Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1900-02-03
MONICA.
A LOVE STORY OF MODERN DAYS,

her appearance?
''Then suppose had better dress myself
oil over again" she says glancing with much
discomfort at the charming vision the glass
returns to her.
"No, nor says Kit, decidedly. She has
now arranged herself as Mistress of the
Ceremonies, and quite gives herself airs.
do not add even touch to your toilet.
You are quite too sweet as you are, and
time presses" (another loved quotation
from one of her mo'dy yolumes).
but this" says Monica, plucking at her
pretty loose gown, that hangs In limp artist
ic folds round her slight figure and prank
ed out with costly laces.
1T Is perfect! Have you no eyes for the
beautifully There, go, you silly child: Nat
ure has been so good TO you, you now de-
ride her probability and make little OF the
gifts she has bestowed upon you. Go" and
then Monica steps out lightly, fearfully, up
OH the corridor outside, and so, with her
heart dying within her, creeps past her
aunts' doors, and down the wide staircase,
and through the hall and at last into the sill
yer moonlight
CHAPTER XII.
What noise the tiny gravel makes be-
meath her feet as she hurries rapidly to-
ward the garden! How her heart beats! Oh
that she were back again in her pretty safe
room, with the naughty Kit to scold! Oh, IL
Aunt Priscilla were 10 rise, and, looking out
Of her bedroom window catch a glimpse or
| her as she haStes to meet the man she has
been forbidden TO knOw A thousand ter
rors possess her. The soft beauty of the
night Is unseen, the rushing Of sweet brooks
in the distance is unheard. She hurres on,
little, 1.-THE, frightened figure, with wide
eyes and parted lips, TO the rendezvous she
has not sought And what a little way 1t
had seemed in the glad daylight, yet what q
Journey in the silent, fearsome night! There
are real tears, born Of sheer nervousness, in
her beautiful eyes as she runs along the gar
| den path, and at last--dt idSt-indS herself
face TO face with Desmond.
"Ah, you have comev' cries he, gladly,
going to meet her while yet she is long
way off.
"Yes. But to come here, and at this
hourt 1t is madness ~ says Monica, hastily.
"a very blessed madness, then, and with
method in it; it has enabled me to see Uou,'
ooh, do not talk like that. You ought not
TO see me at all. And, now, what Is II? Kit
said you wanted me sadly"
"And so l do, and not only now but al
ways"
"If" reproachfully, 'it is nothing press
Ing, would not tomorrow have done?'
"TO-morrOw never comes. There is moth
Ing like to-day; and how could have lived
| till tomorrow? ! could not sleep 1 could
not rest, until had seen you. My heart
| seemed on fire. Monica, how cOuli you
have treated me as you did to-day"
"Why must you choose me to love, me,
OF all the world?' says Monica, tremulOusly;
''it Is wide, there are others-and-"
Because must. 1t is my fate, and am
! glad Of it. Whom worthier could lOve?'
says the lover, with fond passionate reyer-
ence.
"Many,no doubt And why love at all? Let
us be friends, then, if ii is indeed decreed
that our lives meet"
"There could never be mere friendshipbe-
tween you and me. If your heart sleeps, at
least your sense must tell you that"
"Then could wish myself without sense.
want to know nothing about it. Alas!
how sad thing is lover
'And how Joyous! 1t is the one emotion
| to be fed and fostered. All others are but
vanity l will persist in loving you until L
! die"
"That is foolish saying and, even if you
do, what will come of it all?' says Monica,
with sigh.
Marriage, / trust" returns he, right
cheerfully. "Oh, Monica, if you could only
love mev'
II dare not" Then, as though sorry for
these words, she holds out her hand to him,
and says with a quick SMILE "Oh, Romeo,
Romeo! wherefore art thou, Romeo"
II wish knew" returns he sadly. "Yet
If | were sure of one thing, should not des-
pair. Monica, tell me you dOn'tlille Ryde."
II can't say" says Monica. "lle Is very
kind me always. | am sure l ought to
| like him"
"How has he been kind to you?"
"Oh, in many ways"
''Iie has brought you cup of somebody
| else's tea, suppose, and has probably trot-
ted after you with camp-st0ol; Is that
kinduess?'
IF one is hot or tired, yes"
"YOu are the most grateful specimen OF
your sex. wish there was anything for
which you might be grateful to me. But
am not great at the-pctitS SOins business"
II shouldn't have thought so this after
noon," says Monica, maliciously, "when
you were so happy with Olga Bohun. But
see, the moon has risen quite above the
elms. | must GO"
am to see you again?-when"
THAT is as fate wills it,"
"Youare my fate. viii it, then and say
tomorrow"
mo, nor' exclaims she, releasing her
hands from his, IL cannot indeed. must
not. In being here with you now am do
ing wrong, and am betraying the two peo-
pie in the world who are the most kind to
me- How shall look into their eyes to-
morrow? No; / will not promise to meet
you anywhere-eDer."
How tender you are with them, and with
me how cruel! Monica, you like me?'
"Yes like you," says Miss BereSford, as
she might have answered had she been queS-
toned as to her opinion Of an aromatic rus
set.
depressing gesture of impatience, Des-
mond goes on calmly
Better than Ryde"
"Than Mr.. Ryde?' She stops, and glances
at the gravel at her feet in a would-be
thoughtful fashion, and pushes it to and fro
with her pretty Louis Quinze shoe. She
pauses purposely, and makes quite an affair
OF her hesitation.
"Yes, Ryde," says he, impatiently.
"How can | answer that|' she says, at
length, with studied deliberation, when l
know so little of either him-or you"
knowing us both at least equally well,
you must have formed by this time some
opinion of u.s."
II should indeed" says the young girl,
slowly always wthher eyes upon the grav-
ell; "but unfortunately it never occurred to
me,-the vital necessity of doing so,
mean"
Though her head is still bent, he can de-
tect the little amused smile that is curving
her mobile lips There can be small doubt
but that she is enjoying his discontinue i'm
mensely.
"You are coQuctte," he says quietly.
There Is contempt both in his look and tone.
AS she hears it, she suddenly lifts her head,
and, without betraying chagrn, regards him