Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1903-12-26
CHAPTER XXXIII.
NV MASK EALLS

M 1lAoA Abl~o
In the early afternoon Of that same
day I was digging in the garden and
lifting my eyes between almost every
spadeful to snatch a glance at Enid,
who was walking slowly up and down
the bowling green in full sight. She
dared not approach, for within a dozen
yards of me another man was busy.
one of Sir Johns men, as grin II dry
an old fellow as his master.
I turned the earth steadily, to all APP
pearance a laborious, accomplishing
drudge, while secretly / reveled in all
the glory of the bright April day, n
felt the rich sweetness of my loves
presence as an added brightness to the
sunshine.
The warm air was loaded with the
haunting perfume of the great orchard
neal by, and the tende new leaves OF
the tall lines beside the green caught
the sunshine and filtered it delicately
upon her as she moved TO and fro, her
self the fairest thing among all the
fresh beauties of the spring. / cannot
| describe how cheerful and contented 1
was as / made play with the clumsy
spade that afternoon; tbs true times
were not of the gayest, but was
thankful for the luck We had enjoyed
so far, and trusted time would better
IL; meanwhile Enid was stealing con-
AAAb 49, -
me ever.
A trample of heavy riding boots
sounded along the graveled path beside
the house. Before | turned my mead
/ knew who 1t a | felt no surprise
to see Jack Postgate hurrying TO place
himself beside Enid. That / ground
my teeth and uttered some wicked
wishes concerning him | do not deny,
and | did not resume my work until
the sight Of his father spying the place
over with keen, ferTeting glance bade
me beware.
had seen their meeting before this
happened and had something to think
of as | delved. Enid had received him
with her usual civility. and JACK
seemed transported. He burgeoned, he
seemed to swell, he became all fire, al!
assiduity.
What maggot has entered the fools
head now? ?" thought l; he has at least
the port Of a happy lover" And at the
idea of how far Jack was from the ma
ven where he would be, | smiled TO
myself, and forgive him upon the spot
his temporary advantage.
Sir John went back into the house,
and now 1 saw Enid stepping in the d.
rection of the path Jack had just iol-
lowed. He Sprang fOrWard ana cut her
off. talking eagerly ana earhestly' anu
she turned on her heel and Walkec
RAPIDLY toward the upper part OF the
green, where a side dooc led into the
house.
The bowling green was a long strip
living along the western face
the house and the moat. ON Two sides
il was bounded by the walls, alonS the
third ran the water, ten feet deep, ana
thirty feet wide, and only at the south
ern end was il open. Il was this south
ern path from which Enid had turned
away, and now she was making Tor the
private door which opened directly or
the turf.
I rested my hands on my spade and
watched her swiftly moving lSure. l
forgot mydisguise, | forgot everything;
| had no eyes for ausht save those two.
| saw him catch her up as she disap-
pcared behind q small clump OF bushes
She did not come into sight again for
an instant, and then | saw her start
forward, struggling in the arms of Jack
Postgate, as ne vainly attempted 10
enfold her 1.-THE, swayinG figure In his
embrace and snatch kisses from her
lips.
/ never ran so fast in my life as l
dew over the garden n down the
bowling-green ct that moment.
Jack P~ostgate, you villain! you
hound!" | screamed as | darted upon
him and seized him by the throat Just
as Enid sprang aside. lie q no tlile
to lay hand upon lis weapons; he
fixed his clutch in my wrists, tearing
f~uriously to rip away my grip, his eyes
and tongue lolling horribly. Collecting
my strength / flung him infuriouSly
from me, and at that instant received n
stunning blow on the head which rolled
me OF the turf.
This timely diversion in favor Of my
enemy was effected by my felloW-gar-
dener, who had followed me up and
-. -, n,nCtIs hy a ~CNyinUinU
stroke of his spade handle. For some
moments | scarce knew where / was,
then | came to my senses TO find mySeli
in a situation which had been q reward
for q hundred such blows. For my love
had flung herself upon the grass beside
me, and gathered me into her arms ana
pillowed my head upon her breast. she
was uttering sweet, frightened words
and holding me close to the softest'
kindest heart I'm all the world.
I looked up into Der beautiful eyes
and smiled. and she drew Il long,
thankful, quivering breath. Her hair
had become unbound. and its dark,
perfumed night had fallen over me,
shutting out all the world besides her
face.
1--WE are lost" she whispered.
Nay" 1 whispered back, Il will
swim the moat."
Then do not move she implored,
"till you spring for the parapet. We
are o two yards from it and no one
is very near"
What" said softly, "ny, and leave
your position unexplained! No, my
love, tina will never do"
| put up my lips and she kissed me
dearly. Then | raised my head from
her bosom and looked steadily upon my
foes.
The man who struck me had given
the alarm, and ten yards away stood
Sir John and his son with drawn
swords, guarding the southern end, the
only open line Of retreat. Behind them
stood two or three OF the servants, and
between the two parties was Siani, her
short, stout figure planted on the
ground like a tower, a shining poniard
in her hand. ] had marked the weapon
fly lOoSe-aS one notes triiteS at Such
times-when ! flung my enemy away,
and now | noticed the empty sheath at
Jacks belt.
l stood up and waved my hand to
Siani to stand away. She did SO, and
Jack promptly covered me with a PTS
tol. Enid sprang before me n the
pistol muzzle trembled aside. At a
glance L saw l "a not yet suspected.
My scream of rage when l flew at Jack
had been either unnoticed or inartic-
ulate.
Put up tina pistol" commanded the
elder man sourly. For my part, l
scarce know why we stand here with
naked swords before a base unarmed
a dog-whip, we'll thonged, were
nearer his deserts"
The biting scorn in the thin, harsh
voice and hard yes cowed the son, and
Jack, who a recovered from his
throttling, returned the pistol TO his
belt. He was white as death, his eyes
shooting hate at us, his face working
convulsively in dreadful jealousy. To
be scorned and left, and TO see a
wretched hind in coarse clothes held
close and kissed and hung over by a
sweet. lady, c%ertes, it was no easy five
minutes for Jack. His father turned his
and looked fiXedly at ENID. nc