Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1899-05-20

OR,
Half a Truth.
BY THE DUCHESS"

AAtDh y hAhc' " ~ A"DHSasNN1 @~~NSS
said, vaguely. Where is thisS"
or course there was a crowd; the hroug.
ham which had nearly run over the heed
less wayfarer stopped, two or three han.
SONS ditto, also several passengers. and a
dozen or more of those idlers who seem to
be shot, as from a ~catapult, TO the scene Of
any accident.
~ should say you didn't replied Colonel
don't seem well, old fellow. Wen drive
the rest OF the way home"
He raised his hand.
Right, sirl'' responded alert cabby, who
had had an eye to business.
Then Louis hesitated.
But" he began.
Jump in, man. returned BeaureGard,
quickly. I'VE shall have all Regent Street
rSund us in q minute"
Louis obeyed, and Max followed.
"Where are you living'" he asked.
Louis gave tho address, and the cab
bowled away toward the modest street
where the Foreign Office clerk dwelt.
In q minute or W Louis rallied, and
turned to his companion, a slight flush
mounting to his cheek.
Colonel Beauregard," he said, ''yor
saved my lifer
tut! Charters. You were walking
right under a horses nose, and / dragged
you away that's ALL"
II almost wish you hadn't" said Louis
bitterly.
The other glanced az him keenly, not for
the first time, and said, a little drily, yet
not unkindly:
"You fellows like you, who have, maybe,
never seen death, are apt to court 1t toe
lightly"
Louis colored again.
81 had no idea Of suicide, Colonel Beau
regard, " he said. Il simply didn't look
where | was going"
II saw that. Here we are at your dig
gings. May / como in; or would you rath'
er not? No ceremony, please"
81 should be very glad if you would come
ups said Louis, with unmistakable SINGER
ity. 81 scarcely know you, Colonel Beaure'
gard, and yet | don't feel as If you were q
stranger"
People generally get to feel at home
with nae very soon" replied Max; and, af
ter paying the cabman, he followed Louis
into the house.
The young mans s%itting-room was no
particularly home-llke or comfortable, and
bore no evidence Of exuberant wealth in
its %occupier. The fact naturally struck
Louis with peculiar sharpness just now,
and, with a reckless sort of laugh, he turn
ed % his companion.
at looks brilliant, doesn't itH" he said
"looks us If | were n millionaire; the sor'
OF place a girl who lives on rose-leave'
would like TO come tor"
He threw himself into a chair, pressing
his hand TO his forehead. BeauregarC
stood still, looking at him steadily. Louis
he saw, was I'm a dangerous mood; he had
seen this ten minutes ago In Regent Street
One glance at the young mans face ha(
been enough for Max; and 1t was not din
cult 10 divine the cause, or something yer!
near it, Of Louis trouble.
After q sudden pause, Louis added In thu
same strain, but more sullenly:
Il suppose they are all alike-all womer
love money, and moneys worth, bette
THAI Heaven itself"
(Which means" began B~eauregard
quietly.
Louis interrupted him.
(Which means" he said, flercely, "tha
Valerie Herbert has flung me aside like
broken toy for the sake Of a rich man"
He sprang to his feet and began walking
up and down eXcitedly.
Bcauregard set his teeth tor n moment
then he said slowly, In a quiet, level voice
strangely contrasting with the others cX
element:
Has she, with her own lips, dismissed
you? Has she told you it was for a ricf
mans sake"
Told met She dared not deny it wher
/ charged her with it! You must know
you must have heard-that she is as goot
as engaged to Aston Lawford? | saw he.
yesterday with him in the Park-smilin2
and happy. with no thought Of me, thONgl