Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1903-03-28
a. Great %ATemptation.

lpeauLy Is q nara Trims 10 denne ana
but it was Q beauty of no won
derful or unusual type, and was of that
kind which grows on ore gradually. as
grows. There was a wealth OF sweet
ness and purity shining up in her eyes,
which tears could never wash out, and
the mouth indicated frmness and reso-
luton, which had its beginning long be-
fore the nights vigil which had left it
80 sternly agonized.
The trouble which has come to Alice
Arnden is Of no unusual kind. 1t is a
sudden sorrow, which has crushed out
all hope in life many times in the past,
and will many times in the future as
long as men and maidens are proud and
willful. One may say, "only a lovers
quarrel" but should remember that
there are heart tragedies in this world,
under the torture Of which men and wo-
men drag out long lives without finding
peace. TO Alice Arnden it seemed as
though everything worth having in life
was now forever utterly beyond her
hope.
She arose from the seat she had &C.
cupied for so long and moved slowly
around her humble room. She had not
known until she moved how much she
was suffering physically; how cold it
was, how cramped and weary she was.
There was really little to do. Her bed
had not been used; her room was in or
der. She had plenty of time to prepare
herself for the task of covering her sor-
row from the gaze of her friends--if she
could.
She made a fire, and into the fire she
remorsely put all the fragments of pa
per which she had spoiled in her efforts
to write a simple letter long ago when
her sorrow was new. Long ago? Last
night! Happiness gives wings Of light
ness to eternity dying about our being
and so-called time rather than etenrity),
which we roughly measure and call
minutes and seconds; but sorrow
weights their noiseless feet with lead.
4 y 4 4 4
Mr.. George Fenby was next among
the actors in this little fragment Of hu-
man life.
He sat at his window that morning as
Alice Arnden sat at hers. His window
looking in the same direction; from it
he saw much the same scene she saw.
The stars faded out for him as for her;
day frightened, the sunlight fell across
his face.
But he sat there with a cheerful fire
neal him; he was strong from happy
sleep; his eyes were bright and cheerful,
and looked as though tears had always
been strangers i'll them, and his lips
were smiling.
The icy marshes seemed to him atype
of the future. Smooth, white, pure
the light stretching across them-and
with the ocean outside standing to him,
as to her, as a type of eternity-an eter-
nifty which he felt would be n of
strength and happiness.
George Fenby thought Of what hehad
to be thankful for, this lovely morning.
A small fortune, enough for himself
and one other, q fair woman, as good as
fair-for his promised wife; health,
education, friends, int. cree, position;
it was indeed a goodly prospect.
This man was strong and quick; good
looking, if not handsome. He looks
like a man who would not do a wicked
thing, or think it, while he might do a
weak or foolish ne. He Vas a man
who would be likely to win a woman's
heart-and hold it; a man whose love a
woman might prize, and the loss OF
which she might wisely m0ur Weak
enough to be a man, he was strong
enough to be n hard to win from the
life which had once had him.
There was a happy smile on his face
as he heard his little brother knock al
the door, and he answered Come in
in q CHEEKY voice.
"Here's a letter for you, George"
"Thank you," said George, as III
took it.
you are welcome. BY the hand
writing on the envelope | judge tht
message will be a pleasant one"
And the boy left the room.
A pleasant message! The smile deep
ened on the mans face as he lovingl,
handled the letter a little time before
he broke the seal. A pleasant message
These were the words he read:
Mr.. GEORGE FENBY-I will not con
sent to be any longer a hinderer reg ardinG
your "higher ambition" l never wish t
speak with you again in my life. l giv'
you back your freedom.
ALICE ARNpEN.
So Mr.. Fenby's morning gift was tn
gift of his freedom. What should III
do with itP His cheeks and lips grew
cold and white at the thought. Merci
full heavensl What could he do with it
The sky seemed darkened, the cart
seemed dreary and desolate. Georg
Fenby and Alice Arnden, a bare quar-
ter of a mile apart, could not have bee,
more widely separated had an ocea
stretched between them. And eac
looked on the same landscape and SAL
alike at last.
The village of Marsham was a sma
one, and most Of it was farther frOr
the ocean than were the two houses a
the windows Of which we have seen tw
unhappy persons.
1t was a relief to both George an
Alice that there was service in the lit
church that morning, and ..everybod
could be looked for there. Secret so
row finds a certain abatement Of its il
tensity in the effort of appearing III
concerned. Then there is a mournfl
pleasure in seeing what one has lost.
In a place no larger than Marsaal
everyone knows everybody else. Ever,
one knows the business Of everybod
else in some degree, or think so, an
says so. So our two friends were know
and their relations to each other we
played their parts, that when servi,
was finished nearly all their frien,
had concluded that their engagemel
l was over, and many were speculatir
rs to the reason for it.
Ralph Warden was too shrewd a mf
not to see what every n else saw l
: said but little about it, as he spoke
one and another after church, but
4 was deeply interested and very mut
q puzzled. The time had been when Il
/ gossips had connected his name wi
that Of Alice Arnden, and there we
those who had shaken their heads VIII
it became evident that she had be-
won by George Fenby, instead Of Ralr
: Ralph had never spoken to Alice
: love, and we will respect his resery
!. What he cared for her may remain
!, sealed book.
= George Fenby walked home elor
Ralph Warden came the same road, b
!, a quarter of a mile behind him. Sol
distance out Of the village Ralph ST
|, denly came upon two papers, resting
{ the snow by the side Of the road. TIL
{ had most likely been pulled from I
c pocket Of the owner in removing ]
.-l. Tlxa .rooI oNar u