Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1898-02-26
VICTORY
BY BERTHA NJ. CLAY.


mo men have so much to answer for"
continued Sir Oswald, las the great ones Of
the land-men in whose hands power Is vest
ed-men to whom others look for example,
on whose lives other lives are modeled-men
who, as 1t were, carry the minds, IL not the
souls, OF their fellow men In the hollows Of
their hands,"
Pauline looked more impressed, and in
sensibly drew nearer TO him.
Such men, / thank Heaven" he said,
standing bareheaded as he uttered the words,
nave tine Darrells been-loyal, upright, hon
est, honorable, of stainless repute, Of stain
less life, fitted TO rule their fellow men
grand men, sprung from a grand old race.
And at times women have reigned here-wo-
men whose names have lived in the annals
of the land-who have been as shining lights
from the purity, the refinement, the grand
eur of their lives"
He pok with a passion OF ~eloquence not
lost on the girl by his side.
IL" he continued, humbly, IAN one OF the
least worthy of my race. | have done moth
ing for its advancement, but at the same
time ! have done nothing to disgrace 1t. !
have carried on the honors passively. The
time il coming when Darrell Court raust pass
into other hands. Now, Pauline, you have
heard, YOU know what the ruler OF Darrell
Court should bs. Tell me, ar5 you lifted to
take your place here?"
II am very young" she murmured.
1T Is not a question of youth. Dame 81
bella Darrell reigned here whens she was only
eighteen; and the son she trained to sue
ceed her were among the greatest statesmen
England has ever known. She improved
and enlarged the property; she died, after
living here sixty years, beloved, honorcd,
and revered. 1t is not a question of age"
~ am a Darrell!' said the girl, proudly.
Eyes, you have the face and figure of a
Darrell; you bear the name, too: but you
have not the grace and manner OF a Darrell
Those are mere outward mstterS Of polish
and veneer" she said, impatiently.
may, not so. You would not think II
right to see an uniformed, unframed, uncdu-
Gated, ignorant girl at the head Of such a
house as this. What did you do yesterdays
A maid displeascd you. You boxed her ears.
just imagine it. Such a proceeding on the
part of the mistress Of Darrell Court would
fill one with horror"
A slight smile rippled over the full Grim.
son lips.
Queen Elizabeth boxed her courtiers'
ears" said the girl, 'and it seemed right to
her"
"A queen, Pauline, is hedged In b. her
own royalty; she may do what she will. The
very fact that you are capable Of defending
an action so violent, so unlady-like, so Op.
posed to all ones ideas of feminine dcllcacy,
proves that you are unfit for the position you
ought to occupy"
II am honest, at least. make no preten-
sions to be what | am not"
$50 is my butler honest, but that does moi
fit him to be master of Darrell Court. Hon
esty is but one quality-a good one, sturdy
and strong; it requires not one, but many
qualities to hold such q position as | would
fain have you occupy"
Miss Darrells patience was evidently al
an end.
"And the upshot of all this, Sir Oswald,
is"
Exactly so-that | am anxious to give you
every chance in my power-that / have found
an estimable, refined, elegant woman, who
will devote her time and talents to train and
FIT you tor society,"
A low, musical laugh broke from the per-
feet lips.
Have you any idea" she asked, "what l
shall be like when | am trained?"
Like a lady, trust-a well-bred lady. l
can imagine nothing more beautiful than
that"
When is she coming, this model Of yours,
Sir Oswald?'
Nay, your model, niece, not mine. She
is here now, and wish to Introduce her to
YOU. should like you, if possible" he con-
cluded, meekly, ito make q favorable i'm
preston on her."