What a queenly mistress she would make
for the Court, il she would but behave like
other people!" he thought TO himself, and
then Lady Hampton rose to greet the girl.
MY dear Miss Darrell, ] was getting quite
impatient, II seems an age since | saw you
really an age"
1T is an exceeding short one" returned
Pauline; II sew you on Tuesday, Lady
hampton"
Did you? All, yes; how could | forget9
All. my dear child, when You reach my age
when your mind is filed with a hundred
different matters-you will not have such
good memory rs you have now
Lady Hampton was a little. oyer-dressed
woman. She looked all flowers and furbe
lows-all ribbons and laces. She was, how
ever, a perfect mistress OF all the arts OF 20
lite society; she knew exactly what TO sa!
and how to say it; she knew when to smile
when TO look sympathetic, when TO sigh
She was not sincere; she never made th,
least pretence of being 30. society" WA
her one idea-how TO please it how TO VIII
It's admiration, how 10 secure a high position
in IL.
The contrast between the two was remark
able-the young girl with her noble face, hel
LIdlIu Nbiu lOhhl NIX Oul VI Hti t4'di Val
eyes; Lady Hampton with her a%rtiicia
smiles, her shifting g%lsnces, and would-b'
charming gestures. Sir Oswald stood by
with a courtly smile on his face.
Il have some charming news for YOU
said Lady Hampton. II ann sire you will
be, nlsassa ~ hesr il Miss psss~na,.
THAT viii quite depend on what II islike.'
lnterposed Pauline. honestly.
You dear, droll child. You are so origi
nal; you have so much character. / Away
tell Sir Oswald you are quite different from
any one else"
And though her ladyship spoke smilingly
she gave n keen, quiet glance at Sir Oswald
face, in all probability TO watch the effect o
her words.
"Ah, WELL" she continued. Il suppose tina
in your position a little si~ngularity may b.
permitted" and then she paused, with
bland smile.
TO Whist position do you allude?' asked
Miss Darrell.
Lady Hampton laughed again. She nod
dcd with an air OF great penetration.
"Iou are cautious, Miss Darrell. But
am forgetting my news. 1t is this-that M
niece, Miss Elinor Rockford, is coming q
visit me-"
She waited evidently for Miss Darrell L
make some complimentary reply. Not
word came from the proud lips.
And when she comes | hope, Miss Oar
rell, that you and she will be great friends
1T is rather probable, il / like her. wa
the frank reply.
Sir Oswald looked Mortified. Lady Hamp
ton smiled still more sweetly.
You are sure to like her. Elinor is mos
dearly loved wherever she goes
rs she a sweet creature" asked Pauline
with such inimitable mimicry that Miss Hast
ings shuddered, while Sir Oswald turned
pale.
"she is indeed" replied Lady Hampton
who, IL she understood the sarcasm, made n,
sign. with Sir Oswald's permission,
shall bring her to spend a long day with you
Miss Darrell"
IL shall be charmed" said Sir Oswald
"really delighted, La.y Hampton. You q,
me great honor indeed"
He looked at his niece for some little con
firmation Of his words, but that young lad,
appeared too naughty for speech: the wore
honor seemed TO her strangely ~misapplied
Lady Hampton relaxed none of era
ciousness; her bland suavity continued tn,
same until the end Of the visit; and then, il
some way, she contrived TO make Miss Hast
ings understand that she wanted to speal
with her. She asked the goyerness ii sh,
would go with her to the carriage, az sh,
wished to consult her about some music
When they were alone, her air and manner