Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1898-02-26

moet WonuerIul feature III uat wonderful
face; they were dark as night itself,
what In hue like q purple heartsease, rich,
SOFT, dreamy, yet at times all fire, all bright
ness, hlled with passion more intense than
any words, aud shining then with a strange
half-golden light. The browS were straight,
dark, and beautiful; the lips crimson, full,
and exqEsitely shaped; the mouth looked
Ike one that could persuade or contcmn-
that could express tenderness or scorn, love
or pride, with the slightest play Of the lips.
Every attitude the girl assumed was full OF
unconscious grace. She did not appear TO
be In the least conscious Of her wonderful
beauty. She had walked TO the window, and
stood leaning carelessly against the frame,
one beautiful arm thrown above her head, as
though she were weary, and would fain rest
ar attitude that could not have been sur
passed had she studied 1t for years.
you are not at oil what / expected to
see" said Miss Hastings, al last. "You are,
indeed, SO different that ! am taken by sur
prise"
Am / better or worse than you had i'm
sgined mep' she asked, with careless scorn.
You are different--better, perhaps, in
some things. You are taller. You are so
tall that it will be difficult to remember you
are a pupil"
The barrels are a tall race" she said,
quietly. Miss Hastings, what have you
come here to teach me?"
The elder lady rose from her seat and look
ed lovingly into the face Of the girl; she
placed her hand caressingly on the slender
shoulders.
II know what 1 should like to teach you,
Miss Darrell, il you will let me. | should
like to teach you your duty to Heaven, youl
fellow-creatureS, and yourself"
THAT would be dry learning, | fear" she
returned, What does my uncle wish me to
learn?'
''ro be In all respects a perfectly refined,
graceful lady"
Her face flushed with a great crimson wave
that rose to the white brow and the delicate
shell-like ears.
Il shall never be that" she cried, passion
ately. II may just as well give up all hopes
of Darrell Court. | have seen some ladies
since | have been here. / could not be like
them. They seem TO speak by rule; they all
say the same kind Of things, with the anne
smiles, in the same tone OF voice; they fol-
low each other like sheep; they seem fright
ened to advance an opinion of their own,
or even give utterance to an original thought.
They look upon me as something horrible,
because | dara to say what ] think, and have
read every book | could find"
ut is not always best to put our thoughts
in speech; and the chances arc, Miss Darrell.
that, II you have read every book you could
find, you have read many that had been bet
ter left alone. You arc giving a very one
sided, %prejudiced view after ALL"
She raised her beautiful head with a gest-
ure Of superb disdain.
There is the same difference between
them and myself as between a mechanical
singing bird made to sing three tunes and a
wild, sweet bird Of the woods. l like my
w self best"
There is not the least doubt of that" OBJ
served Miss Hastings, with a smile; but the
question is not SO much who we like our
selves as what others like in us. However,
we will discuss that at another time, Miss
Darrell"
HAS my uncle told you that if | please
him-if | can be nodded into the right form
Il am TO be heiress Of Darrell Court? she
asked, quickly.
Yes; and now that / have seen you / am
persuaded that you can be anything you
wish"
"Do you think, that l an clever?" she ask
ed, eagerly.
81 should imagine so" replied Miss Hast
lngs. Pauline need not call you Miss
DARRELL hope we shall be friends; | trust
we shall be happy together"
ut Is not very likely" she said, slowly,
'thst | can like you, Miss Hastinss."
why notY" asked the governesG, astonish.
ed at her iranAnesS.
Because you are to correct me; continual
correction will be a great annoyance, and
will prevent my really liking YOU"
Miss Hastings looked %astounded.
That may be, Pauline" she said; but do
you know that 1t Is not polite of you to say
SOP In good society one does not tell such
unpleasant truths"
That Is just it," was the eager retort;
that is why | do not like good society, and
shall never be fit for 1t. / am truthful by ma
ture. In my fathers house and among his
friends there was never any need 10 conceal
the truth we always spoke it frankly. II
we did not like each other, we said so. But
here, 1t seems TO me, the first lesson learned
to tit one for society is to speak falsely"
Not so, Pauline; but, when the truth Is
likely to hurt another's feelings, to wound
susceptibility or pride, why speak ii, unless
1t is called forP'
Pauline moved her white arms with q SUI
perb gesture of scorn.
II would rather any day hear the truth
and have my mind hurt" she said, energetic
ally, than feel that people were smiling at
me and deceive me. Lady Hampton visits
Sir Oswald. / do not like her, and she does
not like me; but she always asks Sir Oswald
how his dear niece is, and she calls me a
sweet creature-Origlnal, but very sweet
You can see for yourself, Miss Hastings, that
l am not that"
Indeed, you are not sweet" returned the
governess, smiling; ''but Pauline, you are a
mimic, and mimicry is a dangerous gift"
She had initiated Lady Hampton's lsnguId
tones and affected accent to perfection.
Sir Oswald bows and smiles all the time
Lady Hampton is talking to him; he stands
first up on n foot, and then upon the other.
You would think, % listen TO him, that he
was so charmed with her ladyship hat he
could not exist out of her presence. Yeti have
seen him quite delighted al her departure,
and twice ] heard him say Thank Heaven
1t was for the relief. Yons good society is
ell deceit, Miss Hastings"
II will not have you say that, Pauline.
Availability, and the desire always to be kind
and conslderate, may carry one to extremes
at times; but / am inclined to prefer the
amiability that spares to the truth that
wounds"
II am not" was the blunt rejolnder. "Will
you come to your rooms, Miss Hastings? Sir
Oswald has ordered q suite to be prepared
entirely for our use. / have three rooms,
you have four; and there is a study that we
can use together"
They went through the broad stately cor.
r;dors, where the warm sun shone in at the
windows, and the flowers breathed sweetest
perfume. The rooms that had been prepar-
ed for them were bright and pleasant with a
beautiful view from the windows, well furn-
ichad anl cunplial NTH aynru nnpxfo.k A