Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1900-03-03

.q)n. swear not by the moon, the incon-
slant moon, lest that thy love prove like
wise variable" quotes she, archly; land
yet" with a sudden change of mood, and q
certain sweet gravity, ~ do not mlstrust
you"
She leans slightly toward him, and, un-
asked, gives her hand into his keeping once
again. She is full Of pretty tender ways
and wOmanly tricks, and as for the best
time for displaying them, for this she has a
natural talent.
Desmond, clasping her hand, looks at rer
keenly. His whole heart is in his eyes.
.'Tell me that you love me" he says, in a
low, unsteady voice.
'How can i? l don't know. I'm not
sure" she says, falteringly; and" shrink
ing a little from him, 'it il growing very
late. See how the moon has risen above the
frs. must go home"
Tell me you love me first"
81 must not love you; you know that"
"But If you might, you could?"
"Ye-es."
"Then | defy ali difficulties, -aunts, and
friends, and lovers. / shall win you in the
teeth Of all barriers, and in spite of all OPP
position. And now 60 home, my hearts de-
| delight, my best beloved. 1 have this as
surance f. n You, that your lips have given
me, aud il makes me confident Of victory"
'But If you fail she begins. nervously ;
but he will not liste1t0 her.
There Is no such word he says gayly.
'Or, If there Is, / never learnt II Good
night, my love"
Goodnight A little frightened by his
happy %yehen0ncc, she stands well away
from him, and holds out her hands Ia fare
Val. Taking them, he opens them gently
and presses an imprisoned kiss OH each lit
tie pink-tinged palm With IL courteous
reverence for her evident shyncss, lac then
releases her, and, raising his hat, stands
motiOnless until she has sprung down the
bank and so reached the MOync fields ,-ain.
Then she turns and waves him a second
and last goodnight. Returning tho salute,
he replaces sis hat on his head, and, thrust
ing his hands deep in his pockets, turns to-
ward COOle-.and dinner lie is somewhat
late for the latter, but this troubles him lit
tie, so set Is his mind upon the girl who has
just left him.
Surely She is hard to win, ard therefore
hOD desirable! ''The women Of Ireland
says an ancient chrOniclcr, ARE the coycSt,
the most coquettish. yet withal the coolest
and yirtuOlEest wOmen on earth.' Yet, al
lowing all slis, given time and opportunity,
they may be safely wooed. What Nj Dcs-
mOnd complains Of bitterly, in has home
ward musings tonight, IS the fact that to
him neither time nor opportunity is AFFORD
cd.
"She is a woman, therefore TO be won;''
but how IS his cOurtsllipto be sped, If thOrms
are to beset his path on every side, and if
persistent malicc blocks his way TO the feet
Of her whom he adOres?
lie reaches home in an Unenviable frame
of mind, and is thoroughly unsOciable to
Owen Kelly and the old Squire all the even
ing.
Next morning sees him IN the same mood;
and, indeed, II Is about tins time he takes 10
imagining his little love rs being a hapless
prisoner in the hands Of two cruel Ogres IL
am afraid he really does not apply the term
''ogrcs" to the two old ladies of Moyne),
and finds a special melancholy pleasure in
depicting her as u lovely captive condemned
to solitary confinement and dieted upon
bread and water.
To regard the Misses Bake in the light
either of ogres OF witches required some
talent; but Mr.. Desmond, at this period OK
his lovc-affair, managed 1t.