Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1903-03-14

OF fire. She had not been down stairs
before for days and days.
GIVE mt back my %husband!'
That was all she said, in a feeble.
moaning sort OF voice. She had
stretched out her hands to me, but
they fell. the color went out Of her
checks, and there was a little stream
of blood staining her white dress.
John Avery lifted her up in his arms
as if sho had been n baby. She had
tainted, some one said, for several had
seen her gliding down the stairs, and
had gathered near the door.
No, no, don't YOU trouble me. Why
can't you sit still and listenP / feel
well enough-not tired a bit. You see
l am getting well so fast. If you
would only be patient and let me talk!
Some one came to me after a few
moments, for / had been left standing
in the room. 1t was Arthur Rich
mond. He just put a shawl round me
and led me out on the lawn into the
cool air. / hardly knew it, for l was
stunned. l felt numb all over, but
after a while | seemed to get my
senses back, and | thanked him for
being so thoughtful of me.
ut was generous of you," | said,
"for I've treated you very badly,
Arthur"
"Hushw he said; 'it's a selfish gen.
crosby. l can't have you talked
about, for you're too precious to me.
Oh, child, you've hurt me cruelty, but
| ought to have saved you from this!'
and his arms were closed about me.
Nellie, / never meant he should love
me-not so much-and | was fright
ened awfullv, for / knew what / had
done. You didn't know Arthur Rich
mond, but he was so strong, so pas
%sionate, So
Do stop sewing, Nellie, it makes me
nervous to see your hand fly so fast. |
am a little tired, but | must finish my
story. You must hear it all now. |
think when | have told you it won't
trouble me so, not so much, and may
go to sleep tonight. If | only could.
l struggled away from him.
Don't, don't" l cried, and that
was all / could say.
What do you meal AliceP" he
said. catching one of my hands again.
| raised the other to show my en-
gagement ring flashing on my finger.
| thought he would understand, but
he didn't.
I'm engaged to Colonel Monroe" l
managed to say. II am to be married
in three months"
oh, Nellie, its one of the things
that haunt me so-that face! When
hers goes away for an instant, his
comes. In the darkness | see them all
the palmer. 1t must be the fever;
don't YOU think so, Nellicpn
He didn't say a~nything-not a word.
l was crying hard, but / tried to tell
him how sorry l was, and begged him
to forgive me. l tried to make him
speak; he was so still, and looked ut
me so.
II never supposed you considered it
anything but a pleasant Irritation" |
said in my desperation. Then | hid
my face in my hands, for l could not
bear his eyes, aLl in another moment
he was gone.
Please raise me again-the pillows
there, that will do. l am so tired |
must tell the rest quick. If | only
could breathe easier-if it wasn't for
the pain in my chest and-and-
What was | telling you a~bout-John
AveryP No, / remember now-Arthur
Richmond. l never saw him again; l
never saw either of them again.
But 1 shall, Nellie-of course, l
shall; and l shall tell Mrs. Avery how
it all happened. She will see | did
not mean to do it; and Arthur Rich
mond, he must have forgiven me by
this time, for he saw how much felt.
Oh, Nellie. say something! Don't
sit and look like that! l know what
you are thinking about. You heard
that frightfui story about Arthur Rich
mond, and you believe it-you think
it's true, Why, Nellie, it isn't-I tell
you it can't be. Don't | knowP
They said / had driven him wild;
that he never in his life touched liquor
until those last three weeks; that they
found him the next day, shot-ch,
such shocking things as they said!
But ! didn't believe them. he would
die, they said-no hope for him; and
then | screamed and screamed.
Oh, Nellie, If it hadn't been for this
sickness-the burning fever and the
cough! 1 took cold that night, l sup
pose. 1t seemed to me l was all on
fire, so | sat in the open window, and
when it began to rain | didn't shut it.
Icould have explained everything, if
I had only a chance; then they
wouldn't have blamed me so-they
would have understood. 1t was bad
enough, but / was not so wicked as
they said-I mean, | didn't intend to
BEL didn't think. that was all.
Wait a minute! Strange that my
breath troubles me so at times. There
is such a weight on my chest.
If I could only get one word from
Colonel Monroe, Nellie! l know how
it is-he has heard those terrible
stories, too. Those friends of his told
him, and that is why he never m
or writes. 1t is cruel, cruel, when |
want him so! Why, | love him-don't
you know I doP And he ought to be-
lieye me; he used to. when l lose
faith in you | shall lose faith in
heaven!' That is what he SAID when
he put this ring on my finger. See
how easily it slips aroundl
Why, Nellie, you are crying! Don't
you see | am getting better every dayP
Look at my hands; they are not so
blue and thin as they were a week ago.
You sec, l must get we'll, I've got so
much TO do; but if / can't find Arthur
If Colonel Monroe won't forgive me
oh, Nellie!
Time for my medicine, did YOU sayP
| don't want i'll don't need it, Nellie;
| feel so much better. 1t has-has
grown dark. fast. l think l can go to
sleep. How late is itP There are
some queer, queer words in my head.
| thought | could tell you-l-l-
Nellie!