Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1900-01-13
MONICA.
LOVE STORY OF MODERN DAYs


perhaps, Timothy" says Miss Pfis lila,
sravely 'as we all seem In Ignorance about
;he real meaning of this extraordinary word,
y0ti are wrong i'm condemning 1t as an Insult
II mag be--er-a term OF endedrment."
At this Terence chokes, then coughs sol
smly, and finally, lowering the fan, shows
himself preternaturally grave, as set-of
against all suspicons.-
II wouldn't pin me faith to that, miss, If
was YOU" says Ryan, respectfully but
with touch OF the fine irony which Is bred
and born with his class in Ireland.
H'Well, but as we cannot explain this word,
Timothy, anil You cannot, perhaps the best
hing for you to do will be to go to the orig
nator of it and ask him what he meant by
g." says Miss Penelope, with quite astonish-
.ng perspicacity for her.
''Sure | did that same, miss. Twas the
irst thing s.dd to him, ma'am What do
ye name, spalpaal, ye thief o the world,
says l, by miscalling q dacent man out OF
MS name like that? says l. "Igave him all
hat, miss, an dale more, though I've for
gotten il be now, for the Ryans was always
famous for the gift o the gab!'
IF You said all that TO the poor marine, l
.hink you gave him considerably more than
you GOT says Miss Penelope, 'a1d so you
nav cry peace. Go down now, Timothy,
int make ii up with him over your beer"
Timothy, though still grumbling in an un-
ler-tOne death and destruction upon the
rated Sasscnach, retires duteOusly, closing
he door behind him.
"Npw, Penelope" says Miss Priscilla,
with an air of relief, glanclng at the pens
| md ink, at which Mouica's heart fails her.
She has no doabt whatever about the an
iwer being n refusal, but sad feeling that
ihe dare make no protest renders her doubly
! iOrrowlul.
Dear :.e!' says Miss Penelope, leaning
)ack in her chair with pen well poised be-
,wcen her fingers, and general air of pleas
ID recollection full upon her, ''it sounds
Iuite like old times doesn't TITO be in
ited to the Barracks at Clonbree."
Quite" says Miss Priscilla, with ar
amused smile.
"You remember when the Whiteb0ys
were so troublesome, I'm our dear father !
time, what life the officers stationed here
, then, threw into the country round. Sucl
rOuts such dances! such kettle-drumsl lOl
| can still recOllect Mr.. BrOwn-can you not
| Prscila?- fashionable young manW
"Y0u have the best right 10 remember
! him" returns Miss Priscilla, in meaning
| lone. at would be too grateful OF you i
| yON did not, considering what life you lee
, him."
And at this the two old ladies break into
I hearty laughter and shake their heads re
proachfully at each other
I "You knOiC you broke his heart,' says
Miss Priscilla.
Tell us about it, auntie," says Kit, eager
~, who is always sympathetic where ro
I nance is conceHed; but the old ladies onl.
laugh the more ut this, and Aunt Priscilla
tells her how her aunt Penelope was yer!
naughty girl in her time, and created havoc
1 In the affections OF all the young men tina
came within her reach.
| All this delights Aunt Penelope, wht
! laughs cOnsumcdly and makes feeble pro
test with her hands against this testimony
"POor fellOwV she says, SOLDERING dow
presently, and looking quite remorSeful. u
! is unkind to laugh when his name is men
! toned. lie was killed in the Indian Mutiny
/ long aftcrward, in a most gallant charge.
Yes, indeed, says Miss Priscilla well
well, things ,0iH happen. Go on with tn
answer now, Penelope as the man Is wait
! ing and il IS wOfully late.
Monica trembles. But Kit starts into life
"Cl, dolI't refuse, Aunt PriScilla!' sh'
cries, darling frOin her seat and throwin
| her arms round Miss B!ake's neck. Don
nowl do so rdIt To go, when have 90
! my invitation, and all !"
But" begins Miss Priscilla; where
! upon Kit, tightening her hold on her neck
with view to staying further objection
nearly strangles her.
mo butts" shh says, entreatingiy: IRE
member how disappointed was about Mao
anne O'COnnors, and be good to me now"
"Bless the child! breaks out Miss PRS
ella, having rescued her windpipt, and S
saved herself from instant SuifOcation D
! lOoSening Kits arms, and then drawing tn
! child down upon her knee. "What is sh
talking about? who is going to refuse any
| thing? Penelope accept, at once, at once
! or shall be squeezed TO DEATH
"Then You lOiU gO?" eXclaim5 Monica
! Joining the group near the davenport, an
turning brilliant eyes upon her aunts. ''Ol
| i am so gladI'
"Why, we are dying to see the inside G
the Barracks again, your aunt Penelope an
/, especially your aunt Penelope" says Mis-
Blake, with a sly glance at her sister, VIII
is plainly expecting it, because she ha
! tender recolcctions about her last vlSi
there"
''Oh, now, Priscllar says Miss Penelope
mOdestly, but with keen enjoyment of tn
joke. After which an acceptance of hi
kind invitation is written to Captain Col
! bett, and born, to him by the destroyer {
Timothy's peace.