Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1898-02-12
u0NA'S CHOICE.


"Of course you know what / am going
o say. You ~know-you must know-that
loved you from the first hour we met, and
hat although in justice to you I made the
Inseliish effort TO recommend your marry
ng Waring. when poor Mrs. Newburgh
net with such losses, / do not suppose you
AN form an idea OF what IL cost me TO
make such u sacrifcev"
II am sorry 10 have caused you PAIN"
said Mona. in a low, clear tone. II am
Iure your advice was disinterested."
at was indeed. confess I was surpris-
ID at the worldly tact with which you
adopted my suggestion"
81 was carefully brought mp in a good
school," said Mona, demurely.
mo school on earth could have given
you the indescribable charm nature has
bestowed cried Lisle, ~passionately. 81
never loved any woman as / love you!
Mona. do hear met Cast away this cold
sweetness, that Is enough TO madden any
man. Give me your love, give me a right
% itp" He seized and kissed her hand,
which she withdrew. There was a time
when your hand trembled In mine. and
"My nerves are much steadier now" she
aid, calmly. at is treachery to let you
say more, when l have nothing TO give In
return, and II pains me infinitely TO pain
you, but | cannot be your wife"
"Then there is some internal mystery at
the bottom OF 1t. First you throw Warine
over IN the most un~accountable manner
now you reject mel You prefer the awful
seclusion OF this wild place. the society Of
these uneducated plowmen, to the world my
wife could command' Mona, you cannot
be indifferent to such passionate love al
mine, unless you love someone else"
THAT does not follow" she returned
uneasily, and very anxious to get rid OF
Kim.
"who is it," persisted Lisle, who was
raging with modification and d~isappoint-
ment. Can 1t be that the hero Of the re-
jected addresses has found favor in your
eyes after ALA great overgrown school
10y, who is weak enough TO let himself be
robbed and plundered by professed game
sters and designing promoters, and then
skulks of TO hide himself in the wilds OF
California, like other defeated desperadoes.
Yonr first instinct was right, when you re-
jected a man who was unfit to be your pro-
tector."
stop" cried Mona, moved by a sudden
generous impulse TO do justice to the man
she loved. Your judgment was right.
My instinct, IL it was instinct, vas wrong.
Mr.. Waring deserved my love. and he has
it! You are again right. you see. He has
shaken of the early feeling which made
him so eager TO throw himself between me
sad the ruggedness OF poverty, and I have
learned TO know him when Il is too latei
Your confession deserves confidence on my
part. / feel ! can trust my secret to the
loyalty OF a gentleman; and though l am
not the woman to throw myself at the feet
OF one who is indifferent 70 me. as Leslie
Waring is now, | am not ashamed TO own
that he has my gratitude, my respect. my
heart, and in it there is no room for an
other"
The ton In which she uttered these
words. the indescribable dignity and ten
derness OF her air. Of the slight gesture OF
the hand with which she emphasized her
spsech-touched and sllenced Isle.
You are an extraordinary girl" he said
ut length; and il Waring does not love
you 4 suppose you must know, II seems
incredible. Well. IL he does not, | do not
despair. You are worth winning. l will
not trespass on you any longer; but I will
not say good-bye-I shall seek you again
when the sea rolls between you and the
most unlucky dog | have ever known OF
heard OF. To he loved my sa.. ~~a no. &c
know IL. What irony Of fatei For the
present-sweetest and most provoking Of
women-farewell."