Kimball enterprise. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1883, 1883-08-10
country round, for 1 was going to be
married in the spring, and take my


asking all sors Of questions. Ny sisters
wanted to know allabout ller-what was
she like? was she pretty? and so on. l
told them she had the prettiest blue
eyes. the brightest hair, and the soitest,
sweetest voice in the world-you can't
say that of some of the girls voices.
But when they asked if she was well ed
ucated, / didn't know what to say. You
see my brother and sister have. always
lived in the city, and they don't know
anything about how we lived out here.
If Minnie had been educated like them
it isn't likely she would ever have had
anything to do with me. l never told
Minnie anything about the ranch be-
cause she never asked me anything
about business, and l liked to have her
trust me that way. Because, wanted
to surprise her sometime with my nice
arrangements. used to often say I'd
build a little shanty out Of shakes, and
we'd be king and queen in it, and live
on air and sunshine.
"There was all old bachelor who had a
large ranch, not far from the little place
where Minnie's father and mother lived.
People said he was worth $4,000, but
to meet him there pretty often, but
course, ne came TO tax over stock win
her father. The old man, Minnie's fl.
ther, was full of his notions about stock,
though he never got hold Of more than
dozen COWS at a time, and Spanish cat
tie at that. never thought of being
jealous. but it did trouble me the way
the old folks treated ine. They seemed
to think had no right to come there at
all, and they didn't waste any politeness
on me. would not have cared much
for that. either, for Minnie seemed
fonder fine than ever, though she didn't
show it much before them; but some-
thing was troublin. her, could see.
Sometimes s when when, ., went
hearted I knew she had been crying. I
would laugh and joke to cheer her up,
till she would laugh, too, just like her
old self; then, when l was about to leave
the sad look would come back, ahd she
would hardly let me go. OF course I
began to understand what it all meant,
but was SO sure of Minnie l felt like
swapping my fingers at all the rest. I
was, and how much they might do to in
fuence her-it's likely they we're at her
all the time.
ting up a ride. We % We're ei going % down Ito to
Toki for dance and supper, and then
back by moonlight. I went to tell Min
ME about it. and see if she would go.
Yes,' said she she, 4 am going, but
can't go with you, Ernest, for l have
promised Mr.. Murphy
Then l knew she was going to give me
up, and it made me so mad-and sorry,
too, that couldn't say one word, but
just walked out of the house, without
even 'good-by.' 1t was week before
cooled down enough to go and see her
again. She didn't say enything about
my staying away, but the heavy look in
her eyes made me feel very bad. tried
to ask her kindly how she liked the par.
ty, but my voice must have sounded
hard, for she answered up quick that
they had splendid time. Then I
couldn't hold in any longer, and just
said:
Now, Minnie, you must just choose
between us two; things can't 60 on this
Mr.; Murphy or are you going to marry
me?'
ooh, Ernest" said she, "you know
Mr.. Murphy can do so much for father
and mother. Father hasn't much, and
he's getting old, and they have no one
but me-"
'Do you think would let them suf-
fer?" said l. 81 was too proud then to
speak OF my ranch, or any of my plans.
"Why, no." she said, ''but he's rich
you know, and he's going to pay fathers
debts and set him up" Then | said !:
TELL me, Minnie, once for all, DO you
like him better th in you do me?"
II couldn't keep my voice quite steady
aud she began to cry.
"Oh, ErnestW she said, 'sdon't, don't
asa me that, for have given him my
promise"
"Then." l said. "you'll have to take
back the promise you gave me-" And
l left the house and never went back,
you may be sure.
The cunning, mean old fellow! He
knew he couldn't get her with just his
money, so he kept telling her what he
would do for her parents; but how
could they be SO mean and cruel?
well, I stayed around my ranch till
they were r arried, and then went of
and left everything. haye never had
anything to speak Of since. About three
years after did take to saving my
money and got together quite little
sum, when business kept me few days
in Tokita. Then it came out how much
that skinflint Murphy had done for Min
MES parents. He lad bought the poor
little place they had been hiring for
years, and put them in possession; but
he had secured himself the few hun
dreds it cost by mortgage on it, and
now, / heard, he was going to foreclose
and turn them out. l couldn't
bear to put my little pile into
his scrawny hand, but l then
was not going to see those poor old peo-
pie turned out Of their home-I was
only glad that had money enough. He
gave them back the mortgage with a
great flourish ofgenel osity, and orcourse
never told how it was That is the
only time have ever seen Minnie in
these five years. She did not seem tc
be getting much good of that thirty.
Thousand dollars, for things looked as
though there had never been much
more money on the premises. She
looked good deal older, and when
asked her how she was getting along
she just burst out crying. felt so bad
didn't know what to do"
The poor fellow looked so thoroughly
grieved at the thought of her suffering
that felt my own eyes grow dim.
"a sad, sad story" said I "yet, after
all; Ernest, does it not seem as though
she had more 10 bear than you?"
"Why, yes-that is the worst of it. II
thought she was comfortable and hap
py, it wouldn't hurt me SO"
But, Ernest, no one would ever