The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1883-11-16
MISS LIRRIPIP'S LOVERS.

OF agricultural depression and ~stagnant trade;
out q girl with $4,000 q year is a rarity; and
. girl with $4,000 a year and a pretty face
into the bargain is a positive phenomenon; and,
as such, cannot fail to be greatly admired by a
number CT moro or loss eligible young men
with q taste for beauty OF the most substantial
kind. Even middle-aged bachelors awoke from
their habitual indifference when, on being in
trodnct- 10 o lovely damsel of two-and-twenty,
they are conscious that the possessor of 9
considerable fortune stands before them; for,
although money is the root of all evil, it is q
root which most people very willingly under
tako the risk of cultlyating.
Since Lydia Lirripip was thus beautiful and
thus rich, it is not sur prising that she'had not
only admirers-men who dared to wish uncer-
tain things; but lovers, too-men who had the
presumption 10 hope. 1t is true that Lydia
encouraged none of them, for she was quite
satisfied to live at home with her father, Gen.
Lirripip, in Bruton street, Grosvenor
square, and to ride in Rotten Row in the morn
ing, and to drive in tho park in the afternoon.
But, fortunately, young men do not require the
encouragement; nay, in certain affairs the less
encouragement they receive tho greater their
persistency becomes; and considering that
ever, give any encouragement to young men,
the perslstency of these latter in tbs face of
alarming difficulties IL a matter on which all of
Us may heartily congratulate ourselves. In
deed, but for the presidency who knows
whether the world would so roundy
1t was the height of the London season, and
Lydia Lirripip wentwita her father one cvsnss
ing to "A great ball. at tho co untess Of Carna.
bys. Everybody was there-everybody, that
Is, of rank and fashion-and ere she had been
in the brightly lighted rooms fer five minutes
Lydia was engaged for all the dances on the
programme. Now, to most of her partners
she was only engaged for a single valse or
polka. but, for old acquaintance's sake, or for
some other reason, she allowed three gentle
men to tako two dances each. 1t was, no doubt,
very indiscreet of her to do so. But in one
case at least it was also very good natured OF
her, for she permitted old Sir Pertinax Popin-
Jay, who, as every one know, WAS far too stiff
and equity to move about properly, to put
down his name for the only two setsiof lancers.
Sir Pertinax was etfus,vely grateful, ard
smiled his sweetest upon her as he returned
her programme, and Lydia, instead Of regret
ting her Kindness, felt thoroughly rewarded by
seeing that shcwas giving pleasure to the gray
haired baronct, who, thirty years before, had
been a noted daudy, but who now struck her
81 being simply a prosy old fellow. whom very
few girls would be likely 10 dance with. Lydia's
other favored p~artners weresME. Horace Freake
"a young artist who had that year for the first
time exhibited at the ROYAL academy-and Mr..
Merton Muriey. a man VINO lad no. profession
aud no occupation, and who, If he had u pri-,
'"N 'S'sAAN ~ " - ~ Az HCL-
orally known even to his friends.
In This world many strange condolences
happen. Two chemists have been known 10
makesexactly the same discovery on the same
day and two astronomers have claimed TO
catch sight Of a new comet at almost the same
moment. 1t is not, therefore,, incredible that,
while dancing these ;six ;dances with her three
favored partners, Lydia casually mentioned to
each OF them that anon the following evening
her father was gning to take tho chair at
tho annual meeting of the Society for
the Encouragement of Cod Water Bathing on
the Continent: that she was not going, but
would be alone at home; that she wished that
girls were able like men to amuse themselves:
end That she enYied sher partners their
clubs, their ,heaters and tieir sociable smok-
ing concerts. Nor is it incrs'lbts that, having
heard this, SIR Per;inax ropinjay, Mr.. Horace
Freake, and Mr.. Merton MEriey all made up
their minds to call uron Miss Lirripip upon
the following evening, and to make TO :lcr Ger
tain avowals, which, although they had long
meditateu them. they now felt impelled 10
make as soon az possible, and without any un-
necessary delay. What these ayowal- were
may be guessed; but why the three gentlemen
all determined at the same time to mako them
Is a question which cannot be explained, al
though the fact that LYDIA that evening looked
even pretticr than usual may possibly have
been ono OF the causes Of the extraordinary
coincidence. @ @ VI
Lydia little dreamed, when in Tie email
hours of the morning she dropped off to sleep.
VA "hhs " h"tSihS ' bSl. ol L OF LiuhA
had made no slgu; Mr.. Muriey had not bcea
more attentive than had for some time boen
his wont; and Mr.. Freaks had been actually
more duh and undressing than Miss Lirripip
had ever seen him. She therefore slept suundlv,
aud was undi turbed by fears OF tho coming
evening and is visitors.
The following day was wet. The general,
who had lived for many years in India, and
had a liver which caused him to be somewhat
irascibie, shut himself MP in his library and
savagely studied the statistics of cold water
bathing; and Lydia, WHO could not go ont,
painted in her boudoir, The Lirripips dined
at half past five to enable the general to got
to the meeting at half past seven; aud n he
had taken no exercise during The day, and had
boon quite unable TO master all the inform, tlun
no required relative to the average of cleanli-
ness upon the continent Lydia's father was
not in tho bast of tempers. '.Sit up for me-"
he said; 81 shall be in by 11:3O"f These
were his last cords, as. the carriage having
been announced, he hurried away from the
table, stopping for au instant at Lydia's slde
to kiss her hastily on the top of the head. And
hliss Llrripip was left alone in solitary
grandeur, sitting at one end Of the dining
room. She did not stay there long, but went
to the drawing room, wLi'her she babe a
servant bring two candles, which but dimly
lighted the large apartment Then, taking her
scat At the piano, Lydia began to play and to
sing alternately.
The drawing room at Bruton street was like
many other Lsndun drawing-rooms. IT Eoccu-
plel tLo "IlUl VI lIe lTsJ moor OF tlC house.
save where iu one corner tine staircase as
cended; aud 1t was therefore L.shaped, the
longer arm of the l. having three windows
looking ont into the street, and the shorter
arm ono window looking out over some news
in the rear q Heavy curtains OF tapestry hung
between the back and front %portions of the
room, but were usually looI ed up; and in the
back room was the piano. at which, within tie
halo of the two candles, Lydia Lirripip played
ant sang. Z ~ go LIZ .rs
She had considerable knowledge of music
aud a nne voice, and, wrapped up in her occu-
patton, sho started when the door OF the front
room opened and a servant, who was to her in
visible, announced MI. Horace Freako.
Lydia rdse and received her visitor, mean
time ordering the gas to be, lighted, II was
$3.50. Why had he called at that hour? Why
had no not come in the daytime, while she was
so duh, rather than just when she was sing
ing? But. upon the whole, she was glad to see
Horace, who, no doubt, simply desired TO in
luire how'she was after this dance OF the pre-
vious evening, and had, not been able TO do so
earlier: As he betrayed, nevertheless, a Ger
tain hesitation IN his manner, she led the con-
versation, and asked HIM whether he had en-
joyed Lady Carhaby's ball He had, he" said,
pretty well; and then ensued a pause, during
which Horace rather awkwardly took a seat at
Lydia's side on an ottoman aud gazsd at tho
carpet MI. Frrake was not altogether stupid,
but even wi's. often become rather dull when
they are meditating an immediate proposal;
man who finds himself in it, That il amply ex-
cuses the e1tibiuonof little nneasiness and
nervousness. Mr., Freake certainly was nerv-
GUS. but he soon recovered himself, ss.4
'rYour father is at the meeting, 1 suppose.
Don't you teel IL very dnil all by yourself here,
Miss Liriipip?n r.,,
"Oh, no. have been singing; and all day I
have been painting"
"Bnt dull mean without society? know
that | do, and l have much more society. l sus-
pect, than you have, Unlese ! go out, the
evenings, ] lind, pass very slowly. : cannot
get the excitement of work, for, Of course, one