Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1900-01-13
Greenaway,s books

cd on q most unsavory eminence-all the
narrow streets leading up to them being
lined with close cabins and tiny houses that
are anything but sweets to the sweet"
Entering the small barrack-yard, and find
Ing door Hospitality open, the Misses Blake
90 up a wooden sta rcase, and presently find
themselves on the fanding-place above,
where they are welcomed etfusively by Mr..
Ryde, who is looking bigger and hotter and
stouter than usual.
Captain Cobbett in the largest room there
are but two available in these rustic bar
racks-is trying vainly to find comfortable
quarter for old Lady Rossmoyne, who is
both deaf and stupid, but who, feeling 1t her
duty TO support on all occasions (both fes-
tive and otherwise) the emissaries OF her
queen, has accepted this invitation, and is
now heartily sorry for her loyalty.
She is sitting in durance vile upon low
chair, with a carpet seat and treacherous
nature, that threatens TO turn upon her and
double her up at any moment II she dares
to give away to even the smallest amount OF
natural animation; so perforce the poor old
woman sits still, like patience on monu-
ment smiling at grief" and that her own
grief, too, which, of course, Is harder TO
bearl
despair about YOU; but better late than
never, eh?'' says Mr. Ryde to Monica, with
a fat smile. There Is rather much of too
solid flesh" about his face.
Il dare saw" says Monica, very vaguely;
she is looking anxlously round her, hoping,
yet dreading, to see Desmond
In the next room can be heard the sound
of music. MY Queen" is being played very
prcttily upon piano by somebody. Dane
ing is evidently going on, and Monica, who
adores it, feels her toes trembling in her
shoes.
"May l have the pleasure Of this"' says
Mr.. Ryde. "Ive kept ii for you all along,
YOU know. If you tell me you have already
given it away, shall feel myself aggrieyed
indeed"
'Was there ever so silly young mani"
thinks Monica and then she says aloud,
mo, it is not promised" and lets him place
his arm round her, and reluctantly mingles
with the other dancers. To do him justice,
he waltzes very well, this fat young marine,
so it cannot be said that she has altogether
q bad time, and she certainly feels little
glow of pleasure as she pauses presently to
recover her breath.
AS she does so, her eyes rest on Desmond,
He, too, is dancing, and with Olga Bohun.
lie is whispering to his partner, who is
whispering back to him in a somewhat pro-
nounced fashion, and altogether he Is look
ing radantly happy, and anything but the
discOnsolate swain Monica has been pictur-
ing to herself. He is smiling down at Olga,
and Is apparently murmuring all sorts OF
pretty things into her still prettier ear, be-
cause they both look quite at peace with
each other and all the world.
A pang shoots through Monica's heart.
He can be as happy then, with one pretty
woman as with another! She by no means,
you will see, depreciateS her own charms.
All he wants Is TO have "tother dear charm
er away
At this moment she encounters his eyes,
and answers his glad start Of surprise with
little scornful lowering of her lids. After
which, being fully aware that he is still
watching her in hurt mnazement she turns
a small, pale, but very encouraging iace up
to Ryde, and says, prettily,-
"YOu said was late just now. was IL
every. AT least ii seemed so tome" says
Ryde, with heavy alteration in bis glance.
Feeling. rather than seeing, that Mr.. Des-
mond has brought his fair companion to an
anchor close behind her, Monica says in a
soft, sweet voice.
II didn't mean TO be late. No, indeed!
hurried all could; but my aunts are slow
TO move. | was longing to be here, Du'
they would make no haste"
"You rodUy longed to be hereP" asks he,
eagerly. well that ICds good of you! And
now you have come you will be kind tc me
won't YOU? You will give me all the dances
you can spare"
THAT would be a great many" says she
laughing little. you might tire of me 1
said yes TO that. The fact is, / know no
body here, and certainly there is no one
care to dance with
"YOu will have another tale to tell late
on" returns he gazing with unrepressed al
! miration at her charming face. Before th'
avalanche of worshipers descends, promise
me all the waltzes.
"Are my dances, then, so necessary Il
you?" with a swift upward glance.
"They are, at all events, the only ones
care FOR" returns he, clumSly, but heartily
"All the others will lie in the scale Will
duty"
Every subjects duty is the kings; bu
! every subjects soul is his own," quote
Monica, lightly. "Why dance unless yo'
wish it?"
Because my soul is not my own," re
| spends he, with q sigh. II am bound Il
! dance with every undanceable woman her
to-day, or they will go home and revile me
You ought to be sorry for me if you aren't
swell, | am" says Monica; land so yO
shall have every waltz on the programme,
With this she let's him take her in hi
arms again, and float away with her to tn
strains of the waltz then playing, and ia
away from Desmond's jealous ears.
"Well, had no idea it was in her." say
Mrs. Bohun, in breathless sort of manner
when Monica has quite vanished. "All tina
was meant for you, you know; and hoy
tCell she did itv'
'But luhy should it be meant for me
| What have done that she should so i'll us
me?" saws Desmond, also brcathless. "An
YOU speak of her as if you admired her an
She ought to be praised for her conduct
when YOU have just heard from my own lir
how devotedy | am attached to her!
81 cannot help admiring genius when Sc
It," SAYS Olga, with gay laugh. 'Sll
made up her mind-naughty little thing J.
to make you miserable minute ago, and
she succeeded. What can compare wit
success But in very truth, Brian tappln
his arm familiarly with her fan IAN act!o
/ MONICA UOItS llOlll OlllCi oiuS VI VI
room), 81 would see you n victor too, and
this cause. She is as worthy of you as yo
4, of her, and a fig for ones cousins and sistel
and aunts, when Cupid leads the way"
She has thrown up her head, and Is lool
ing full of spirit, when young Ronayne, a.
preaching her, says, smiling
This is our dance, think, Mrs. Bohun:
SIS it? So far, SO goodw She turns aga
10
lady," she says, warningly.
Il cannot accuse myself of any feeblene
of that sort" says Desmond, gloomily. -
you see, it all rests with her"
"Perhaps she is afraid of the family feud
SAYS Olga, laughing. Zone hears such |
about this Blake-Desmoud affair that fe
/ could take the gold medal If examine
about it. There what nonsense! Go al
speak to her, and defy those dear old ladi
at Moyne."
"You were talking about that pretty Mi