Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1900-01-20

4 80 sToMY 81 aopnns DaYs.

She had forgotten her card probably. and
now II Is almost useless ROnayne's beart
Is full Of bitterness, and he tries 10 swear to
himself that Tor the future he VIII cleanse
mis- heart Of this coquette, who cares no more
for blm- nay, far less than she does for
her littls toy terriek Yet even as these
steril resolves seek yainiy to root them
selves NJ his breast, his eyes turn again To-
the room, hevand and Azz ss,7src for the
siren who Is bis undoing She is SIN of
course, with Rossmoyne ard y an smiles
and pretty bushes and Il evidently both
content and happy.
II am fool la madmanp he says to
himselfi and even as be says this eyes
light on Owen Kelly, who by chance Is lCok.
ing at him too.
4 CrossinS ne room, the latter Gas though
drawn BY the melancholy eyes that have
met his) soon reaches the window where
Ronayne stands disc0nsolate.
Why so pale and wan, fond loyer?r he
says, gayly, bit with 50 kindly an intona-
hon that eTen' the most pugnaclous could
not take umbFage at IT
Now, Mr. Keliy's knowledge on!aH mat
ters Is 50 clear sud precise that Ronayne
does not dream Of deceiving him In this
matter.
"Of course you will laugh at me, hesays;
'bnt somehow don't mind yoatr ridIcule
much. Itmeans only this, that have Just
found out that she cares nothing at oil for
'iShe, being Mrs. BohunP Well, my dear
lad, a Rn elderly gentleman's experience n
Of any uss 10 yogs you may have II cheap. I
believes She cares o great deal for you.
Lookers-on SEQ most Of the game, ard I
would back you against Rossmoyne any
day"
You are very good fellow says Ulic
ROnayne, 'the best know; but j under
stand you. You are only saying that to
console me-"
Il am not, in faith; say It because /
think It,"
II wish / could think II.
TRY IL at first you don't succeed, you
know, follow, out the inestimable Watts
advice and try again. There's nothing
Ike Y; IL gets 70 be quite game In tho long
run, Ithank my stars, = laughing, Il have
never been slave 10 the pathetic fallacy'
called love; ; yet II has Its good points, sup
pose
''it hasn't, !" says Ronayne, gloomily.
f0u terrlfy me-" says Mr. Kelly, "be-
cause feel positive my day is yet 10 come
and with oil this misery before me feel
suicidal Don't, my dearfelloWi don't look
Ike thatl Give her up; 60 and fall in love
with some little girl Of your own age or even
The ''eyen" is offensive, but Ulic is too
far gone In melancholy to perceive It.
III Is too late for that kind Of advice" he
says; II want her, end her only. / don't
know how to describe II, but, ,-=---"
There are chords" quotes his friend,
Just 50, says the miserable Ronayne,
quite as grayely; which so upsets the grayi-
w OF his companion that lis with difficulty
he conceals his ill-timed mirth.
What is that mutllated article in your
handp' he asks, st length, when he has con-
quered his muscles.
"This--eh !-oh, her card, suppose SAYS
Ronayne, viciousiy Yet even as he speaks
he sniooths out the cruanpled card, and re-
CARDS itwith a dismal tenderness as being In
part her.
You're engaged to herfor the next, says
Mr.. Kelly, looking over his shoulder; what
an unfortunate thingi If / were yo,,,"
mournfully, II should go home. Get III.
Do Sometlltng." ara-
And so let her think I'm wasting in des.
pair because she prefers another? No, |
shant" says ROnayne, with sudden anirna-
tlon. II shall see It out with her. III she
chooses to cancel this dance, well and good,
but shall certainly remind her she promis-
ed 1t to me.n
Rash boyp says Kelly, with sigh. "As
you refuse to hearken 10 the voice OF conn
mon sense, and affiiet yourself with me-
grim, / leave you to your fate. y
So saving. he turns asida and having
gatle a step or two, finds himself face to face
with Miss Beresford."
'"This dance Is ours" he says, menda-
ciously, knowing well this is the first time
they have met this evening.
Monica laughs; to be angry with so sad a
yisaged man as Owen Kelly would be a
cruelty.
II am glad of IT," she says, ''because do
not want 10 dance at all; and I think YOU
will not mind sitting with me and talking
to me for little while"
"You remember me, thenP" he says, shift
Ing his glass from one eye TO the other, and
telling himself she is as pretty as she Is
wise.
II think So" shyly yet with merry
glance; ''you are that Master O'Kelly, Of
Kelly's Grove, county Antrim, who is the
bright and shining light Of the Junior Barr
''You do indeed know me" returns he
mildly.
'Th5 modestys q candle to Thy merit"
quotes she, wickedly, In a low tone.
Z At this he smiles sadly "a luxury he rarely
permits himself, and, taking up her hand,
lays 1t on his arm.
"Come," /" he says, II viii sit with you, and
talk with you, when, and where, and as long
as you like. The longer the greater bliss
for me. Tho spaciollsness Of these halls
fair madam, as doubtless you have perceiv-
Ell, gives wide scope for choice Of seats. In
which secluded bower Wilt please You to
efface yourself27
Monica glances from one small room to
the landing-place, and from the landing
place to the other small room beyond and
naturally hesltates.
There Is another stairs besides the one
we ascended," says Mr.. Kelly. II saw it
when first came; would you like to see it
t0o?''
1 should indeed, = says Monica, grateful
for the Eint, and going with him, suddenly
becomes aware Of a staircase, leading good
ness knows whittier, upon the third step OF
which she seats herself after rapid glance
around aud upward that tells her nothing,
so mysterious are the workings of bar
racks.
Mr. Kelly seats himself beside her.
II SUPPOSE it Is my mlssionto amuse yon, =
he says, calmly, as dare not make love to
you"
''Why notm says Monica, quite as calmly.
'For one thing, you would not listen TO
me; and for another, don't want my head
brolen.D
Monica smiles, rlore because Il is her duty
to fhan for any other reason, because after
the smile comes a sigh.
Il know few knights would tilt lance
for me, she says; and Kelly, glaneing at
her, feels quick desire rise within him to
restore anstiii;; W sfier perfect face.
One knight should be enough for any
one, even the fairest lady In the land, = he
says.
True; but what Is to be for her who has
-1ys the 81 Ins.