Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1902-10-18

Dts
God guard hint" whispered the girl
under her breath with a white face.
"Pinch your cheeks, mistress" said
I, smiling, "for l think the captain fears
the joke is but a poor one
Her face lit with a quick, natural
smile.
Twas not you, then, was it? Tell
mel
Rather tell Major Sproat on your
right the pith Of the joke" said I, and
| took to myself the rest Of the glass
of burgundy, for the win was good
for the nerves, and before we were
done there were i've kinds set before
us.
In a moment or two she turned
again to me.
That was n capital story" I said.
Tell me the other you mentioned.
All! twill be less amusing l can see
from your sOrrowful face But the
girl that l had seen stand up before
five rufIians in the foul tavcrn was as
game here as there. She changed the
expression Of her face, but she could
not alter the look in her eyes. For a
moment she crumbled n bit of bread
at her plate, looking at 1t, and then:
There Is not much of q story, and
what there is Of it is but an old and
common tale
Yet I would hear it, If 1 may" 1
answered.
There was once a young girl-a
foolish ~wench-who was hidden by her
parents to a good marriage"
All said |. IT'S a fairy tale. And
why was the wench n foolish wench?"
"A fairy tale, indeed she answered.,
but this foolish wenCh would none Of
this good marriage, because the man
was a mean and CowardIy wretch, and
-and"-she had turned to me n little,
1.. 1.,,l ,t;1 .r,,,,I1i-. IL. 1901 49,.
white arm resting on the cloth, the
other hand in her lap, ~quivering on her
silkcn dress, and her fair white bosom
rose and fell quickly, IS if it would
burst her bodice, but finding that too
strong would escape above it-"and she
was forced to do his thing, this dread
full thing, By her fathers wish"
and" said !, suddenly, she ran
away to escape IT,
"And was brought back to it," she
added, giving me a long ook that
stirred the very soul in me, was
brought back to it, because the good
man of the good marriage held the for
tunes of her father in the palm Of his
hand
THY face is a beautiful but an open
book, Mistress Deborah said !, inter-
rupting her, and there be those here
that can read, l fear. SO! That closes
the NOlullle pdIlEt lOE Sut ldu
Strengthened up a bit, ana a little pitt
full smile struggled at the corners Of
hec mouth. God knows I could have
taken her in my arms there before
them all, had l dared, and comforted
her in her loneliness and trouble, and
babe her have no fear. But l only
said between my teeth:
What did this good man to herr"
lie threatened her always, and tried
10 force her TO it, and held up the ruin
of her family-he has, indeed, time and
again!"
Curse the coward" said l, softly.
"And-and she had no one TO help
hcr-in this fairy tale-putil she saw
some one
Aye, dear heart, he is found" said
|. what shall he do?"
If he would meet her and let
her"
"Where and when?"
"TomorroW night beyond the Vaux-
hall gardens q few rods, by a Clump Of
four great trees"
He will be there! And stay-let the
princess in the fairy ale have the good
man meet her there, too! Aye, do as
l bid, gi"l,' I added, as a frightened
look came into her eyes.
You are 4 good friend, Norton-Mr.
49, 'NHi' 800 '''N' 'OiNAS' ''n nv Sib
bent for n moment. And there upon
the table, my foot touching hers, l put
mine upon ii and gave the only pres
sure of sympathy ~vouchsafed to me.
Up over her face to her white fore
head and on into her hair went a sweet
flush that seemed to draw a smile after
it. playing about her lips and into her
beautiful eyes.
Strange that just then [ caught a
warning look in the baroness face as
she talked on to the prince. But l did
see 1t, and, not knowing what to do,
drank off again at a gulp another glass
of wine.
The little shoe nuttered under my
boot, but did not Withdraw, and for a
moment we sat there quiet in the
midst Of that bustling, laughing, gos-
siping room full, with glasses clinking
and toasts tripping up and down the
board. And as the hostess rose and
all followed her example ! caught a
strange look in young AthCrton's eyes
where the iend had l seen that face
before?-that at this moment was
enough to set me on fire as | stepped
back TO hand my supper partner to the
door of the drawing room. There l
gave her to the fair young baroness,
and saw them lock arms affectionately
and walk on INTO the other room close
together, but saying not a word.
Draw up to this end Of the table,
gentlemen" cried the host, ~cheerfully.
Let us give the health of his royal
highness!" And so we stood and drank
again, and in good truth, what with my
strange conversation and the two great
pieces of news l had heard within an
hour, l found L had had enough for one
man, more than enough for one who
had not been blessed with n hard head
that paid little heed to the fumes of
wine. Twas evident hat. some of the
others had Jared worse and drunk
more. Tryon, who took the chair next
the prince as we sat down on either
side of him, let out the buttons of his
waistCoat and sat back putting out his
cheeks between his words, as if the
purple veins a NOR than they could
well carry.
Baron" pulled he in a grulf voice,
where got We his fine old burgundy?
IT'S a rare bottle, as I'm damned! Have
we not found it to your highness'
taste?" turning to the young prince.
Indeed l have said the latter.
There's none better in London, I'll be
sworn
Ills but just come in the last
packet replied the baron. And Sir
Henry would heal but l should take
some of it,"
"'Tis helped by the voyage, indeed
it is puffed the governor again.
What's this we hear of the rebel
Washington's silly trick with Rocham-
beau?"
Mr.. Merton could tell us much if
he would" answered Major Purdy. /
was in the act of lighting my clay pipe
when this startling answer froZe me
as | sat with the taper in my hand;
and then l took a long breath as he
went on, He's just come from New
port, Is it not so, sir?"
"Oh, aye!" cried the governor. you
are the messenger that saw Sir Henry
last night, eh?"
The French are safe and sound in
Newport" said I. And like to stay