Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1900-02-17
MONICA.
A LOVE STORY OF MODERN DAYS.

Cautiously, anxiously, they glance at her,
and find, to their everlasting relief, that she
is convulsed with laughter.
"When next you mediate forming brill
liant plot such as this" she says to Kit, IL
think should look out a more trustworthy
accSmplice If were You"
latch me naVnI5 secret with him
again." says Kit, now her fears are appeas-
ed, turning wrathfully upon Desmond.
II quite forgot all about it, did, indeed"
exclaims he penitently. Forgive me this
time, and I'll promise never to do It again."
And I'll promise YOU you sha'n't have
the chance" says Kit with fervor.
WHY was | to be deceived?' says Monica.
II think have been very basely treated. If
you, Kit, desired clandestine meeting with
Mr.. Desmond, l don't see why was to be
drawn into it. And it was stupid arrange
ment, too; two is company, three trumpery.
know, If had lover, l should prefer"
Monica! says -, Inu suaAuy; but
Monica only laughs the more.
1t is my turn now, you know" she says
Kit had nothing to do with it; ii was all
my fault" says Desmond, laughing too. IF
yOu must pour out the vials of your wrath
Oh some one, let it be on me-"
YES, give him good scolding, Monica"
says Kit, yiciously, but with lovely smile.
Il am going to pick some ferns for Aunt
Pen; when return hope shall find that
recreant knight of yours-I mean miRc-at
the point of deathp'
AT this she fits away from them, like the
good little thing she is, up sloping bank,
and so into the fields beyond, until Desmond
and Monica are as much alone as if whole
sphere divided them from their kind. Dear lit
tie Kit! When her own time cones may she
be as kindly dealt with!
"1ou are angry with me, still about last
night" says Desmond, softly, "and, own,
with cause. But was miserable when |
called you coQuette, and misery makes q
man unjust | wrote TO Kit this morning,
i was afraid to write to you, and she was
very good to me-"
How good?' plucking leaf from trier,
as she goes slowly-uery slowy-down the
road.
"She brought me you. Do you know,
Monica, have been as unhappy as a man
can be since last saw you,--a whole night
and part of day? Is it not punishment
enough?r
TOO much for your crime" whispers she,
SOFTLY turning suddenly toward him and
letting her great luminous eyes rest with
forgiveness upon his. She smiles sweetly,
but with some timidity, because Of the ardor
of the glance that answers hers Taking
her hand with an impulslve movement i'm
possible to restrain, Desmond presses it
rapturously to his lips. Drawing it away
from him with shy haste, Monica walks on
in silence.
IF had written TO YOU and not to her,
would you still have been here to-dayP" asks
he, presently.
81 think HOt.'
THAT is a cruel answer, is it not?"
would you have me belle my nature?'
asks she, with quick agitation; would you
have me grow false, secret deceitful? My
aunts trust me; am / to prove myself un-
worthy OF their cOnidence?'
Il am less to you, then, than your aunts
dispeasure"
you are less to me than my conscience;
and yet"
With a violent effort, that betrays how far
her thoughts have been travelling in COM
pany with his, she brings herself back to
the present moment, and recollection of the
many reasons why she must not listen to
his wooing. why should you believe YOUR
self anything to fne?" in voice that quivers
addibly.
"Ah, why, indeed?" returns he, bitterly
There is such pain in his voice and face that
y
her last words.
81 am wrong. You are something to me-"
she says in tone so low that he can scarce
ly hear it. But lovers ears are sharp
'You mean that, Monica?"
"Yes," still lower
"Then why cannot be moret to you? Why
am TO be denied a chance of forwarding
the cause in which all my hopes are center
ed? Monica, say you will meet me some
where-SOOf."
How can I?' she says, TREMENDOUSLY. Her
voice is full of tears. She is altogether diff
ferent from the cOquettish, provoking child
of last night "YOu forget all have Just
now said"
AT least tell me, them" says he, sadly,
that if you could you would"
There is pathetic ring in his tone, and
tears rise to her eyes Can anything be so
hopeless as this loye-affair of hers?
'Yes, would, she says, almost desper-
ately.
ooh, darling-ddrling" says the young
man with passion. He holds her hands
closely, and looks into her troubled eyes,
and wishes he might dare take her into his
arms and, pressing her to his heart, ask her
to repeat her words again. But there is
full face that repels vehemence of any sort (:
and as yet although the dawn is near-her
love has not declared itself to her own soul
in all its strength.
IL have at least one cOnsOlation,n y he says,
at last, calling to mind the Quietude that
surrounds M0yne and its inhabitants, and
the withdrawal from society that has OBJ
tanned there for many years. "As you are
al nd 10, ttnh rn 20
occasions as the present when the Fates are
kind,-you cannot at least see any one else,
often, that is"
'Meaning?-"
"Ryde."
She laughs little, and then colors.
"Aunt Priscilla has asked him to come to
Moyne next Friday" she says looking at
the ground; "she is giving an At Home on
that day, for him and Captain Cobbett. She
says she feels 1t is duty to her queen to
show some attention to her servants"
In her tone, as she says this, there is a
spice of that mischief that Is never very far
from any pretty woman.
"He is to be invited to MOyne,-to spend
an entire day with youp says Desmond,
thunderstruck by this last piece of news.
"Oh, no! only part of it, says Monica,
meekly.
1T is just as bad 1t is sdisgraceful! Your
aunts are purposely encouraging him to
keep you away from me. Oh, lchy," wretch
edly 'should this unlucky quarrel have
arisen between our house and yours?"
'Well, that's your fault" says Monica.
"Mine?'
"Your uncle's then. 1t is all the same,"
unjustly
II really can't see that" says Mr.. Des-
mond, very righteousy aggrieved; that is
visiting the sins of the uncles upon the neph-
ews with vengeance. Monica, at least
promise me you won't be civil to him."
81 can't be rude to him."
"You can. Why not? 1t will keep him
from calling again. But | dare say you
,odnt him to call again." says Desmond,