The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1883-09-28

where they came from. way n deep and absorb
ing mystery. That Their advent was connected
with the death OF the Stranger was not a the
Dry which occurred to many Of tue citizens.
One OF the leading expressions put forward by
nose who eohveraed upon the subject WAS the
proposition that Chambers supposititious wifein
the States-an appendage which was attached
in a greater o rless degree to the man bulk Of
the population of that salubrious locai;ty-had
forwarded her children to be carel for 10y their
legitimate protector, But whatever Squatters'
duich may have thought or expressed upon the
subject, Sqna ters' Gulch did not carry its
curiosity Extensively near to Chambers or his
cabin on the hill.
Meanwhile, in the cabin itself, there were
some odd Developments. The new residents
had quietly domesticated themselves with that
a%tluent confidence which is the distinguishing
trait of that migratory childhood Of the West,
which, beng cast this way aud that by the
changes which constantly occur in new ooun-
tries, readily accusioms itself 10 fresh sur
roundings. One night, sitting before the fire,
with his short clay pipe in has mouth, and the
children on the floor at his feet, dreamily re-
garding the Goals. Chambers broke the silence
Sis" said he, 81 don't want to pry into no
family secrets of yourn, cos il amt none OF my
business porticklerly, but, at the same time, it
amt reasonable fer me to go on always IL calm
Of We Sis aud vhe young CHAP 'Bub.'"
aIhats 50. reckon" promptly replied the
hls'n," pointing to the boy, "his'n is Robert
His t'other name amt like mino, though,
cause he's only % 'dopted brother. HIS name
is Liathbuu-Robert Rathbun. Hello! What's
up, Mr.. Tom?"
'Nnthin'," replied CHAMBERS, whose face had
suddenly become rigid. ''On'y | drapped my
pipe, that's all. Go to bed, youngsters, I want
10 think. Hold up a bit What became Of
yer mother, Bob?'l
Dead, sr.s Drowned III the Missouri over
flow. L haven't seen her since l was q baby"
When they were gone, and for hours after
ward, Chambers sat looking g!oomily into tho
fire.
Pore gal" he muttered, after a long time,
matters had come out a leetle different,
that would hev bin my boy. Mine. Well.
what's to hinder now!"
E.ylnS by some acute mental process con-
WINGED himself that nothing was to hinder,
Chambers Went thouGhtfu!!v to bed.
Tho soft autumn days, gilded by the clear
and genial Colorado SUI, melted slowly away
INTO the crisp aud vestal winter. Then. came
the budding spring, the lazy summer, and tho
blnshing autumn again. 50 tho weeks glided
into months, and the months closed iut> years,
until Squatters' Gulrh. ashamed Of its rough
aud uncputh name of other days, adopted the
more exalted title of Clarion City. There were
other changes, too, in the general atmosphere
surrounding the place. The rough and some
what uncouth dwellings which formerly COW
cred tbs steep sides Of the ravine hal almost
entirely disappeared. and their places were
filled with more slightly cottages. The bust
ness part OF tho town had grown: comman-
%surately with tho other portions of Clarion City,
and tho place presented an altogether slightly
appearance, cozl'y tucked way among the
pine-clad foothills. N
In a tasteful cottage. far toward the outer
| aIUp nF tha Ssttlempnr 4 tval Nr IN,,t,,os = GI,,,
ders and tho members of his famiiv. WHO haye
heretofore hecn described in this veracious
narrative. IL was a pretty place, and il was
marked here and there BY the unmistakable
traces OF q woman'a presence. Neut curtains
hun in the windows, a hammock swung on the
veranda. and n trailing vine grew up over tho
door. One night, as the SIM was climbing
down across the western sky, the veranda was
occupied by two Young people. A strong,
hearty Young man was swinging in the ham
mock, while sitting beside him., idly movInS
the network BACKWARD and forward, was a 1.-the
and graceful girl. She was b~lushing deeply
but not hanging her head. There was, indeed,
in her large blue ewes a look of open frankuess.
which l donot think is often found abont the
faces of young women when they are discuss
ing the subject which was at that moment oc-
cupying her attention. a.
There is something which seems almost
like sacrilege about it, Robert she said. with
a touch of remonstrance in her voice. II had
grown to think You my brother IN reality, as
well as by association"
"But YOU love me. Lucy. You have told me
So" His voice was desp and not unmusical to
the car. And it had about it, in the Inc OF
pleading, u persuasive tenderness which, L
fear. more than one of tho iluttering damsels
of the Gnlch hal found it difficult to resist.
But Miss Lucy was not OF the common sort,
and she did not heedlessly assent to the prop
ositiou advanced.
"Whai," she asked presently, ''would he
think :n.s 20 ~u- --t.r - [f4
1t was apparent that the young man did not
require a more definite descriptive term to
understand who was referred to.
'tHe would scarcely object, Lucy. You
know no loves both of us very dearly, and his
greatest happiness would be in making US
happy"
True" replied Miss Lucy, thoughtfully.
''But tiff he would rather we lid not sock
this kind of happiness, Robert-you know Wa
owe him a very great deal. Our home, our
rescue from an existence that would have left
us both more to be piti.d than if we were
dead, our educational were given us by him.
We can scarcely do anything that may bring
The young man in the hammock was silent
for a moment
''Tell me-" ho said, in u little while, "why
You suppose there is any danger that he will
object"
Miss Lucy's face assumed n deeper scarlet.
'I-I-weli, nothing. 1t is probably my
ilnaeinla,ion."
i you ask him9"
Another pause. Then, in a low voice: eyes, L
will ask hin tonight, II he does not sp sal first I
If he consents, Robert, II Will do all that you
have asked"
"That's q dear, sweet Lucy" exclaimed
Robert, springing to his feet and kissing her
lips. I'VE shall be very happy" MA Z
AS he strollel down the Lii, Miss Lucy's
eyes followed his retreatlng figure sadly.
When he was gone she drew n long and slight
ly%tremulons breath, and laid hen head against
the post. She still sat thus, with her eyes bent
upon tho ground, when a heavy football
aroused her attention. Mr.. Thomas Chambers,
returning from his Office at the mouth OF the
Giant mine. Not quite the Thomas Chambers
we have known heretofore. HIS eyes were Sc
rener row than of old, and his tread had not
that element of hesitation which formerly
marked it. Thomas Chambers, mine owner and
operator, with a pretty home, and the benefits
Of solicitous female society, was rather inclined
to be an ornament to his sex, although there
were moments, / must relate, when he did not
occupy a similar relation to the English Ian
guago. a= ~ tfu, 4.N.
drew a chair up to her side and seated himself
so that the folds of her dress brushed against
his knees. ~ met Robert as came up the
hill, A tine boy, that. Llcy.a I'm assproud5 Of
him as if / had been his father"
A moment Of silence, during which Miss
Lucy breathed n tritle quickly. One hand lay
unemployed in her lap. Chambers picked it up
white, SO lovely, in his great palm, that he
speedily covered it up by drawing his brown
fingers about it.
'Its d winter hand,' he begrn slowly and re-
fectingly, though it amt much bigger than it
was when l first took it into niue. that night
under the big tree. All, my giri:SI~ didn't SEQ
then. and didn't seem to imagine that you would
be SO dear to mo some day. Ididn't know that
in the course Of time you would get to be-
what you are to me. If 1 had'- a -
Another pause. This time LucyFwss slightly
trsmbling.