Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1900-04-14

you have all that long drive home still be-
fore you." ,
II forgot all about the time,n says Des-
mopd, truthfully. You are right We must
go In. Goodnight again, my own"
Without waiting for permission this time,
he stoops and presses his lips to hers. An
instant later he knows witt a thrill of gap
ture that his kiss has been returned.
CHAPTER XXI.
Monica's week at Aghyohillbeg is draw
Ing to a close. The day has dawned that is
to usher in at even the famous representa-
ton Of The School for Scandal" as gwen
by Miss Fitzgerald, Captain Goblet, etc.
The whole house is ~topsy-turvy, no room
being sacred from the actors and actresses
Isave the mark y, and all the servants are
at their wits end. There have been men
down from the Gaiety T.eater, Dublin,
who have seen about the stage, and there
have been other men from the village Of
Rossm0yne to help in the decoration Of the
ballroom, and between these two different
sets Of men an incessant wal has been
raging for many days.
Now at last the house IS comparatively
quiet, and, as four o'clock strikes, Madame
Conner finds herself in her own special
den (the only spot that has not been disturb.
ed with a tea-equipage before her, and all
her ladies in-waiting ROUND her.
These ladies', for the most part, are look
ing full OF suppressed excitement, and are
In excellent spirits and iIreproachable tea
gowns. Mary Browne, who has developed
into o general ~favorite, Is making some
laughing remark about Lord Rossmoyne,
who, with all the other men, is absent.
"D'ye know what it i, Mary?' says Mad
m O'Connor, in her unchecked brogue;
'you might do something else with Ross
moyne besides making game of him."
WHAT" says Mary Browne.
Marry him, To be sure. A young woman
like You, with more money than YOU know
what to do with, ought 30 have a protector.
Faith you needn't laugh, for It's only COM
MOI sense I'm talking. Tenants, aud the
new laws, will play the mischief with your
soft heart and your estate, If you don't get
some one to look after them both"
"Well% says Mary Browne.
well, there's Rossmoyne, as l said be-
fore, actually going abegging for a wife.
Why not take himY'
II don't care about beggars," says Miss
Browne, with a slight smile. IL am not one
of those who think them picturesque"
ale isn't a beggar in any other sense than
the one | have mentioned. He Is a very
good match. Think of il, now"
II am thinking. Indeed, ever since my
first day here ! have been thinking how
deeply attached he is TO Mrs. Bohun. For
give me, Mrs. BOhun.'
Olga laughs lightly. There is something
about this plain girl that repels the idea of
otfense.
What on earth put that idea into your
l-.lO'' .a-, H., I.,t,.. AYAn,i,, han nN.oe
who talks too much both in season and out
OF 1t to be able to see all the by-play going
on around her. You aren't setting your
cap at him, are you, O,ga my dear?'
"Indeed, no. says Olga, still laughing.
"How could so absurd a notion have got In
to ~anybody's head?'
"How, indeed?" says Monica, gayly.
There's Owen Kelly, then; though he
isn't as we'll off as Rossmoyne, still he will
be worth looking after by and by, when the
old man drops off. He's as ~good-hearted q
fellow as ever lived, when you know what
he's at,-which isn'toften, to do him justice.
1t struck me he was very civil to you last
night"
'He was" says Miss Browne, whose mer-
riment is on the increase. But | never met
any one who wasn't civil to me; so | found
nm ~ 1NNS' 49, - ~ hNN
only been u|nciyil, now!'
"Well, there he is, at all events says
Madame O'Connor, sententiously.
II hope he's comfortable" says Mis-
Browne, kindly. Il sha'n't try to make him
less so, at least. Why don't you recommend
Mr.. Desmond or Mr.. Ronayne to my notice.
with a mischievous glance at Monica and
Olga Bohun.
I'm afraid they are done for" says Mad
anne, laughing now herself. And / only
hope that handsome boy Ronayne isn't lay
ing I'D sorrow for himself and living in a
fools paradise. Indeed, Olga, pretty as you
are, I'll be very angry with you Ii hear
you have been playing fast and loose with
him."
The old lady shakes her head grimly at
Mrs. Bohun, who pretends to be crushed be-
meath her glance.
ITO prevent you Offering me any more
suitors," says Mary Browne, steadily but
with a rising blush, II may as we'll tell you
that | am engaged to be married"
Good gracious, my dear! then why didn't
you say so before?" says Madame, sitting bolt
upright and letting her ptnce-ntz fall I'M
Needed into her lap.
II really don't know; but l dare say be-
cause you took Ii for granted / wasn't"
MARY" says Mrs. Herrick, speaking for
the first time, and for the first time, too,
calling Miss Browne by her Christian name,
''telI us all about it,"
Eyes, do" says Monica, and all the wO-
men draw their chairs instinctively degree
closer to the heroine of the hour, and be-
tray IN her a warm interest. After all, what
can equal a really good love-affair?
"Go on, my dear" says Madame OCon-
nor, who is always full of life where ro-
nance is concerned. Il hope it is a good
marriage"
1.-THE best In the world, for me-" says
Mary Browne, simply, Though he hasn't a
penny In the world but what he earns"
As she makes this awful confession, she
isn't in the least confused, but smiles bright
ly.
"Well, Mary, l must say l wouldn't have
believed 1t of you,'' says Madame.
II would" says Monica, hastily laying
her hand on one of Mary's. 1T is just like
her, After all, what has money got to do
with il? Is he nice, Mary?'
$50 nice ~ says Mary, who seems quite
glad to talk about him, ''and as ugly as my
self" with a little enjoyable laugh, 80 we
can't call each other bad names; and his
name Is Peter, which of course will be con-
sidered anothsr drawback, though | like the
name myself. And we are very fond o.