Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1898-07-09
XII.
TIE WORK OF ACHIEVEMENT.

killed In the gloom Of an autumn night, on
the high road! Society was grieved and
shocked.
That beautiful young lady at the Hall
who loved him so dearly, was" people whis-
pered to each other, ''at deaths door-s0
deep was her grief"
An inquest was held at the Darrell
Arms" and all the revelations even made as
to the cause of Captain Langton's death were
made then. The butler and the groom at
Darrell Court swore TO having felt some lit
tie alarm at seeing the deceased drink more
than half a tumblerful Of brandy. The but
ler's prophecy that he would never reach
home in safety was repeated. One of the
men said that the captain looked pale and
scared, as though he had seen n ghost; AN
other told how madly he had galloped away;
SO that no other conclusion could be come to
but this-that he had ridden recklessly, lost
all control over the horse, and had been
thrown. There was proof that the animal
had dragged him along the road for some
little distance; and it was supposed the fatal
wound had been inflicted when his head was
dashed against the milestone close to which
he had been found.
1t wa very shocking, very terrible. So
ciety was distressed. The body Law at the
Darrell Arms" until all arrangements had
been made for the funeral. Such a funeral
had never been seen in Audleigh Royal.
Rich and poor, every one attended.
Captain Langton was buried in the pretty
little cemetery at Audleigh; and people, as
they stood round the grave, whispered to
each other that, although the horse that kill
ed him had cost over a hundred pounds, Sir
Peter Glynn had ordered IL to be shot.
Than xvhan tha ,tt,u Lol rnlA1 ..Az
winter, the accident was forgotten. Some
thing else happened which drove it from
peoples minds, and the tragedy of Audleigh
Royal became a thing of the past.
Pauline did not return to Omberleigh. Miss
Hastings was ~dreadfully shocked when she
received a letter telling her of Captain Lang
toms death and Of Lady Darrell's serious i'll
ness. No persuasions could induce her to
remain longer away. She returned that
same day to the Court, and insisted upon
taking her share in the nursing of Lady Oar
rell.
Lady Hampton looked upon the captains
accident as the direct interposltion Of Provi-
dence. or course such a death was very
shocking, very terrible; but certainly it had
never been a match she approved; and. aftel
all, say what one would, everything had hap
peIeu lOr TIE pest.
Lady Hampton went over to Darrell Court,
and assisted In atten ding to the invalid; but
her thoughts ran more on Lord Aynsley, and
the chances Of his renewing his offer, than
on anything else. Elinor would soon recov.
er, there was no fear; the shock to her nerves
had been great, but people never died OF
nervousness; and, when she did get well.
Lady Hampton intended TO propose q season
In London.
But Lady Darrell did not get well as soon
as Lady Hampton had anticipated. Indeed,
more than one clever doctor, on leaving hel
presence, shook his head gravely, and said
it was doubtful whether Lady Darrell would
ever recover at all; the shock to her nerves
had been terrible.
But there was something to be said also of
a blighted life and a broken heart.
Autumn had drifted into winter; and one
morning Lady Darrell, who had been sleep.
ing more soundly than usual, suddenly turn
ed to Pauline, who seldom left her.
Pauline" she whispered, 'you have not
told any one, have your"
Told what? she inquired.
About poor Aubrey's faults. / know now
that he was guilty. Strange, solemn thoughts,
strange revelations, come TO us, are made TO
us In sickness, when we lie, where / have
been lying, in the valley of the shadow of
death. know that he was guilty, and that
he died in his sin. l know il now, Pauline"
Miss Darrell bent over her and kissed the
white brow.
Listen to me, DEAR" continued the weak
voice. Let this secret die with us-let there
be a bond between us never to reveal it. You
will never tell any one about it, will you
Pauline?
mo-" sire replied, never. l should never
have told you but that | hoped to save you
from a dreadful fate-and it would have
been a dreadful fate for you to have married
him; he would have broken your heart"
ut is broken now" she said, gently. "Yet
it comforts me to know that no reproach will
be heaped on Aubrey's memory
You will get better" observed Pauline,
hopefully, land then there will be happier
days in store for YOU"
There will be no happy days for me- re-
turned Lady Darrell, sorrowfully. "You
see, Pauline, l loved him very dearly-more
dearly than 1 knew. | had never loved any
one very much until i saw him. | could
more easily have checked a raging fire than
nave restrained my love after | had once
SlNCh !. wy ~ ldu III hDillO way Ddootu
into his, and now, / do not care to live"
But you have so much to live for" said
Pauline.
"Not now | do not care for aught about
me. i have tried to remember Darrell Court
and all my wealth and grandeur, but they
give me no pleasure-the shadow OF death
lies over ALL"
And it was all in vain that Pauline tried
IN nttp InV. 4 oI,, nx,o ,FAn, -. 49,.
ply love, never cared to be reused again.
Lady Hampton would not think seriously Of
her illness-lt would pass away in time, she
said; but Miss Hastings shook her head
gravely, and feared the worst.
The time came when Pauline told some
part OF her story to the governess. She did
not mention Aubrey's crime-that secret she
kept until death-but she gave a sketch OF
what had passed between her and Lady Oar
rell.
Ibid / do right?' she asked, with that
sweet humility which had vanquished all
pride in her.
"You acted worthily," replied Miss Hast.
ings, while she marveled at the transforma-
ton which love had wrought In that once
proud, willful girl.
Time passed on, and by the wish of Miss
Hastings a celebrated physician was sent
for from London, for Lady Darrell grew no
better. His opinion sounded somewhat like
a death-warrant.
"She may recover sufficiently to quit her
room and to linger on IN life-how long is
uncertain; but the shock to her nerves she
will never fully recover from-while she lives
she will be a victim to nervousness. But /
do not think she will live long. Let her have
as much cheerful society as possible, without
fatigue; nothing more can be done for her.
And with that they were obliged to be con.
tent. Lady Hampton would not admit that
the London physician was correct.
NERVES are all nonsense" she said, brus.
quely. slow many nervous shocks have |
been through, with husband dead and chill.
dren dead? Elinor's only danger Is her