Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1901-01-26

u I'LL w ldN lS lAho iAAao NC -
all OF II, the whole vast fortune"
II would much rather be left out of
the business. / despise myself SO! /
hate and detest the part you would
have me play. / will not go against
him.
"Sanstissima Virgen Defend me
from a woman's scruples. / tell you
you must-there is no alternative. Cap
tivate him, win his devotion. Why
not? He is a comedy youth(guapo CHI
COZ; you have made eyes at worse.
You must and shall. By heaven, If l
thought you meant to play me false
He checked himself abruptly and
with a sudden peremptory "h-sh," and
came out to invite us most cordially to
enter the box. There was nothing to
show that any difference of opinion
had just agitated It's occupants.
Both husband and wife were smiling
sweetly; the dukes voice Che was a
small, spare man, with cleaning eyes
and glistening teeth in his dark olive
face was now so smooth n silky that
| could not imagine that it was the
same | had heard i'm such harsh and
rasping, angry tones. His manner, too,
was full Of that punctilious formality
that goes with the highest breeding I'm
the blue blooded don.
The lady lit was she who had been
staring at mel sat now perfectly quiet
and self controlled. There was no
trace Of emotion about her as she well
coined me, with marked anxiety to be
pleasant and make me feel at home.
The entr'acte was not yet ended, and
the duchess swept her soft draperies
aside to give me room by her side in
the front of her box, where l was in
full view of the whole house, F'rida
FairhOlme included.
why, Captain Wood, this is really
kind OF YOU" she began, ITO take us
In this informal way. Directly | read
Of YOU accession 10 Old Mr.. Nc
Faught's fortune, / was most anxious
to meet you. We knew your uncle
nO?-Well, your relative. Mr.. Nc
Taught was "A friend of our family in
the old days. | never knew him my
self, but | have often heard my father
speak of him and his great wealth.
VIII YOU let me congratulate yOn-and,
Pepe'-this was to the duke-"have
you congratulated Captain Wood? OF
course you have"
les Claro-of cuurse-I know that
Captain Wood is one Of the chief of
fortunes favorites. But believe me,
senior milo, you have also came into
great trouble. Vast wealth is a terrible
burden; 10 use it Alright is a grave
responsibility. Especially so when
you Will pardon me, Captain Wood
1t has come undeseryed."
But, Pope, It is not fair TO say that.
Captain Wood was a r~elation-he had a
right to inherit"
II only mean hat Captain Wood
does not know, probably will never
know, whether there were not others
with greater C~laimS-moral claims, |
mean on Mr.. Mcknight. That thought
would always rankle with me. Naya,
| would rather it was you than me-"
do not let him disturb you, my dear
Captain Wood. The duke has rather
extreme views in theory, but he knows
that wealth is wealth. Although we
have no vast store, he would be sorry
to surrender It,"
We got very friendly, quite confden-
tlal, together, she and /, as we talked
on, ~tcte-a-tete, the duke having gone
off somewhere with Lawford.
"Of course you have not yet tasted
the joys Of possession. 1t is all very
new to you Still
81 hardly realize 1t, indeed, or what
/ shall do with it,"
Your first business, Captain Wood,
believe me, will be TO keep your for
tune" She spoke very g~ravely, look
ing at me intently over her fan. Half
the world will be in league to rob you.
All, but yes, / am in earnest! You men
fall naturally into three classes-rogues,
Tools ana pOllcemen.
And to which, pray, do 7 belong?"
l asked lightly, not taking this bitter
remark at all seriously.
Not the first, / am sure; 1t would be
a bad compliment TO say the second,
but If o were wise, O would GER
tainly become the third. A whole police
force in your pay would not be too
many to protect you"
Are you in earnest" l said. sud
denly struck with something in her
eyes.
Very much SO, Captain Wood. II /
were a friend, an old friend, let us say,
l would counse you, strongly urge you,
10 be constantly on your guard, very
much on your guard"
AS she spoke a deadly pallor over
spread her face, which was high color
ed, as Is often seen in very fair haired
women, even when still quite young
Her husband had returned silently, l
might have said stealthily, and she
first had caught sight Of him standing
there behind me. Why was she thus
terrified? Because the duke had heard
her last words?
Whether or not the duke of TERRA
Sagranda had even heard his wife
when so earnestly Counscling ne to be
upon my guard, | vas unable to Judge:
at least he made no sign. His manner
was perfectly quiet and natural, and
he spoke in an unConcerned tone when
he pressed me to keep my seat in the
front of the box.
At the next interval he said very
Courteously: do you propose TO stay
for the 'Cavalleria Rusticana?' Would
you care to accompany us? Our car
riage is here. Susette will be very
pleased to present you"
You are very good" | said. II
should like to go very much if l may
run away early. / have a couple Of
balls tonight"
1t was a curious and not unimportant
circumstance, when viewed by the
light of later events, that the three
houses I was TO visit that night were
within q stones throw OF each other.
The first, that of the Dos Rios minis
ter, to which | was introduced 10y the
duke and duchess OF Terra Sagrada,
was In Rutland Gate. The next, Mrs.
Collingham Smiths, was in Princes
Gardens, ana the next, Lady Delane's
in Prince's Gate. My new friends
would AVE sent me ON in their car
riage, especially when they learned
had far to go. This near neighborhood
was remarked on by the duke, when
observing that the reception did not
amuSc me, he asked if l was not dying
to get to my dancing, and where, eX-
actly, / was going.
You must let us send you on to
Princes Gardens in the carriage" he
said very civilly. I'VE have brought
you out Of our way to a not very
bright entertainment and now we
ought 10 speed your departure. We
must stay on here for IN hour or so
more, but there is no reason why you
should"
l protested that Princes Gardens
was only q few yards off, round the
corner, in fact, and | really preferred
to walk. Besides. i only meant to look
in for a moment. My real destina-
ton was Lady Delane's, which was
aIco u,,ita close at hand