Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1900-05-19

4 LOVE STORY OF MODERN DAYS

out at The tears gathered slowly
In her eyes-tears comc ever slowly tothose
whose youth lies far behind-and fall upon
the repentant sunny head; but the owner
shows no sign of forgiveness; yet l think
she would have dearly liked to take the
sweet sinner in her arms to comfort and for
give her, but for the pride and wounded
feeling that overmastered her.
Your presence here, sir, is an insult"
she says to Desmond, meaning TO be stern;
but her grief has Washed away the inclyility
of her little speech and has left 1t only
vaguely reproachfld. Desmond lowers his
head before her gaze, and ~refrains from an
swer or explanation. A great sorrow for
the defenselessness OF thsir sorrow has
arisen in his breast for these old aunts, and
Killed all mealer thoughts. l think he
would have felt degree of relief IL they
had both fallen upon him, and said hard
things TO him, and so revenged themselves
in part.
Monica is sobbing bitterly. Not able to
endure her grief, Desmond, going even to
the feet Of Miss Priscilla, tries to raise her
from the ground. But she clings even more
closely to Miss Priscilla, and so mutely re.
fuses to go to him.
A pang, a sudden thought, shoots through
him, and renders him desperate. Will they
be bad to his poor little girl when he Is
gone? will they scold her?
'Oh, madame" he says to Miss Priscilla,
with a break in his voice, ''try to forgive
her; be gentle with her. 1t was all my
fa~ult,-mine entirely. L loved her, and
when she refused to hear me plead my
cause, and shrunk from me because of the
unhappy division that separates my family
from yours, and because of her reverence
for your wishes, | still urged her, and In
duced her to meet me secretly"
you did al evil deed, sir" says Miss
Priscilla.
II acknowledge it. | am altogether to
blame" says Desmond, hastily. 'She has
had nothing to do with 1t. Do not, / be-
seech you, say anything to her when i am
gone that may augment her self-reproach."
He looks with appealing eyes at Miss Blake,
his hand on Monica's shoulder, who has her
face hidden in a fold OF her aunt's gown,
''Sir," says Miss Priscilla, drawing her
self up, with a touch of o,d.woild grandeur
In her manner, but a sad tremulousness in
her tone, my niece has been with us now
for some time, and we have dared To hope
she has been treated In accordance with the
great love we feel for her"
"The great love-" echoes Miss Penelope,
gently. Though deeply distre sed, both old
ladies are conscious of a subdued admiration
for the young man, because OF the tenderness
OF his fears for his beloved.
But If" says Miss Priscilla, with q
mournful glance at the pretty bowed head,
eff she thinks we have failed in oar love
toward her, as indeed it may be, by your
finding 1t necessary TO ask US TO treat her
with kindness in this trouble,-we can only
say to her that we regret, that we -"
Here she breaks down, and covers her sad
old face with her trembling hands.
Monica springs 10 her feet.
"Oh, auntie! !" she says, a world Of love
and hone, reproach and penitence in her
voice. She throws her arms round heraunt's
neck; and, Miss Priscilla clasping her I'm
turn, somehow In one moment the crime Is
condoned, and youth and age are met in a
fond embrace.
$50, sir" says Miss Priscilla, presently,
without lifting her eyes. There is so much
gentleness in her tone that the young man
IS emboldened to ask a question.
you will permit M to come tomorrow,
to-to-plead my cause?" he says, anXiously.
Miss Priscilla hesitates, and a pang of APP
prehension rushes through her heart. He is
almost in despair, when Miss P~enelope's
voice breaks the oppressive silence.
YES. Come tomorrow" she says, press
Ing Miss Pri,cilla's arm. To-day we are
too tired, too upset. Tomorrow let it be-"
81 thank you, madame" says Desmond,
humbly; and then he turns to 60, but still
fingers, with grieved eyes fixed on Monica.
Monica, you will give me one parting
word?' he says, at last, as though the petit
ton Is wrung from him.
Still holding Miss Priscilla's hand, she
turns to him, and raising her other arm,
places it softly round his neck. Holding
them both thus, she seems the embodiment
of the spirit that must in the end unite them.
Her position compels her to throw back her
head a little, and she smiles at him, a sad
little smile, but bright with love and trust.
"Not a parting word" she says, with a
sweetness so grave as to be almost solemn.
you Will be true to me" says Desmond,
reckless of listeners. He has his arms round
her, and Is waiting for her answer with a
pale, earnest face. Something in the whole
scene touches the two kindly old maids with
a sense Of tender reverence.
Until my DEATH says the girl, with slow
distinctness, laying her head against the
gray sleeve Of his coat.
A great wave Of color-born of emotion
and love that is stronger than the grave
sweeps over his face. He stoops and lays
his lips on hers. When he Is gone, Monica
turns suddenly upon Miss Priscilla.
do not say q word to me!' she cries,
feverishIy; II could not bear it--nolD. I
may have done wrong, but [ am not sorry
for it. / love him. That should explain
everything to you it means dlttome! Moth
ing can alter thatl And | will have moth
ing said,-nothing; and"
Nothing shall be said, dear child" says
Miss Penelope, gently. Everything shall
be as you wish with regard to us. Can you
not trust us to spare you where we cdnF
~ am ungrateful. / mus go and think 1t
all ont" says Monica, stonily, pressing her
hands against her head. She turns away. A
little cry breaks from Miss Priscilla.
"Oh! not without kissing us too, MonicaH'
she says, In a broken voice, holding out her
arms to her niece. Monica throws herself
into them.
Long and eager is the discussion that fol-
lows on the girls disappearance.
The two Misses Blake, side by side, argue
with what they enormously term dispas-
sionate calmness) the case just laid before
them.
II don't know what is to be done," says
Miss Priscilla, at length; "all l do know is
that, for her sake, consent will be impossi-
ble."
"And what is to be said to him tomorrow
He looks so earnest, so-full of her. What
Is TO be-said to him?"
$50 his uncle looked at her MOTHER" says
Miss Priscilla, with terrible Bitterness 'and
what came of that? Is this young man to
steal from us our best and dearest-as he
did? Be firm, Penelope. For her sake
crush this attachment before the fickleness
that is in his blood asserts itself to break her
heart"
~ fear it will be broken either way. lie
struck me as being a very attractive young
man, and-but that would be impossible in
II OF his name-a very loUdbJe young
man" says Miss Penelope, timidly.
"Penelope." saws Miss Priscilla. with such