Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1899-12-23
He said, too, she ought to be ashamed Of

herself"
"0h, that was nothing" says Mr.. Beres
ford, airily. Father and mother never
agreed for q moment; they were always
squabbling from the time they got UP til
they went to bed again"
The Misses Blake have turned quite pale
Terence, how can you speak so Of your
salnted mother@' says Miss Penelope. "I'm
sure, from her letters to us, she was most
depoted mother and wife, and, indeed, sacri.
iced her every wish and pleasure to yours"
II never knew 1t cost her 50 much to keep
d,cdy from u.s." says Terence. If she was
dying for our sociesy, she must indeed have
sacrificed herself, because she made 1t the
business of her life to avoid us from morn
to dewy eve.'
Doubtless she had her duties" says Miss
Penelope, In voice of suppressed fear.
What is she going TO hear next? what are
these dreadful children going to say?
Perhaps she had" says Terence. IF so,
they didn't agree with her, as she was al.
ways in a bad temper. She used to give 1t
to papa right and left, until he didn't dare
call his soul his own. When marry, shall
take very good care my wife doesn't lead
me the life my mother led my father"
Your wife who'd marry youf" says Kit,
scornfully, which interlude gives the dis
cussion rest for a little time. But soon
they return TO the charge.
"l our mother when here had an angelic
temper" says Miss Penelope. Miss Pris.
ella all this time seems incapsb.s of speech.
wei, she hadn't when thers," says Ter
ence; and then he says a dreadful thing, as
vulgar as II is dreadful, that fills his aunts
heart with dlsLlay. "She and my father
fought like cat and dog" he says; and then
the Misses Blake feel their cup is indeed
full
And she never would take Monica any
where" says Kit; $50 selfishi'
1t Is growing too terrible. Is their idol 10
be shattered thus before their eyes?
Monica, was your mother ttllkind to youw
says Miss Penelope, in voice full OF an.
gulsh. After all these years, Is the Kather-
Inc OF their affections to be dragged in the
dust?
Monica heSitateS. She can see the grief
In her aunt's face, and cannot bear TO add
To 1t. The truth Is that the late Mrs. Beres-
ford had not been beloved by her children,
for reasons which II will be possible to con-
celve, but which would be tiresome TO enum-
crate here. Perhaps there seldom has been
a more careless or disagreeable mother.
SO Monica pauses fllshes, glances ner-
vOusly from right to left, and then back
again, and finally rests her loving regretful
eyes full upon Miss Penelope's agtated face.
Something she secs there decides her.
Sinking to her knees, she filings her arms
around the old lady's neck, and lays her
cheek to hers
Il will say nothing, but that am happy
here, 3" she says, in a low whisper
Miss Penelope's arms close round her.
The worst has come to her; yet there is So
lace in this clinging embrace, and in the
dewy lips that seek hers. Ii she has lost
one idol, who can say she has not gained an
other, and perhaps worthier one?
Yet beyond doubt the two old ladies have
sustained a severe shock; they hold down
their heads, and for a long time avoid each
others eyes, as though fearing what may
there be seen.
Let us walk round the garden, Aunt Pris-
cilla," says Monica, feeling very sorry for
them. "The evening is lovely, and the roses
so sweet"
Come, them" says Miss Priscilla, who is
perhaps glad TO escape from her own
thoughts. And so they all wander to and
fro in the pretty garden bending over this
flower and lingering over that in a soft, idle
sort of enjoyment that belongs alone to the
country.
CONTINUED Next Week.)