Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1898-11-05
CnAfTEIE XVII,

velvety roses, and point lappets" on her
silvery, abundant hair, and diamonds scin-
t~illating on her white plump hands. her
round wrists, her neck, and from her
dainty aristocratic ears, rs il they were
dewdrops fallen from the dropping roses
In her hair. She was very magnificent,
but she was in OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES in
tears.
She won't go, Stephen Madam cried,
breathless with alarm and excitement and
excessive vexation. 'There was never
any one more tried than ! nave been this
day. | positively declare that Miss Tired
enniCk shall return to her father and
mother tomorrow, and let them send her
to a strict school or convent, or wherever
they like best-l wash my hanGS OF her!'
"Why does she refuseY' Stephen Tired
ennick asked, in surprise and trouble.
"How can / tellY" Madam exclaimed,
sharply, almost beside herself from vexa.
ton. Because of one of her reverend.
ing, abominably obstinate whims, | sup.
pose!'
LET me see her, aunt" Captain Tired.
ennick said, deprecatingly; perhaps Mile
is not we'll"
perfectly WE'LL asserted Madam, with
a tlli vi DNi lobi, llNlNd liSo ilV-
whella chuckled Internally.
That worthy young woman was resolved
to endure no rival in her mistress consid.
Grafton, and strove, in her meek, enduring
hypocrisy Of affectionate devotion and her
power of SLY dealing, to aid in widening
the breach between her mistress and her
naughty niece by every means in her pow
err, were it only by the finest point of a
knife-like wedge. Miss Tredennick, who
had been an object of fear to her from the
first, and of jealous envy, had become lat.
terly simply an object of spiteful hatred,
since Miss Tredennick's own maid was
now the recipient of Miss Tredennick's
lavish presents.
Perfectly well" Madam repeated;
shut, if you think you can talk that self
willed, unmanageable girl into reason,
you are mistaken. You are at liberty to
try"
She dropped Indignantly down on aseat,
almost regardless of her superb MORE an.
tique, and point lace.
"Trewhella, tell Morton that Captain
Tredennick wishes to speak to her mis-
tress.'
Thank you," said Stephen Tredennick,
coldly, passing out before the o~bsequious
handmaiden, don't trouble yourself.
My cousin will see me, l have no doubt"
ooh, sir, objected Miss Trewhella, stop
ping the way with an alarmed curtsey and
shake Of the head, "you-you can't sir
really, sir! Miss Tredennick's tout ong
dizdbillH, sir"
Captain T~redennick put his strong hand
on the woman's arm, quietly put her aside,
- ---Izl - AgslIYnl'. l,A.,sa A,v
door. The young maid, a neat, pretty girl
with a frightened face aud Hurried man.
ner, opened it instantly.
She's there, sir" she whispered, in re.
ply to his query, aud, motioning him to.
ward one side of the dimly-lighted room,
she gladly escaped for a while from its
precincts.
Mile, my dear girl, are you not Wells
What is the mattery" The Captain groped
his way to the shaded lamp, turned on a
bright blaze of gas, lit the eXtinguished
wax-candleS at the mirror, and then he
saw Mildred lying on the sofa, her face
turned away aud buried IN the cushions
more rs if she had flung herself there in
pain or misery than for rcpose, with the
voluminous folds of her dinner-dress ly.
Ing Oh lllt Ndl pCl, ACl ll'sA lluil "a ulS
ordered, and one hand convulsively
clasped.
The room was filled with light and the
beauty of rich, brilliant robes. stephen
Tredennick scarcely knew where TO stand
or sit or kneel for webs Of costly lace-like
frost-work, for trailing satin and tulle, for
tiny white satin shoes, for jewel cases and
bouquet-holders, and essence-bottles, and
glove-boxes, and gorgeous cashmere wrap
pers. Miss T~redennick let none Of her
eight hundred a year lie idly by.
"Millie dear, what is the matter? Won't
you tell met" he asked, coaXingly. 1--WE
are always allies, Millie-my dear cousin,
what ails you2'
Nothing, Stephen" said Mildred, sit
ting up; and then she burst into tears.
Nothing ails me. j am perfectly well, as
Madam has just told RE, in a rage; but |
feel as if | would rather be put into a pris,
On cell than 90 to this hateful ball! Isup-
pose / I'M over-tired, or something. There
is no use in Madam's forcing me TO go. !
can't dance, or speak, or do anything but
sit down and cry; my heart seems like
lead, Stephen-something must be going
to happen to me-
Stephen Tredennick's kind broad brow
darkened.
Nothing is going to happen to you, my
dear" he said, kindly; lit is Just what
you say yourself. You are over-tired,
Mile dear: and | must say that it is q
shame to force any young girl in this mill
round of staying up mt night when she
ought to be asleep, and sleeping when she
ought to be up, as fresh as the flowers.
Dress yourself, dear, for this last time,
ard | promise that you shall have no more
ball-going this year. Hurry, Mile dear
your aunt's quite ready"
"Oh, of counsel" cried Mildred, bitterly.
"If | were ready to drop down dead, and
Madam had said that | should go some
where, she would just go on with her toll
ct as calmly and carefully as usual, and
come in ten minutes too soon, with the
last button of her glove fastened. to know
if / was ready
"If you fed i'll. my dear cousin, you
shall not CO." said stephen TredennicE
decidedly.
II am not in the least i'll. l tell you
Stephen" Mildred reiterated, ringing hel
bell violently. "There, go away. and tel
Madam not TO suffer any more anguish Of
mind on account of my obstinacy. l shall
go, and she may thank herself for what
ever happens"
Her heavy eyes and pallid cheeks lit ur
with burning, angry determination, and
Stephen Tredennick went away unwilling
ly.
IL am sure Mildred is not well, aunt
he said, as they sat awaiting her coming
In the drawing-room, ''she seems SO fever
ish and nervous"
Very" returned Madam, sarcastically
adjusting the wide black velvet and splen'