The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1883-11-30

~ Oh 'dono iCuSltltIltl, QUE COlDle
stole Oft for a stroll, and Beatrice turn.
ing round to toss a bunch OF nuts into
the basket held by Connie, remarked.
with a smile:
u suppose | must not call those two
to task for idtenes; considering how
soon shall stand in need of indulgence
myself. Only think, Con, withia four
and twenty hours Rob will probably be
here!"
One Of the children nutting near her
looked up at this and said brightly:
DO you know, Miss Latham, Dicks
coming sooner than that? Mother had q
telegram this morning to say be would
be here tonight"
Beatrice gave a little excited cry, for
Dick was Captain Erskine, and there
was no reason why Haadley should be
later than his friend.
"Ah!" she exclaimed. "Rob means to
surprise me. Good-by, nil OF you-Ia am
off home. Just think if he should come
and find M out"
The others laughed at her frank i'm
petuoslty but she WAS quite Indifferent
to their merrtment, and with q quick
nod Il wave Of the land sped away
home.
The house was quiet and empty, and
She tiigeted about from room to room In
a State OF feverish suspense. Should
she go and change her dress?' No, per-
haps she might not nave time; besides
she had none hat suited her better
than the simple sateen she was wearing.
Then her anxiety to be found pleasing
in her lovers sight brought her to a
standstlll beior the mirror, and she
scrutinized herself carefully and crlti-
caily. Would he think her looking old
er or palmer, she wondered. She
turned away at last in doubt, for it was
not have feared, for she had never
looked prett.er or sweeter than now,
when happy expectation WAS breathing
a bright flush over her cheeks, and hev
eyes were shining with a light kindled
by the purest love and faith.
Presently, as she could not sit idle,
she called for q jug Of water and some
vases, and began arranging the bunch OF
Terms and wild flowers she had gathered
III the woods. First the loveliest and
most fragrant We're chosen out and ten
derry made into q little bouquet for
Headley, and she had not done much
more than this when the sound of the
visitors bell fell upon her listening ears.
Amoment later the servant announced
Captain Beatrice breath came and
went quickly, and she eau lit hold Of a
char to prevent herself from darting
forward) "Erskine."
You, Rlchard!' stammered Beatrice,
all the tension OF her frame slackening;
81 thought thought am very glad
to see you'll hope you are quite
we'll"
Captain Erskind had never been a
laxative or ready witted man, and now
he found himself in a predicament
worse than any he had encountered
in the -fghan campaign. Beatrice's i'll
concealed disappointment and feeble at
tempt at a cordial reception might have
struck him as comical had it not come
with d previous knowledge of something
which rendered it intensely pathetic.
Il am quite we'll. thank you,' he said
awkwardiy. SIS Mrs Latham at home?
| should like to see her.
"She is in the wood-so is everybody
except me. Please sit down and tell
me all the news. Is Captain ueadley
well?"
Eyes" said Erskine; and then there
was a pause, during which Beatrice be-
came nervously aware that something
was wrong.
"You are telling me the TRUTH" she
said uneasily, and Erskine again said,
Eyes. yes"
''Then what is it," asked Beatrice.
81 would rather tell Mrs Latham
said Erskine.
"Is 1t anything about Rober.?" de-
manded Beatrice quickly.
Eyes, but | annot speak to you about
it. 1t is bad news-paintul news"
"In what way? Why, are you silent,
Richard? DO you mea that it is dis
creditable to Robert?"
Erskine bowed his head, and the poor
girl, in mingled Indignation and distress
her,
"Ifthere is harm to be told OF Rob, l
would rather you should tell me-" she
said, %touchingly un%suspicious of what
the harm might be; 81 can forgive him
anything, but | could not bear the 9th
ers to know"
"You do not understand, Beatrice"
said the poor captain.
Chow can | while you won't speak
out?" exclaimed the girl restlessly.
"When did you last hear from Head.
ley?" asked Erskine, to gain time.
From Gibraltar"
"And there was nothing in the letter
to make you suspect anything wrong2'
ono"
"The scoundrel!' calculated Erskine,
under his breath; but Beatrice heard it,
and quick as thought started TO her feet
and turned upon him.
How dare you? All, for PHYS sake
don't look at me like til, 1t! You are tor.
turing me-put me out OF my misery
tell me the worst at oncel'
The wild alarm in her face was toe
much for Erskine, and he blnrted out
the truth:
"Headley was married this morning
almost Immediately we landed"
The Don swam round Beatrice, and
with a long, choking sob of anguish she
mantlepiece. A crash followed, for the
hand she had stretched ont vaguely fol
support struck the specimen glass into
which she had put her little bouquet fol
Robert and it fell shivering to atoms or
the floor. Beatrice, perceiving in the
accident a significant sequel to Erskine',
words, felt rs though her heart would
break with the glass. yet the shock O
cold wa:er dashed over her probably
saved her from falnting, for she indis
t%inctiveIy laid:her cool wet hand across
her dizzy brows and eyes. Erskine toe
in despair, seized the jug OF water OF
the table and made her drink some GU
Oh hower-vase.
81 am all right now" she said family
go on. must know more"
At that moment the sound Of voice,
AT the bottom OF the garden indicated
the return of the nuttiny party, and Bea
trice quivered from head 10 loot.
"Oh, | cannot ..ace them ali!' she ex.
claimed wildly. just one word, Ri, h.
ard-how do you know this?"
81 was told Of 1T; then I met him ant
he confessed IT,"
The girl looked into his face for ONT
giinmer Of ionDt, but there was notn'
ing to be read in it save the deepest
compnsaion, and bowling her head hope
leSsiy she fed to her room.
Irskint's meetiug with Connie WA