Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1899-01-14
CHAPTER xvii


winnie, you shall not attempt I'll Win
ME, my dear, you are mad to think of It'll
Winnie, my child, would you have your
father stand by to see you murderedf My
poor little girl, the first blow OF those
waves would knock your life out in an in
stant!''
But all she said was, "Let me go. l am
not a~fraid-not afraid, IL / must die, SO
long rs | can save all those below! Faith
or, father, their lives are in our hands!
Don't forbid me. Lady Mildred, speak to
himr'
'Lor' bless e, Miss Winnie, don't e
think of doin' such like" a stout fisher
man i%nterposed. "Tn try! Let me try,
Lieutenant"
Nor Winnie said, putting him back.
You can hole the rope. You are q heavy
man-there might be more danger for you:
and you have q wife and children depend
ing on you alsol Twill 90. Father, you
will not say No. 1t is my duty. Father,
you will not refuse to let me risk my life
for the lives of others, will you? You
would risk your own freely"
winnie, my child" he cried; with tears.
Don't talk so! l can't say 'No'-and !
can't say 'Yes'-I can't stand by to see
you killed. My girl, you'd never accom-
plish such a terrible feat-you needn't
think of it,"
Let me try" She kissed his face. and
murmured a few words in his ear. "All |
have is for you and mamma and the chill
dren, father; you will find papers in my
desk" and the grave. reserved, memo.
tlonaI father shook with sobs, and turned
away to hide from the sight of his gentle
daughters going to her doom.
winnie dear-Winnie Lowell" Lady Mil
dred cried, choking with agitation. Twin
ME, II anything happens to you, / shall
feel myself a murderess for the rest of NV
life. My brave girl, Heaven keep yonl
I'll pray for you here on my knees, Win
ME, until l see your face again. Kiss me.
dear"
Never again in Tolgooth, or Tregarthen,
or in the whole countryside, did anyone
fear or regard Mildred, Lady Mountrevor,
as a cold-hearted, naughty, unapproacha-
bic woman, after that dreadful day on
Tregarthen Head. ''She was like one of
ourselves" they said, referring to her wo-
manly excitement. fear, grief, and affec-
ton. Those whom she had ~fiercely scold-
cd forgave her when she entreated them
as those on whose aid she depended-those
whom she imperiously ordered about
obeyed her, and would have done so with.
out even the promises she lavished of re-
ward. The women pitied her, and shed
tears for her distracted grief ana excite.
ment at her beloved cousins possibly I'M.
timely end; they liked her and admired
her for her passionate. remorseful tender
ness to poor little Winnie Caerlyon.
Poor little Miss Winnie"-the poor
LieWenant's daughter-who they said was
going to her doom-to meet the risk of al
most certain death! For Winnie Caerlyon.
with her slender black-robed figure, her
little white hands. her uncovered head,
with its wealth Of beautiful brown hair,
her meek white face, was taking the plaza
which brave young win Treglyn had been
forced to abandon-was fastening the rope
around her poor little fragile girlish waist.
n going over Tregarthen Head, down
amongst the binding sheets of spray and
the laundering breakers of the Black Reef
the face Of q deep PERCEPTIONS over.
hanging cliff, to attempt the rescue of the
Of the Chtttoor,