Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1900-05-26
CHAPTER xxx.

CHAPTER xxx.
1t Is growing toward evening, and as yet
at Aghyohillbeg they have not grown tired
OF discussing the terrible event of lastnlght.
"When | called just now, Priscilla Blake
was with him. says Madame O'Connor.
Brian told me The Desmond had sent for
her. / suppose the old quarrel about Kath-
crime viii be patched upnow and Ishouldn't
wonder If our two lovers, Monica and Brian,
get married quite comfortably and in the
odor of s~anctity, after ALL"
II suppose they couldn't have managed il
without the old peoples consent" says Mrs.
Herrick, who is rocking herself lazily to and
fro in Il huge American chair.
Nonsense, my dearr' SAYS Madame,
throwing up her chin. "Accredit them with
some decent spirit, | beg of YOU. OF course
they would have got married whether or not,
there Is nothing like opposition for that
kind Of thing, and no doubt would have en-
joyed it all the more Tor the fun of the thing,
because there must be an excitement in u
runaway match unknown to the orthodox
affair.""
II don't think l should like to run away"
says Olga Bohun; there is always a diff
Guilty about ones Clothes"
whats the good of being in love If you
can't get over q few paltry obstacleSP' says
Madame, whose heart is still young. well,
i expect we shall have a gay wedding here
before long, and be able TO give that pretty
Child our presents without any trouble"
How long the day has beenI' says Olga,
with a little affected yawn, meant to reduce
Ulic Ronayne to despair, who Is sitting in a
distant window touching up one of her
paintings. II don't know when | lave been
so bored,-no one to speak to. Madame,
darling, you shall never go out again with
cut me; remember that. Nobody has called,
1 suppose they are afraid Of being shot,
not even Owen Kelly; and one would like
to see him and Brian, to make sure they are
all there"
"ralk of somebody" says Madame, look
ing out Of the window, 'here comes Owen"
As Olga puts her hand in his presently,
she says, laughing
Madame O'Connor says youare, in polite
language, his sable majesty himself. So you
must be, to escape as you did last night.
Now tell us all about it. We have heard so
many garbled accounts that a real one will
set our minds at rest"
Then he tells them all about it, dropping
as though mconsciously into a low chair
very close to Hermia's.
$50, you see" he says, when he had fin
ished, lit might have been a very sensation
al affair, and covered Us all with glory, only
it didn't"
II think it did" says Mrs. Herric&, gently.
She doesn't raise her eyes from her work to
say this, but knits calmly on; only a pery
careful observer could have noticed the faint
trembling of her fingers, or the quivering Of
her long downcast lashes.
"How can you say such a thing, Oweng'
says Olga. "Look at all the cases we have
known where the assassins have got away
quite free, and here we have tho principal
secured"
yes, that was very clever of Brian"
says Mr.. Kelly.
did he capture him, then, single-handed?
Were not you with hinR Were vou in no
danger of your life, too"' eXclaims Hernia,
with such unwonted animation that every
one looks at her. She takes no notice Of
their regard, but fixes ~her-kindiing eyes on
Kelly. who, in returning her mute protest.
IorgetS tnat any other more open answer
may be required of him. Then she lets her
eyes fall from his, and her face grows calm
and statuesque again, and only the rapid
clicking of her needles show the perturba-
ton Of the mind within.
"Did the fellow give you much trouble,
Kelly"' asks Ronayne, who in his seer t
soul is bitterly regretful he had not been on
the scene of action.
Not he, the foolw says Mr.. Kelly, with
something approaching q smile. Brian
fired his revolver, and grazed his arm slight
ly,-a mere scratch, you will understand
and the miserable creature rolled upon the
ground, doubled himself in two, and giving
himself up as dead, howled dismally. Not
knowing at that time that the poor Squire
was hurt, Brian and | roarcd with laughter;
we couldn't help it, the fellow looked so
absurd"
They all laugh at this, but presently Olga,
holding up her finger, says, seriously,-
Owen, recollect yourself. You said you
laughed. Oh, ii can't be true"
II regret to say it is says Mr.. Kelly,
with intensest ESTABLISHMENT. For once
| forgot myself; l really did do it; but it
sha'n't occur again. The exquisite humor
of the moment was too much for me.
hone it won't be placed TO my account, and
that in time you will all forgive me my one
little lapse"
"Well, Owen, you are the drollest crea-
ture," says Madame O'Connor, with q broad
sweet smile, that is copied by Olga and Ro-
nayne. Mrs. Herrick remains unmoved,
oiiu u hoeulco ~ ldSJcI dnu ldSttI, MI.
Kelly stares at them uneasily.
They'll give out sparks in another min
ute or So" he says, warningly, land If they
do there will be a general conflagration.
Spare me that; i have had enough excite.
ment for a while"
Mrs. Herrick lets her knitting fall into
her lap.
"The Squire may be thankful he got off SO
easily" says Madame O'Connor at this mo-
ment.
HE may, indeed" says Kelly. Fay" to
the-child who is standing at a distance gaz.
ing thoughtfully with uplifted head at the
blue SKI without, what are You wondering
about nowp"
The child turns upon him her large blue
eyes, blue as Nankin china, and answers
him in clear sweet tones, indifferent to the
fact that every one in the room is regarding
her.
II was wondering" she says, truthfu,ly,
''why Ulic says his prayers to Olga"
A most disconcertipg silence follows this
speech. Madame huns a tune; Mrs. Her
rick loses herself in her knitting; but Mr..
Kelly, who Is always alive, says, 'Eh?'
II saw him" says Fay dreamily.
Olga. who Is rs crimson as the heart Of q