Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1902-12-06
did I do 500, i asked.

and begging DR.. Low to make you hear
and understand"
What can 1 ever do for her to repay
half, or for you either? l wonde that
she kept her health?"
Once we tried to get her away" she
continued. And by DR.. Lows orders
she went to her room. But in the night
your cries nearly drove her mad, and,
though the doctor said ( would under
mine her health, / went to her, n she
begged me on her knees to let her go in
to you, ~and-and--' smiling brightly,
and she asked me how would 1 feel If
the baron were i'll n 1 shut in another
room away from him! That was a
shrewd little argument"
The tears stood in her eyes and in
mine, too. What had the girl not done
for me to set her mind at rest?
Where is she?" / asked, a little
huskily. why does she not come to
me?"
With a laugh the baroness got up,
and saying that we were apparently a
pair, went in search of her. But she did
not come n the day waned. The
bright afternoon faded to shutdown, and
still she did not come. Some one
brought in lamps and at last the baro-
ness appeared with an amused, yet
puzzled look in her face.
rs she not coming to say good night
to me?" l asked.
II dc not GU te understand her." said
she. Poor girl, she's tired and wor-
ried."
What is it?" 1 asked again. us there
something wrong?"
She smiled again.
II think she is a little afraid" said
the baroness. Il"
Afraid? Afraid of what?" I asked.
We'll, l scarcely know" she ans
wered again. 4" and then, leaning
over to me, Shall 1 tell you a dreadful
secret about women"
l looked at her in amazement.
II think-I am afraid Then she
stopped, and a pretty flush went over
her face. I'm afraid women Ikea
little masterful treatment" And, as
l am a sinner, off she went like any
young girl with the fires On her cheeks.
1 lay back in my bed an instant, and
then called her back.
Dear baroness 1 said, will you en-
ter a little conspiracy with me?"
She nodded brightly.
Il shall be very i'll again." said 1.
"And shall shrek some more. Will you
chance to pass by WITH"
d you happen to nave any idea,
young man, where she has been these
three hours?"
had not the least, unless out walk
ing with Captain Atherton.
She is sitting just outside that door
by the window in the hall"
/ simply signed to her to begin the
conspiracy, and she passed out, leav-
ing the door ajar. 1 waited a moment
n then began to talk, and rambled
on, getting louder and louder, till finally
l yelled out a lot of idiotic nonsense
putting In her name. Then 1 paused
and heard through the doorway much
whispering, and howled again, hearing
in a moment, "Oh what is it? Can it
be true? Again." That voice hit my
conscience hard, but 1 yelled out again.
Whereupon the door opened and in she
came running to me and speaking my
name softly and taking my hand
In a moment 1 a her fast by the
arm.
Where have you been all day, mad
amp"
She stood back, looked at me in won
der, but she could not escape.
"Sit down, dear heart" said sit
down, sit down.. IT was all a conspiracy
to get you in here"
Then l thought she would be angry,
but with a flush she said:
Il am too relieved to be offended, but
t was not fair, was it?"
No, dear, t was. a cowardly trick.
But Deborah!"
Down wen the face and the eyes
ScASN SASNNN NAhN AONAg Go ollS sat ny
my bed.
"Debby, look at me-"
The eyes never moved.
Deborah, is it necessary for me, sit
ting here done up in five miles Of rags,
too absurdly weak to stand up-is 1t
necessary for me to make love to you %
Up came the eyes straight at me with
some of the old fearless fire in them.
do you want me to ask you to mt
marry me?" i
There was an ~instant's silence and
then she suddenly gave to a burst Of
merry laughter.
1T seems to me, sir" with a toss of
her head, that you put your question
n bit late in the day, since we have
been married now some six months"
That sobered me. for 1 remembered
that l knew something still unknown
to her, and sitting there by the light
of the lamp | told her Of the comrade
who had helped me in the Sugar house,
and what he knew of Marvin.
For a moment she sat quietly looking
away from me. her hands lying in her
lap. Then, turning to me with a depth
In her beautiful eyes that seemed so
new and recent, she gently laid her hand
in mine and sat there looking at me
without a word for minute after min
ute; till l leaned forward and took
her fair, serious face in my two hands
and drew 1t toward me and kissed 1t
once, twice, and asked:
Are you happy, Deborah?"
Yes, DEAR said she, simply
well, what the devil do l care, mad
am? I've got to dress the mans
wound. Egad, they can't bill and coo
twenty-four hours in the day. Let me
in" This from the other side Of the
door. A whispered pleading was his
answer.
mot at all! He can't get up till he's
we'll. So in I CO." And in he came,
putting n Tuning, and unwound and
wound me up again.
1t was as he was reminding the
bandages after dressing the wound that
the door opened and Athertoa came In.
Up he strobe to me, with something OF
a shamefaced look and shook hands.
How are We, old man." said he, as if
he had seen me and talked bue yester-
day.
Right and fit, friend" said I, and
then We fell to silence. IT is ever a
strange thing to me, and yet something
/ cannot fail to like, to see, as 1 did
now, two Anglo-Saxons- trying to hide
all the good feelings in them. Even Low
laughed out as he worked on and said:
Whats the price of beer?"
"'Gad! I'd like some now, eh, Bal
fort?' cried Atherton, and, growing
easier, he sat down and watched the
skilful hands Of the doctor. 1 stretched
out and took his hand.
Captain" said 1, you've done more
for me than any"
Tut, tut, man." cried he, wringing
my poor weak hand till 1t ached. Not
a word! IT was nothing. Let it pass.
Doctor, for Gods sake give us a drink!
is there naught of alcohol in this
house?"
you want to kill him?'
"Oh, he's fit to fight again, and show
me what a man a do besides fight"
Look We here, Atherton," said / SER
iouSly. "I'm Your nrisonar What will