Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1900-02-24
CHAPTER XVI,

1t is not u tender voice. 1t Is not even a
gentle or COldIy friendly voice. II is, when
all is told, "A distinctly angry voice, full Of
possible ~ proaches and vehement upbraid-
ings.
Monica, raising her head with extreme
nervousness, has Just time TO see Mr.. DCs-
mond-in the huge tir-trce above her, before
he drops at her feet.
"What on earth were you doing up therc?"
f, asks she, thinking it wise to adopt the Of
fensive style, so as TO be first in the field,
feeling instinctively that a scolding is COM
ing and that she deserves it.
"Watching DOu," returns he, sternly, moth
Ing dismaycd by her assumption of injured
Innocence, so her little ruse falls through.
"A charming occupation, c%ertainly!' says
Miss Bcresford, with fine disgust.
~ climbed up into that tree" says Mr..
Desmond, sayagely. "aud from it saw that
you have spent your entire day with that
idiot, Rydc."
'Do you think" says Miss Bercsford,
with awful calm, that il was n gentleman
IN thing TO climb into that tree, like a hor-
rid schOol-boy, and spy upon a persOn?-dO
BOuY'
II don't" vehcmcntly; 'but / was driven
to il. don't care what is gentlemanly. |
don't care" fmiously, 'what you think of
me. | only know that my mind is now
satisfied about you, and that ! know You are
the most ahOminable tlirt in the world, and
that You ought to he ashamed of yourself"
"Wcll, I'm not with great self-pOsses-
sion.
"rhc more TO your diScredit! That only
means that you are bent on doing it again"
Il shall certainly always talk to any nan
who talks TO me. That u.s." cIttingly, ANY
man who knows how to conduct himself
with prOpriety.'
"Meaning-I don't, ! SUPPOSE"
"Ccrtdnly you don't"
'0h, if it comes that" says Desmond. in
tones of the deepest desperation, and as l.
nothing is left to expect but the deluge in
another moment
And, in effect, il comes. Not, rs one hls
been taught to expect, in sudden storm, and
wind, and lightning, but first in soft light
drops, and then in a perfect d%ownpOur, that
bursts upon them with passionate fury.
As they are standing beneath a magniti-
cent beech, they getbut ataste Of the shower
in reality, thorgh Desmond, seeing some
huge drops lying on MOnica'S thin white
gown, feels his heart smite him.
Here, take this he says, roughly, talk
ing off his coat and placing it round her
shoulders.
mo, thank you" says Miss Beresford,
stifiy.
you must" returns he, and, to his sur
prise, she makes no further resistance. Per-
haps she is cowed by the authority of his
manner; perhaps she doesn't like the rain
drops.
Encouraged, however, by her submission
TO a further daring OF fortune, he says, pres
entity
you might have given Goblet a turn, I
think, instead Of devoting yourself all day
TO /, n cgregious ass"
lie prefers talking % Hernia. / suppose
you don't want me to go up To people and
ask them to be civil to me?'
''Some other fellow, then"
You would be just as Jealous Of him,
whoever he was"
u ann not jealous at NIL" Indignantly. Il
only object to your saying one thing to me
and another to him"
What is the one thing l say to your
This staggerS him.
you must find me q very monotonous
person II l say only n thing to you al
ways
~ haven't found you So"
''Then it-whatever it Is must be one of
the most eloquent and remarkable speeches
upon record. DO tell it to me-"
Look here, Monica" says Mr.. Desmond,
cautiously evading a reply; "what | wantto
know iS-what you sec in Ryde. He is tall,
certainly, but he is fat and effeminate, with
a forehead villainous low"
"Your W is very low" says Miss Beres-
ford.
IF / thought il was like his, I'd make
away with myself. And you listen 10 all
his stories, and believe them every one. |
don't believe a single syllable he says; j
never met such a bragger. 10 listen to him,
one would think he had killed every tiger
In Bengal. In.my opinion, lie never even
sdlC one"
LES absentS ont toujours tort" quotes
she, in a low, significant tone.
This is the finishing stroke.
"Oh! you defend him." he says, as saw
agely almost as one of those wild beasts he
has Just mentioned. 'In your eyes he is q
hero, no doubt. dare say all women sec
virtue in a man who talks as Familiarity of
lions as maids of thirteen doOf pup
py-dogs.'"
IL dom think maids of thirteen, as q rule