Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1900-02-24
smerald-l mean, a pig-wouldn't IKE

IA ~ AAh1tt k6 ~ vi Aho
cheese"
III don't suppose II would like roast beef a
bit better" says Monica; and then her lips
part, and she bursts into a merry laugh at
the absurdity of the thing. She is such q
child still that she finds the keenest enjoy
ment In 1t.
"Never mind" with dignity, "and permit
me to tell you, Miss Beresford, that open
ridlcule Is rude. TO continue; this little
pearl got none, and this little plain gold
ring gothic got-what on earth did the little
plain gold pig-I mean, r~ing-getg'
"Nothing. Just what you ought to get
for such a badly-told story. lie only cried,
Vice."
"Oh, n {, indeed. He sha'n't cry at all. I
won't have tears connected with yOu in any
way"
She glan.es UP at him with eyes half shy,
and pleased, and with the prettiest dawning
smiles upon her lips.
He clasps the slender fingers closer, as
though loath to part With them, and yet his
tale has come TO a climax.
'If l have told my story so badly, perhaps
I had better tell it all over again. he says,
with a base assumption of v~irtuOus regret.
mo. l would not give you that trouble
for tho world" she says, mischieyously, and
then the dawning smile widens, brightens
into something indescribable, but perfect.
s'Oh, Monica, / do think youa are thesweet-
est thing on EARTH says the young man,
with sudden fervid passion; and then all at
once, and for the first time, he puts out his
arms impulsively and draws her tohim. She
colors.-still smiling, however,-aDd, after a
brief hesitation, moves slowly but decided
ly back from him.
| t.Xnu hnu't Uufp mo tntoupl Won do yOupD
asks he, rather hurt.
mo, no, indeedw hurriedly. Only"
'Only what, darling?'
81 hardly know what" she answers, look.
ing bewildered. "Pcrhaps because IL is all
so strange. Why should you love me better
than any one?-and yet you do" anXiously,
don't you".
The innocantly-eypressed anxiety makes
his heart glad.
~ adore you,' lie says, fervantly; and
then, did no one ever place his arm round
you before, Mon!ca"'
He finds a difficulty in even asking this.
"Oh, no." with intense surprise at the QneS-
ton, and a soft, quick glance that IL almost
shamed. 81 never had a lover i'm my life
until | met you. No one except you ever
told me | was pretty. The first time yOUt
2 p"ih htlll IbIlt NNilNI l. h"H ~ Va
your sight" reddening, u ran all the rest
Of the way and looked at myself in the
glass. Then naiycly, II knew y0u were
tight. Still | had my doubts; SO | called Kit
and told her about ii; and She" laughing,
said you were evidently 4 person of great
discrimination, so supposed she agreed
with YOU
"She could hardly do otherwise"
yet, sometimes" says Monica, with
hesitation, and with q duwncaSt face, II
have thought it was all mere fancy with
you, and that YOU don't love me rCdIjy.'
"My sweetheart, what Il cruel thing to say
to me!'
But see low you scold me! Only now"
%ncryOusly plucking little bits of bark from
the tree, you accused me Of dreadful things.
Yes, sometimes | doubt you"
II wonder where | leave room for doubt?
Yet ! must convince you. What shall |
swear by, thcn?' he asks, half laughing;
the chaSte Diana up %aboye-the lovers
friends in full glory Tonight; shall l
swear by hcr?'
Continued Next Weekly