Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1900-03-24

81 never thought of him. 1 was thinking
only Of how hopelessly | love YOU"
Love! How should such q baby rs you
grasp even the mean ng Of that word," says
Olga, letting her white lids droop until their
long lashes lie upon her cheek like shadows,
while she raises her cup with indolent care
to her lips. do yon really think you know
what 1t means?'
''The dredeful Joy, always that fits so verne,
All this meme / by Love-"
quotes he, very gently; after which he turns
away, and, going over to the fireplace again,
hings himself down dcjectedly at Monica's
feet.
"Are you tired, Mr.. Ronayne?' says Moni-
ca, very gently. Something in his beautiful
face tells her that matters are not going well
with him.
Tired? no." lifting his eyes to hers with
a smile that bellies his words. at is good of
you to ask, though, l wish" earnestly, YOU
would not call me Mr.. Ronayne.' l can't
bear it from any one l like. Desmond, tell
her to call ME Ullc."
1t strikes beth Monica and Brian as pecu-
liar that he should appeal to the latter as TO
one possessed OF a certain influence over the
former. 1t strikes Miss Fitzgerald in tho
same light too, who has been listening to
his impetuous entreaty.
Seeing there is something wrong with him,
something that might be termed excitement
In his manner, Desmond whispers to Monica
TO do as he desires.
He is unhappy about $ netting; let him
feel you are his friend" he says, in a low
tone.
Come a little further from the fire, Ulic,
"a little nearer TO me-" says Monica, in q
tone of shy friendlinCss, "and think you
will be more comfortable"
He Is more than grateful, l think, though
he says nothing, only he moves a good deal
closer to her, and lays his head against her
knee in a b~rotherly fashion,-need / say UNI
rebuked ?
Something in this little scene sends the
blood rushing with impatient feryor through
Olga's veins. But that she knows Monica
well, and that the girl is dear to her, she
could have hated her heartily at this mo-
ment, without waiting TO analyze the motive
of her dislike. As it is, she gives the reins
to her angry spirit, and lets it drive her
where 1t will. She laughs quite merrily,
and says some lretty playful thing 10 Lord
RossmOyne that all the word can hear
and Ronayne, be assured, the first of all.
Desmond, with a subdued touch of sur
] lliNN III III " tS, lllilS " lOOh at UtI. Dul
the night has darkened with sullen haste
tired, perhaps, of the days ill-temper,-and
standing as he does within the magic circle
OF the freight, he finds a difficulty in con-
Quering the gloom beyond. This makes his
gaze in her direction The more concentrated
and, indeed, when he has separated hen
features from the mist Of the falling night,
he still finds it impossible 10 pierce the i'm.
penetrable veil of Indifference that covers
her every feature.
His gaze thus necessarily prolonged is
distasteful to her.
Brian, don't keep staring at the teapot
in that mean fashion," she says, playfully,
yet with a latent sense of impotence in her
tone. ut is unworthy of yOl. Go up to
Madame OConnor 1OblU cap in hand, and
l dare say-if you ask her prettily-she will
grant me permission to give you a cup OF
tea"
Desmond, recovering from his rcverie
with a start, accepts the situation literally.
"Will you, Madame?' he says, meekly.
"DO." His tone is of the most abject. There
is a perceptible trembling about his knee
joints. us this the air noble'?" he SAYS to
Olga in an undertOnc. Have | caught it"'
you'll catch it in a minute in real earn
est, if you don't mend your manners" says
Madame with a laugh. 'Giye him his tea,
Olga, my dear, though he doesn't deserve
it."
Sugar. says Olga, laconically.
"Ees, please" mcndaciOuSly.
Then you sha'n't have even one lump, II
only to punish you for your misconduct"
II thought as much" says Brian, taking
his cup thankfully. Fact is / can't bear
sugar, but | knew you would drop it in, In
an unlimited degree, if | said the other
thing. Not that | have the yaguest notion
as to how | have ~misconducted myself. II
/ knew, l might set a watch upon my lips
set it on your eyes," says Olga, with
meaning.
At this moment a light football is heard,
and somebody comes slowly across the hall,
A merry tongue of fire, flaming upward, de.
clares it to be the plain Miss Browne.
Mrs. O'Connor has just passed into an ad.
joining room. Olga is busy with her tray
and with her thoughts. Mrs. IIerrick, partly
turned aside, and oblivious of the approach,
ing guest, is conversing in low tones Will
Lord Rossmoyne.
No one, therefore, is ready to give the
stranger welcome and put her through the
ceremony of introduction. AwkwardneSs
Is impending, when Monica comes to the
rescue. Her innate sense of kindly courtesy
conquering her shyness, she rises from hcl
seat, and, going up to Miss Browne, who has
come to a stand-still, lays her hand softly
upon hers.
Come over here and sit by me-" she says
%nervously, yet with such a gracious sweet
ness that the strangers heart goes out tC
her on the spot, and Brian Desmond, if it bC
possible, falls more in love with her than
ever.
THANK you" says Miss Browne, pressing
gratefully the little hand that lies on hers
and then every one wakes into life and say
something civil to her.
Five minutes later the dressing-bell rings
and the scene is at an end.