Kimball enterprise. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1883, 1883-08-10
"Good afternoon, Miss Emma"

"Good after noon, Miss Emma"
"Howd' you DO, Miss Carby?'
ooh, we've been having long ride,
and Pm so tired. Here's Ernest Won
dering how women can be so weak.
You &C. our way, believes" and fuade
u.s."
Petty soon l saw the little witch
leaning over to see if her saddle was
true.
Better have it sinched up" said Err
nest, ''before we go down the long hill."
So he helped her off, and she held his
horse while he tightened her "sich."
oh, these women," said Re; "what
would they do without the men?"
And, oh, these men," said |; "what
would they do if they couldn't wait on
the womeu?"
Then she put her little foot into his
hand and sprang into the saGdle. The
thousand little airs that ataccompanied this
performance We're indescribably amusing
TO me.
That evening Ernest played soft ac-
commandment on his violin while l sang
"The Haunted Spring." I thought the
young man needed warming. The bal
lad recounted how the hunter bold pur-
sued the "milk-white doe" to the verge
oofthe haunted spring. There he found
lady fair sin robe ofwhite," and pledged
her his &nightly faith upon ring drawn
from the fountain.
To see you and Miss Emma together
makes the story you told me seem like
dream" So | knew he was not "on
with the new love" yet.
yeas eFy N incident de- socaS oceaTred Of wbchs bss
brought this story vividly to
my mind. was travelling from
Sacramento to San Francisco, by way of
Vallejo; when my attention was attract
ed by pair of blue eyes--for | hold it
to be one of womans peculiar rights to
admire another woman if she feels like it.
When we exchanged the cars for the
steamboat l noticed her more particu-
larlv, for she sat next to me in the cab
in. observed that she was still young,
not over thirty, and perhaps less, for
trouble may have made the years pass
heavily; that her possessions included a
neat and tasty travelling suit, also little
boy, with very freckled face and
wide-awake, intelligent look in the
bright eyes-so like his mother's no.
ticed-also that the very sensible looking
woman on the other side appeared to
be her friend.
coaxed the little freckle-face to a
vacant seat beside me, and found abun.
dant occupation in furnishing his very
lnqulring mind. How was startled by
this exclamation from my amiable
friend:
"Oh Minnie, don't those look like the
mountains around Tokita?"
In one moment she seemed trans
formed from an attractive stranger into
an old and familiar acquaintance, and 1
could not resist the impulse to address
her:
''Mrs, Murphy. is it not?
''Yes, that is my name."
81 am Miss CARLY of san francisco.
The mention of Tokita must be my ex-
cuse for speaking. That is your home is
it not?'
"It was until my husband died. I live
in sacramento now. Have you ever
been in Tokita?t'
No; but once spent two pleasant
months in the country, and heard much
about you from an early friend of
yours"
Pray, which of my friends cared to
speak of me?'
''It was Ernest Van Dorm"
"Then YOU know him?"
II did then-almost five years ago
and it gives me much pleasure now to re-
ctll my acquaintance with him. You
may imagine how well came to know
him when he told me how he lost you"
eyes. indeed; for gay and lively as be
was, he scarcely ever spoke of anything
he felt yesy much. Poor Ernestl he
was great deal too good for me. But
truly, Miss CARLY, would never have
done as did of my own free choice
They urged me till was almost dis,
tracted"
They2 Who? did not ask; and soon
learned that father and mother both
were dead; that her husbands reputed
wealth vanished like morning dream
that he died, leaving her heavy mort
gage upon the ranch. so that she real
lied but small sum from the sale of the
property. This sum she had taken tt
nary business with this sensible
friend"
At last she said: "Reallv Miss CARLY
YOU must have some witchcraft for find
ing out private histories. am not 80
much surprised that Ernest told yor
his"
But, after all, had not learned wha
very much wanted to know; to wha
extent her late husband had made he
lie with him unhappy; what were he
present feelings in regard to Ernest Va
Dorm; and especially what would be tn,
result if he should now appear befcr,
her; still tender and true" 1t wa
dom and strength of character in the
years that had passed, whether dark or
bright. Many time in the months
that followed, found myself fancyinr
bow these two might come together, and
their lives be filled at last with love al
the deeper and richer for what they haG
passed through. Still grew the earnest
desire, aud finally the confident hooe
that might have share in bringin.
about this delightful consummatlon.
1t was with this hope strong within
me that l looked forward to weeks so.
journ at farmhouse in Napa valley
thinking vaguely and unreasonably tha
now should come my long sought oppor
tunity. Not that had been quite idle
IN the matter heretofore; l had writer
to the neighborhood where I had me
Ernest Van Dorm, making inquire:
! about him. But the incorrigibIe rover
had gone from there, leaving no track
| and no one knew of his whereabouts
What reason had to think our paths
would ever cross again2 All! my foolish
hope was but rushing on to its sure des
| truetion.
The evening of my arrival at the farm
| of nv friend Samnson-tha warmac