Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1900-06-23

bank until a reaction set in. True, the
sum was small, but he would show the
world, and especially Mr.. Willmarth,
what could be done with IL. Others
starting with even less had become
~millionaires right here in Wall street,
and why should not he? He would.
First, he would marry Trina and bid
defiance to her father. She might
have to give up some unnecessary lux
uries forNa little time, until he had
made n fortune, but how gladly she
would consent to~do so! Dear, noble
hearted, loving, faithful girl J
CHAPTER ".
The house in which Mrs. Hall and
her-daughter lived was one of those
pretty little cottages that abounded
in Harlem a few years ago, but are
very rare today, gigantic fiat build
ings have replaced them. Its dooryard
was so small that n person standing
on the sidewalk could reach over it
and tap with q cane upon the front
windows. Yet il contained in the sum
mcr time a bed of p~ansies, with n bor-
der of v~iolets, n sweet scented shrub
laden with fragrant brown blossoms,
a hollyhock plant and a gravel walk.
That walk, it must be admitted, was
only about as big as a pocket handker-
chief, but it was of real white gravel
and stretched from the doorstep TO
the gate. Morning glory vines in sea-
sol clambered luXuriously up to the
roof, draping the door and window
with foliage and bloom. The thick
oak plank used as a doorstep was
scrubbed and polished like the holy
stoned deck of a man of war, and the
modest white knocker between the
upper panels of the spotlessly white
door shone like gold.
John Latham's gentle tap with that
knockcr sounded all through the
diminutive dwelling and was promptly
responded TO by q maid of all work 80
small that she seemed TO have been
specially selected TO fit the house. In
the hall there was barely room
enough for the little maid and John
to stand while the door was being
closed. Then she tapped upon the
parlor door for him and disappeared
in the short, narrow passage beyond 1t
so suddenly and mysteriously that for
a moment he was startled, until he
reflected that she had probably
whisked around an angle of the wall
and darted down a stairway or shot
through n tube to the kitchen. The
idea that the place was a trick dolls
house took such possession of his
fancy that he more than half expected
to find himself starting the music box
by pushing open the parlor door in
response to the summons Come in!"
The ladies were waiting to receive
him, Addie working upon her menu
drawings, and her mother knitting
near her. Mrs. Hall greeted him
frigidly, but with the self possessed
ease and courteous bearing of a lady,
tempcring her GOODNESS so nicely that
only lack of acquaintance and not hos
tile feeling was conveyed. Adde'S
arch smile as she gave him her hand
was so suffuscd with the light Of af-
lection that his heart thrilled with
happiness. Some delicate engineering
was necessary to enable him 10 take
off his o%vercoat, to deposit il and his
hat out of the way, and finally to seat
himself without upsetting or breaking
anything, for the room was literally
not big enough to swing a cat in"
Now that he had a good look at
Mrs. Hall in the light, and when she
was free from excitement, he made
up his mind that she was by no means
the cantankerous and disagreeable
person she had appeared on the occa-
sion of their previous interview. She
was thin undoubtedly. and meager-
ness in n woman Is not q progresses
ing tribute in the eyes Of most men,
but n man need not really concern
himeslf deeply about the leanness of
htG mot nr II, lnY.y Tl.A --1
repeflency that he had fancied i'm her
face he no longer saw there, but in
stead lines of sorrow and the impress
of some fixed and ever present
thought-whether n memory or a pur-
pose he could not yet tell--for which
he involuntarily felt a deeply sympa-
thetic respect.
II assented to your coming here this
evening, Mr.. Latham" she said, speak
ing in a firm but low and musical
voice, because l deemed it best we
should clearly understand each other.
i had some doubts as to whether my
daughter should be present at our
conversation, but upon mature refec-
ton concluded that as she is unfor-
tunately an interested party it was
perhaps best, or at least would be
most satisfactory to her, if she were
to hear all. Therefore you see her
here with me. But you understand
your visit is to me-your business
with me-"
"At the same time / am happy that
ii affords me incidentally the pleasure
of seeing her."
The formality of the old lady's adj
dress had a little surprised him, but he
answered it promptly and frankly. He
was not the kind of young mar who,
having gained even a temporary lodg-
ment in an enemy's country, would
neglect to make practical use of his
opportunity. Whatever Mrs. Halls
purpose might be In this interview his
was to make her understand that he
loved her daughter, with a love which
must inevitably lead to marriage, how
ever opposed, and the first chance for
an utterance aimed in that direction
he had been quick to improve. He
glanced at Addie, but she did not look
up from her drawing, and he compre-
hended that silence was the price she
had to pay for being present.
After n moments silence Mrs. Hall
resumed:
Il shall require of you that you
cease your attentions to my daughter
and of her that she no longer receive
them"
Excuse me, but l presume you will
favor me with what you deem your
good reasons for such requirement,
which is not at all in accordance with
my purposes. j believe you will find