Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1900-04-28

A LOVE STORY OF MODERN DAYS,

I'VE like to look at her, too" says Owen
Kelly.
ITO look, indeedl That would be thought
poor comfort In my days when a pretty wo
man was In question, and men were menr
says Madame, with considerable spirit. al
L were n young fellow, now, It's I'm the
twinkling of an eye I'd have her from un,
der her aunt's nose and away I'm a coach
and-four."
THE sole thing that prevents our all elop.
ing with Miss Bcresford on The spot isis
the difficulty OF finding the coach-and.fou
and the blacksmith" says Mr.. Kelly, with
even q denscr gloom upon his face than
usual. Indeed, he nov appears almost on
the verge of tears.
we never lost time sreculating on ways
and means in those days" says Madame
OConnor, throwing up her head. "WhooI
Times are changed indeed since my grand
father played old Harry with the country.
men and my grandmother's father by run.
ming away with her without a word to any
one, after a big ball at my great-grandmoth.
er's, and that, too, when she was guarded as
Ii she was the princess royal herself and
had every man in the South OH his knees ia
her.
but how did he manage it?' says Des.
mond, laughing.
Faith, by making the old gentleman my
great-grandfather as drunk as a fiddler, on
druggCd potheen,' says Madame OConnor,
proudly. The butler and he did it between
them; but it was as near being murder as
anything You like, because they put so much
OF the narcotic into the whisky that the old
man didn't come TO himself for three days.
That's the sort of thing for me-" says Mad
anne, with a little flourish of her Shapely
hand.
"S0 1t would be for me, too" says Kelly,
mournfully. But there's no one good
enough 70 risk my neck for, now you have
refused to have anything to do with me-"
Get along with you, you wicked boy,
making fun OF an old woman - says Mad
anne, with her gay, musical laugh. Though"
with a touch Of pride, Il won't deny but l
led the lads a fine dance when l was the age
of that pretty child yoader."
Il wonder you aren't ashamed when You
think of all the mischief you did" says Des-
mond, who delights in her.
OWL a bit! y says Madame O'Connor.
"Still, | really think Ryde affects her."
says Rossmoyne, who being a dull man, has
clung to the first topic promulgated.
That's nothing, so long as she doesn't
affect him" says Kelly, somewhat sharply.
But perhaps She does; and / dare ssy he
has money. Those English fellows gener-
ally have a reyersion somewhere"
Not penny" says Mr.. Kelly. And.
whether or no, | don't believe she would
look at him."
Not she" says Madame O'Connor.
II don't know that. And, even allowing
what you say to be true, women are not al
ways to be won by wealth. with a faint
sigh, "and he is a very good-loCking fell
low"
us ne!' says Desmond, speaking with an
effort. IF flesh counts, Of course he is.
Let me have men about INT that are fat;
sleek-heQded men, and such as sleep o.
night To look at Ryde, one would fancy
he slept well. not only by night but Ly day."
u feel as If ! was going to be sorry for
hyde presently says AIr. Kelly.
well, he's not the man for Monica" says
Madame OConnOG, with conviction. See
now sorrow grows upon her lovely face.
For shame 90 and release her, some one,
from her durance vile. Take heart of grace,
go in boldly, and win her against all odds"
but If she will not be wOn"' saws Des-
mond, smiling, but yet with an anxious ex-
preston.
That man that hath Il tongue, | say, isl
man if with his tongue he cannot win q wo-
man. quotes Madame, I'm q low voice, turn
ing to Desmond with a broad smile of the
llyeIieSt encouragement; "and as for you,
Desmond, why, If were a girl, I'd be won
by yours at once"
Desmond laughs.
Il m sorry I'm beneath your notice now"
where's your uncle? Couldn't even my
letter coax him here to-night?'
Not even that. lie has gone nowhere
now for so many years thai think he is
afraid to venture"
Tut says Madame, impatiently; DE
cause he Tilted a woman once is no reason
why the rest of us should jill HIM"
y x Il Il Il
1t Is an hour later, and all the guests have
gone, except indeed Kit, who has been sent
upstairs, tired and sleepy, TO share Mon
lc2'S room, a Il Terence and Brian DeS-
mond, who with his fri nd Kelly are strug-
CLING into their top-cOa.S in the hall. The
rain is descending in torrents, and they are
regarding with rather rueful cOuntenances
the dOg-cart awaitin them outside, in which
they had driven over in the SUNNI morning
that seems impossible, when Madame O'Con-
nor sweeps down upon them.
Take OFF those coats at once" she says.
"What 90 you mean, Brian? | wouldn't
have 1t on my conscience TO send q rat out
OF my house on such a night as this, unless
under cover" Her conscience is Madame's
strong point. She cxcels in it. She ofttimes
swcars by it! Her promise to Miss Priscilla
that Desmond shall not sleep beneath her
roof during Monica's stay Is forgotten or
laid aside, and finally, with a smile of salts
faction, she sees the two young men carried
of by Ronayne for a final smoke before,
turning in.
II don't feel a bit sleepy myself says
Monica, who Is looking as fresh and sweet
as if only now just risen.
Neither do l." says Olga. Come TO my
room, then, and talk to me for a minute or
two
They must have been long minutes, be-
cause it is quite an hour later when a little
slender figure, clad in a pretty white dress
ing-gown, emergeS on tip-toe from Mrs. Boz
huns room and steals hurriedly along the
deserted corridor.
Somebody else IS hurrying along this cor
ridor, too. Seeing the childish figure in the
white gown, he pauses; perhaps he thinks
it is a ghost; but, if so, he is doughty man
because he goes swiftly up 10 it with a glad
smile upon his lips.
MY darling girl" he says, in a subdued
voice, II thought you were in the middle Of
your first happy dream by this"
Monica smiles, and leaves her hand in
his.
II am not such a lazy bones as you evil
dently thought me-" she says. bat | must
hurry now, inleed. All The world is abed,
j suppose; and if Kit wakes and finds me
yet come, she will be frightened"
Before you go, tell me you will meet me
somewhere tomorrow. You,' uncertainty,
going home tomorrow, are you not::"
Eyes. But-but-ho,C can | meet you? I
have almost given my word to Aunt Pris-
ella TO do no.hing-clandestine-Or that:
And hon. DlAnll 1 krnnE 80 An.L nra al..a...