Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1900-12-29

honey-and Boompointer. But nearer
me. Well fix that all. ] heard son5e-
thing about your being In disgrace;
but the story was that you were soft
On SOME secesh girl down there and
neglected your business, Kla'uns. But
wife! Never mind. well strafghten
that out. We've had worse jobs than
that On. Why; there was that conn
missafy who was buying up dead
horses at one end of the field afid SELL
ing them to the government for mess
beef at the other: and there was that
&c leral who wouldn't make an attack
when il rained, and the other general
you know who l e Kla'uns-who
wouldn't invade the state where his
sister liyed-but we Strengthened them
out somehow, and they were a heap
worse than you. Well get you a posi-
ton I'm the war department. here, one
OF the bureau offices, where you keep
your rank and your uniform-you don't
look bad in II, Kla'uns-on better pay,
And you'ii come and see me-and well
talk over old times"
Brant felt his heart turn sick with
in him. But he was at her mercy
now! He said with an effort: But
I've told o that my c~areer-nay, my
life-now is In the field"
Don't you be a fool, Kla'uns, and
leave II there. You have done your
work of nghting-mighty good fight
ing, too. and everybody knows II.
You've earned a change. Let others
take your place"
He shuddered as he remembered that
his wife had made the same appeal.
Was he a fool, then, and these two
women-so totally unlike In everything
right In thar
Come, Kla'una," Caid Susy, relaps-
ing against his shoulder, now talk to
me! You don't say what o think of
me, OF my home, my fu~rniture-of my
position-even OF him Tell mel"
II find you well, prosperous, and
happy" he said with a faint smile.
rs thai all?" How do | look?"
She turned her still youthful miss
chleyous face toward him In the NOON
light. The witchery OF her blue eyes
was still there as OF old, the same
frank responsibility beamed from
them; her parted lips seemed to give
him back the breath of his youth. He
started, but she did not.
"Susy, deari"
IL was her husbands voice. II quite
forgot" ii went on. as he drew tho cur
tain aside. that YOU are engaged with
a friend, but Miss Faulkner Is waiting
to say goodnight and l volunteered
to find YOU"
Tell her to wait a moment" said
Susy, with an impotence that was as
~undisguised aB it was without embar-
rassment or confusion.
But Miss Faulkner, unconsciously
following Mr.. Boompointer, was al
ready upon them. For a moment, the
whole four were silent-although per-
fectly composed.
Senator BooInpointer, unconscious OF
any infelicity in his Interruption, was
calmly waiting. Clarence, opposed
suddenly 60 the young girl, whom he
believed was avoiding his recognition,
rose, coldly imperturbable. Miss
Faulkner, looking taller and more erect
in the long folds Of her satin cloak,
neither paled nor blushed, as she re-
garded Susy and Bran with q smile OF
well-bred apology.
Il expect to leave Washington to-
morrow, and may not be able to call
again. she said, 'or / would not have
so particularly pressed a leavetaking
upon you"
Il was talking with my old friend,
General Brant," said Susy, more by
way OF introduction tina apology.
Brant bowed. For ar instant the
clear eyes of Miss Faulkner slipped
Jelly across him as she made him an
old-fashioned colonial courtesy, and
taking Susy's arm she left the room
Brant did not linger, but took cav OF
his host almost in the same breath. Al
the front door a well-appointed car
riage of one of the legations had just
rolled into waiting. He looked back
and saw Miss Faulkner, erect and
beautiful as a bride In her gauzy dra'
peries, descending the stairs before the
waiting servants. He felt his heart
beat strangely He hesitated; recalled
himself with an effort-hurriedly
stepped frCm the porch into the path
as he heard the carriage door close be-
hind hin in the distance. and even
felt the dust from her horses hoof!
rise around him as she drove past hin
and way.