Kimball enterprise. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1883, 1883-08-03
THE IRON ROOM.
From the Argosy.

one OF the first inconvenient things she
saw was the very evident love affair be-
tween handsome Jack Talbot, of the
3-th, who had nothing in the world but
his Captains pay, ard her only daughter
Lillian, who first duty to her parents
lay in making an eligible match! This
would never do. But the worldly wise
lady refeeted that Captain ralbot's visit
was only to last three days longer, and
with true art appeared blissfully con-
tent with the position. The night be-
fore he went away, the suitor applied to
Mr.. Hope, and begged to have his
prayer favorably answered ;and he (hav-
ing received his brief from his wife)
temporized gently; spoke OF youth,
changeable affections, and SO on, and
said he could not at present give def
mite answer.
tsMay hope?" asked the suitor.
If you like" said the father; and
nothing could have ended better. Lii
lian waved a damp pocket-handkerchief
from the window, and the knight "rode
away"
A month ..later Jack was ordered to
Egypt, and Mrs. Hope thought it highly
probable that all her difficulties would
be removed by the Egyptians. II not,
the time was gained at any rate, and
Lillian was growing handsomer every
day.
sMy DEAR said Mr.. Hope one even.
ing, Lord Bhckmoor is evidently struck
with Lillian"
$50 see," responded the wife, smil-
ing complacently.
I shouldn't be surprised if he spoke
shortly"
$50 much the better"
& "But ah-haw about that other fell
lowW queried Mr.. Hope, uneasily.
Nothing about him" said Mrs. Hope,
resolutely; che must not be mentioned"
'Lork Blackmoor is very old"
He will make the better husband"
Lillian is q beautiful, warm-hearted
girl!'' faltered the father.
"Had she not been beautiful q coronet
would not have been offered her."
But Harriet, you and were both
young when we were married"
Mrs. Hope calmly fixed her fine eyes
on the ceiling, and her husband saw
sentiment would find no response.
And so, while Jack was bronzing his
handsome face and fighting for his coun-
try in Egypt, his Lillian was desired to
receive the addresses of an elaborate old
fop of seventy five, and she only eight
cen. But these things happened, so we
must contemplate them.
Between her mother and Lord Black
moor it was arranged that the wedding
should take place in December, and in
the meantime rumor came that captain
Talbot was killed.
of November, and the old bridegroom
elect was to come there in December.
He arrived, and, to the girl seemed
more distasteful than ever. He followed
her about with an affection of youthful
ardor, which sorely warred with gout
and dyspepsia.
Mamma" said the frenzied Lillian,
"if you don't keep him away from me
now, I'll say no at the altarI" And fear
ing that this was true, Mrs. Hope re-
joiced in nm attack of gout which con-
fined the old nobleman to his room,
where she treated him with fatterv and
devotion.
So then the poor girisp ndered down
to the boat house. It was half mile
from the house, and there was snugly
furnished iron room there, where tea
things and spirit lamps we're kept. Lii
lian had often made tea here in the
happy summer; and now she entered
the room, which stauck cold and damp
from long disuse, and throwing herself
in a chair, and sobbed as if her heart
were breaking.
a footstep outside made Lillian start
up quickly. 1t was the postman on his
way to the house.
Have you any letters for me?'' asked
Yes, miss. SURELY said the man; and
he found three, handed them to her
and passed on.
Lillian re-entered the iron room, sank
on sofa, and with trembling hands
tore open one-it was from Jack. AZ
sue read it she found that other letters
had been sent to her-who had themi
Jack was in London; said he was fast
recovering from his wounds, and that
he had determined to come down and
hear from her own lips that she gave
him up. And concluded by saying he
would be at the uoat. house by 5 O'Clock
the next evening would she meet him
there?
The next evening meant this evening;
this evening that ever was; for the let
ter had been written the day before.
Lillian's delight at this unexpected
news was paramount: She hastened
back to the house, determining that
nothing should reveal the change. She
inquired civllly after Lord Blackmoor,
had five dresses tried on by dress
maker, drove with her mother to pay
!: some callsan when they returned home
twas aquarter to five o'clock. Mrs. Hope
ordered tea for herself in her bedroom
saying she should sit afterward with
Lord Blackmoor till dinner time, SO Lii
lian was at liberty. She escaped in the
dark winter afternoon, ran swiftly