Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1898-08-06

There was no magical wishing-sronc oy
these moss-grown gate pillars, no wishing
well dubbed forth is fateful waters be-
meath the clustering masses OF evergreens,
trailing ivy, cleaning laurel, and dark
prickly carnelian-jewelled holly which
grew dank and close in the neglected
shrubbery, and, climbing the boundary
wall, spread their lark heavy foliage
down to shelter the pair who stood be-
meath; but Stephen Tredennick wished, as
he stood there, as he had never wished be-
fore. Something-he knew not what
had touched his heart because of this poor
little maiden's girlish loneliness and pow
erty. Truth to tell, he had hitherto known
very little, and cared 10 know less, or
small girls or big girls, old maids or young
ones. This new sensation was therefore
as strange and unaccountaLle as his wish
ing that Winnie Caerlyon lived in o COM
Portable handsome house, that she had no
work to do, that she were INDUCED and
petted, and made pretty presents to, like
other happy girls; that she were Madam
Vivian's daughter and his little cousin, or
sister, or relative in some way, that she
had not to trudge off to Tolgooth Bay this
bitterly cold wild March morning, and
that she had Il warmer and better jacket
on. She looked so thinly clad, and so
cold, poor little creaturel One of those
rich. handsome, satin-liued fur things,
now, that young ladies' wore in the Park
or in Regent Street. would be just the
very thing for her. Oh. how he wished
there were a fur shop within walking dis
tance, hat he might go in and buy N
for her!
Stephen Tredennick's one great luxury
and extravaganza was to make the most
acceptable and delightful presents to peo-
| pie that 1t was possible for them to receive
from marvellous, wildly longed-for
buckborn handled, six bladed pocket
knives to youngsters ut school, to robes OF
cobweb muslin ~spangled with beetles
wings from Oriental climes for their SIS
tiers. He would get one for her as soon as
ever he went back to London-the very
softest and richest and warmest of the
satin-lined fur-jackets which the young
lady in the fur-shop could show him! And
send it Ia herr No; he must get Madam
to give it for him, and say something kind
TO pass IL off; it was not quite correct
those droll landsmen's notions!--to give
presents Of rich clothes 10 strange young
ladies.
lOuuS lhug' Nhg was hO A'o "'N
old enough TO be the poor child's fatherf
Well, no, not quite. She was about six
teen perhaps, and he was nearly thirty
three-no more than double her age, but
not quite old enough to be her father.
Well, Madam could give the jacket, with
his kind regards, to Miss Winnie Caerl-
yon, and say that he hoped she would wear
1t for his ~sake-would that dor
No; say-say, Wear it if she pleased for
q keepsake. Sixteen and thirty-three-
quite q child to him! Surely an honest
plain sailor might make a little girl a nice
useful present? All, sixteen and thirty
three; well-well!
Perhaps he might say something about
It now and prepare the way; it might
please h~er-young girls were fond of pretty
clothes, poor little things--it was nearly
all the pleasure they had in life, except
when they had a sweetheart. She would
be pleased perhaps if he told her, and it
would brighten up the wan, ~downcast,
thin little face.
"You caught no cold from your wetting
last night, l hopeg" he began. This Is a
very sharp morning, too. You would
want q tremendous lot of wraps il you
took many such morning walks as this"
CONTINUED Next Week.)