The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1883-12-21

Went away with an expression of doubt on his
face and did not know bat he thought me d
partner in the plot.
Soon afterward l used frequently to SEQ Lu-
cine standing at Mr.. Ferretl's fence Watching
him as II tended his flowers. Hs took no no
tee OF her, and she did not speak to him. One
evening she ventured to Climb to the top of
the post at the corner of the fence, and from
that elevated seat observed his operations with
greater ease. She sat with her hands folded
i'll her Jap, and with an expression OF deep in
terest On her face. Present!ygMr. Ferreti saw
her and stood for a nlomcut aghast Then he
seemed TO mako up his mind that the time had
come for action.
Girl, get down and go home"
- amt hurtin' nothin'," was the imperturb-
able answer. r 80
Go away Immediately. I might hurt YOU.
You would not like to be hurt"
" want to see you water the flowers"
"Go bone, ! say!"
= Mr.. Ferreti grasped a hoe and advanced to-
ward her with TASTY steps. She turned a little
pale, but did not move. FORFEIT paused within
" PAGES OF her AMI stood surprised aud irres.
oiuie. They cpnversed in u low tone for a few
moments and then lie retired to the house aud
shut the door, leaving Luciuc mistress of the
situation.
After that, Lucins made h 81 fence.pos her
throne every evening. She always opened a
conversation Of which l could hear por ions,
like the following, Ferreti generally answering
one question out Of half a DOZEN
WHATS that thing with the red flower? Who
laid out your garlcn?'
81 did, answered Ferret.
.How long did it take YOU to do it! Where
did you learn to gardeM!"
tIu Rome"
'Rome! O-o-o-ohi" A silence.
"Whcre's Roms?"
"where's Talyah's" @%s@s&
'ln Europe"
"How big is Europe?"
No answer.
"Are you q Frenchman?"
"What are you?
No answer. And so on,
g One evening Lucine mustered all her cour-
age and boldly walked into Feyreti's garden
when he was watering flowers. That reused
him TO a last desperate effort He caught her
by the arm and both came flying out OF the
gate like a whirlwind. Then che sat down on
tho ground as the best way Of stopping her
headlong career. and he sprang back
inside and fastened the gate. With three leaps
she cleared the fence and was i'll the garden
AGAIN. He darted one looK at her, then turned
away and took uD his watering pot. Having
gained an entrance. she wa ked about examin-
ing her plauts aud flower. with great delight.
Every evening afterwsrd she was there, and
after a time l occasionally heard him talking to
her.
Ono night he called on me. He seemed pre-
occupied, and IL was a long time before he
preached the real object of his visit. At last
lie began:
"Dat girl over here make me great trouble.
She is not a bad girl, but she come in my gar
den every night ! try to make her go away,
but she como all the same. l lock my gate
she climb over tho fence. She walk around and
ask me questions, but l do not care for dat very
much. Dat girl is smart, but she has not been
much to school. But now | thiuk dat it is not
right for the girl to come there. In Europe it
would be considered not proper. 1t would be
very bad. In America it is different, but still
the people will took from their windows aud
talk. l like not to Eaf the people say bad
things about dat girl; but what shall I do?
Shall l stay in my house? My flowers will die.
They must hat watsr. What shall IdoY"
"Mr. F%erreti," l replied, ego to Mr.. Priggs
aud ask him to use his authority to keep his
daughter at home"
His wha, ?' Use-eh?"
"Ask him to keep his girl at home.'
"O-but what good? l think the girl do just
whatshe like"
SIT would dono harm to try $50 "a
"No, it would do no harm. / shall try"
The next morning l saw my afflicted friend
accost Mr.. Priggs as he left his gate. Ferre,i
with tragic gestures seemed to recount his
troubles. and Mr.. Priggs replied with an AFFECT,
deprecating attitude. The results of the CON
ference were not apparent, for Lucine ap-
pearea with great regularity in the garden.
One evening My friend did not appear among
ulS lHWeIs, MS uOT WAS C.OScu hHu tHS bnlI-
ters III fastened. He had either goae away,
or e SO beaten a retreat and entrenched himself.
Lucine appeared at the usual hour, but waited
in vain for Mr.: Ferreti; and after walking
about and calling y few times she went home.
About 8 o'clock the door was opened cautious
ly, and Ferreti appeared, carrying a lantern
ard a watering pot he came down amongst
the flowers. Then q figure stole along the
fence, tho gate clanged, and a shrill voice said:
"Where you been? What makes you 30
latey"
Then I heard a series of calculations in an
unknown language. 1t was evidently a wall of
depair, and after that Mr.. Ferreti submitted to
his fate.
About a week afterward my friend came to
see me again. HI appeared like a changed
he talked gayly and laughed constantly. He
did not once mention Lucine nor his troubles.
lie brought me as a present two bottles OF
wine. He set them on the table, and then
asked for a corkscrew and glass, When they
were brought he opened both bottles, aud drank
a little VINE from each.
"There," he said, as replaced the glass on
the table, 81 haf tasted the wine. You may
know it is all right"
"Contound your heathenish customs
thought l.
Mr.. Ferreti having performed his duty in re-
gard to the wine, entered into conversation, in
the course OF which he recouuted many Incl
dents of his travels, and informed me of many
customs OF European countries. In return, he
desired mo to cnlighten him In regard 10 some
American customs. which l did as we'll as ]
could. He departed in high spirits, aud tina,
evening | saw him pick the finest rose in his
garden and give it to Lucine; ut which / won-
dered not a little, for Ferret was usually very
miserly with his roses. On my return home
one afternoon, l was surprised on entering my
sitting room to find MI. Ferret and Lucine.
They arose as l entered. Ferreti had an open
paper in his hand.
ing I.ucine, lit is with pleasure that / intro.
duce my wife, Nine. Ferreti."
els it possible! !" / said in astonishment.
"Ah! you are surprise, "cried Ferreti, laugh.
ing, shut it is true. See, / have the deed-the
bond;;' and he hold out the marriage certif.
cate.
81 congratulate you both, and wish you q
great deal Of happiness. This is so unex.
pected that 1t did surprise mo-"
"Itis done a little quick, but it conld be M
please me with the questions. What could We
do better? We go away and are married. But
still we have . little difficulty. say to Lucine
before We are married: Shall we not tell your
parents? Shall we not hat the wedding feast?
"She say: my father cares nothing for me.
Ny mother give me fine clothes, and she buy
me . piano; but l do not care for such things.
They eat little that they may save money,
They say nothing to me, but go away every
day, and at night count money. At home ]
see nobody all day but my aunt, who smokes Z
pipe that makes her sleep. Why should l tel
my parents? Would they stop counting money