Kimball enterprise. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1883, 1883-05-11

- @O 49, Ill
Just in the nick of time. Miss Ad,
Stanley, Mr.. John Jackson"
Alright knock came at the door, end q
neat and rosy-cheeked country lass Ell.
tered he room, bearing in her hand q
lamp. She was followed by a middle
aged man, tall and strongly built, and
dressed in dark-gray broadcloth. A
noticeable mar with a peculiar set ex-
preston on his face.
"Good evening, Mr.. Tescam," said
Amy. You know my cousin, I think"
Mr.. Tescam bowed and extended his
hand toward John, who took it mechani-
cally, without removing his eyes from
Ada, who stood trembling just within
the window.
II was just thinking of taking a stroll
in the garden, Mr.. Tescam," went on
Amy, eifyou would favor me with your
arm: I've no doubt my cousin and Miss
Stanley will be able to amuse themselves
Tor little time without our help"
n stranger offered his arm with a
formal and rather old-fashioned courtesy,
n they left the room together and pas
sed up the garden walk in silence. They
reached the rustic bench beneath the
dropping branches of an aspen, and here
Amy quilted her companion's arm and
took her seat.
"You have something to say to me-"
sac said, YEARLY, All the sprightliness
OF a moment ago had vanished.
YES" said Mr.. Tescam, slowly, 81
nave something to say to you which is
soon said; l have come to say good
bye"
She could see that the set expression
OF his face, dimly discerning through the
evening gloom, had d%eepened, and the
hand which held the lanai of his coat
clutched it hard.
"Why good-bye?.' she asked.
1T is hest" he said simply, struggling
with some invaded passion which he
could not scarce repress.. $50 long as I
remain here, SO long as 1 see you, Imust
speak, and | know that there isno hope;
| must get away from you and fight it
down. | am trembling now, only at the
pressure of your hand upon my arm and
the sound of your voice."
The clutching fingers frightened in
their grasp as if they would have stiIled
:he beating of the heart below. "What
l Think" he went on, with his gathering
passion battling with the strong restraint
he put upon himself: "When l think
that another sutton might appear who
should become more fortunate, and who
should become to you all that 1 dream,
day n night, of being to you when 1
think that l should stand by and see YOU
happy in love, nursing his children, |
feel as if l should go mad. l am mad
now, at this momen when l think of it."
Had his successful rival, whom his
heated imagination had conjured up,
s~tood.before him in veritable flesh and
blood. as he stood there with extended
hands clenched before him, his life
would not have been worth a pins pur-
rOSn With, II ~ M, Est L. y
himself and went on, after a vain at
tempt to moisten his dry lips with his
dryer tongue:
You see." he said, eff the mere
thought of such things has such an effect
upon me what would their reality be? I
must go away and leave you. 1t is the
only thing to be done. | have no right
to persecute you with my protestation,
and so long as l remain here | must
speak,"
He paused, perhaps expecting some
answer, but she was silent.
"Good-by," he said, extending his
hand.
"What if l will not say gooi-by?"
He withdrew his hand with a quick
catch of his breath.
what if l ask you MOTTO go, but to re-
mainY"
Again he made no angwer, but stood
looking at her throughthe dusk, breath
ing heavily.
II do ask you remain" she said, rising
land to forget the answer l have Civ en-
you"
She had expected some wild outbreak
OF passion in answer to these words.
But all he did YVES to throw one arm
about her and press her to the heart
whose quick throb was audible to the
utter stiffness of the night, and so for a
moment they stood.
There in n thing of which I must
warn YOU" Amy continued. eff come
to you it is with no more than the clothes
| wear. DO not DO you the injustice to
think that you love me for what you
think shall bring you; but l must in
justice to myself and you. tell YOU this.
This property is mine so long as / re-
main single. When l marry it passes to
the next of kin, John jackson. You
knew my uncle, and how strange his
ideas were upon many subjects. If YOU
choose to take me, penniless as l an1, I
BILL yours"
He bent over her, murmuring inartic-
ulate words of passionate love. What
did be care for lands or money?
II have enough for BOTH" he said.
LET it go without another thought"
"Egad," said a voice at which they
both started. 81 seem to have got out
of the frying pan into the fire."
"Good evening, Mr.. Quodling," said
come at a luckier moment" uiuA nave
"I'm glad to hear it," returned Mr..
Quodling, with a short, fat laugh. 81
was beginning to think l was very much
in tho way. There's a couple in the
parlor-your cousin John and Miss
Stanley-in a state of most complicated
misery-chiehy lue, I think to my APP
pearance. So l relieved him of my COM
pany and come out here, and, by Jokel
what quarters the moon, Tescam?"
Mr.. Quodling was the one solicitor and
land surveyor of the district, and was q
widower and a %misogynist, having ex-
pended the whole of his admiration Of
the fair sex lat least according to local
reportl upon the composition Of the cpl
taph of Mrs. Quodling, deceased.
Mr.. Tescam," said Amy, ignoring the
fippancy "has done me the honor to re-
quest my hand" (Mr. Quodling whis-
tled.) l have accepted his proposal, have
informed him of the clause inmy uncle's
will which provides that the property l
at present hold goes on my marriage, to
my next kin-my cousin John, of
course"
Mr. Quodling stared blankly at the
speaker.
"Mr. Tescam is quite content with the
0rrn rnVNa~t ~ ~oHo~l1I 49,. =