The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1883-08-31

o 1890 asAt tAos II . OlIeU
run her white fingers through; now, he
WAS old and grim and bald, and altogether
tifloyeiY She would have altered too,
ae'iot,ear If there was any poetic Justice; she
&hoNld look worse than him-remorse should
nave silvered her hair. saddened her ewes,
scared her forehead, and poverty, the iron
heeted, would have crushed her down, for Will
TON was poor, aud the sort of a man that would
remain poor all his life, he reflected, with q
grim chuckle; the sort of man who never knew
now to take care of the pence, and consequently.
never likely TO have many pounds thar might
De left to their own devices-while he, Ralph
U;dcast!e, was rich and wallowing in wealth
The thought was soothing; it was ENJOYABLE:
money was power, influence, happiness, and
money now cuuid buy his revenge.
II was still, sustrv day, with thunder in the
atmosphere. The silence in lump Court was
Eunbrokept save by a drowsy murmer of in
thoughts went back to a Sunday long ago,
when he first saw Constance Reaae. Tho
j memory bf flat day was the happiest of his
whole life--not q cloud or shadow or sad recol-
lection darkened 1t; IL was all clear, unbroken
summer sunshine, and it wa after his return.
she wrote him these tender, loving letters w.
ms mlthe old bureau. At Christmas he went
North again accompanied by his chum, Harry
WALTON He was handsome, clever, fascinating;
knew all about church decorstions. acting cha
rades, tableau vivsnts; could sing, dance, skate,
make himself agreeable III a score OF frivolous
ways Ralph Oldcastle despised, but that found
favor III the eyes of the ladies. Ofcourse, he and
Connie liked each other; that was only natural
seeing that Harry was Ralph's chum; and after
E time every one. except the two confident and
happy lover, saw that Wilton was abusing his
friends kindness, and paving more than ordi-
nary attention to Connie Reade. But the holi-
days ended, both young men returned to town.
aud a month after Wilton left suddenly, SAYING
he had business in Scotland. Connie joined
him, md they were married; leaving her
astounded and indignant father to break the
news to tho outraged lover. The vicar was a
man of honor, and though, as u Christian. he
forgave his daughter, he refused to receive
either her or husbaud; both had offended past
such practical pardon as that. Ralph Oldcastle
registered a vow TO be revenged some day on
them both. and then, with a resolution seldom
equaled, he buried every thought Of the woman
who had deceived him and the friend who had
betrayed him at the bottom of his heart, and
piled monu.nents of thought, hard as granite,
on the top of them. Wilton gave up the study
of law; he could not return to London and face
his friend, and some OF his relatives procured
him a situation ina bank in Birmingham. Tina.
| was the last Ralph heard of him; lie never
sought to know more, bur he waited with slow,
une1Eected persistency for The turn of fortunes
wheel thai he assurediv felt would bring him
face to face with his enemy. And now the
time was at hand. He had not gone ont of
his way 10 seek it; but Fate, who, if left to
work out her will, balances most things,
brought his vengeance to his very door.
~ -houi hiiN&Ha IS bitl lax Cu liz llldt lit
was happy; shat had he to live his life over
again he would not wish it any different Love,
marriage, little children clinging 70 his neck,
strong sons and fair daughters to cheer and
gladden. him-what did they all amount to?
| Vanity and vexation.' His daughters would
leave him for the first empty whipper-snapper
that came By his soma might perhaps squander
hl'Sa substance IN riotons living. Toll, care,
worry. anxiety; would lie change his life of
inbroken peace and quiet for those thinga2
| NO. q thousand times no AZ he sat Thinking n
sudden shadow darkened the room, followed
by a binding fash, and then u long cracking
peal of thunder, that seemed to shake the
house of Its very foundation. The lawyer
hand across his brow. There was
something uncanny in the air, some
Dlng terribly oppressive in the awful
stiffness that followed that sudden peal. For
the first time in his life, perhaps, he realized
what it was to feel alone-utterly, really. help
lessly alone. Then through the stiffness came
a gentle tap at the outer door, as if the kuocker
was raised by q feeble or faltering hand. He
listened in wonder for a few minutes; then it
was repeated more loudly, and with a strange,
puzzled expression he stood up and opened
the"d0or. There on the mat, gale, trembling,
scared by the storm, and shrinking back as
if still more afraid Of him, stood Constance
R~eade-Connie as he had known her long ago,
with the same sweet smile, tender. loving ewes
and sunny hair: Connie, uualtered by time or
circumstance, stood before him. mu.o!y plead
ing, with outstretched hands, and with q low
suppressed cry he took them and led hor into
the room. -
che is GUILTY, RALPH, BUT He Is coNN1E's
FATHER, AND I WANT YOU TO SAVE HtMn
Ralph Oldcastle placed his trembling Wis
itor in q seat, and regarded her curioutly for
a few moments, a thousand strange thoughts
chasing each other through his brain. "Was
Constance dead and this her ghost? Was
he mad. or dreaming?' He couldn't deter
~,t,S -rl H. N ! - a., k,,.- g.
speak.
"Who are you, and what can ! do for you?"
he said at length, in a slow, husky voice.
81 am Constance Wilton, and I've come be-
Cause my mother is very III. She bids me
thank you for writing. Will you come and see
her, as she is not able to come to you. and to-
morrow may be too late"
"Then you are her daughter?"
Eyes; her only child. l have no one in the
wide world except her, and soon, 1 fear, 1 fear
-. Oh, sir, can you do anything for her;
she ID dying. I think. of want and misery and
loneliness, and | am powerless to help her; can
you?" and she caught his hand and looked en-
treatingiy into his face.
81 will do what l cAn," he replied, not meet
ing her glance; what is your want?"
Come and see mother; she says tomorrow
will be too late"
'You have a father, have you not?"
eyes, have a father. but / have not seen
him for a longtime, aud mother never speaks
OF him now" the girl replied, growing suddenly
| crimson and hanging her head, but Mr.. Old
castle asked no more questions. Obeying
a sudden impulse, he put on his hat and said
he was ready to accompany Connie home,
glanciug at her f~urtively as she led the way
Town stairs. $50 like" he muttered. $50 like
that it might be her very self. Is it & mere
trap, l wonder, or is she really ill?"
He WAS no: left long in doubt; the girl
walked swiftly up Fetter lane and then turned
down a narrow street.
In one of the poorest and shabbiest Of q row
of wretched houses Mrs, Wilton aud her daugh-
ter wore lodging, and Ralph Oldcastle shud-
dered as he thought of their surroundings.
But Connie passed through q double row Of
idlers and loungers without appearing to see
them, and entered a room on the third floor.
On a rickety, horse-hair sofa lay q woman
with white hair, q worn, %colorless face and
closed ieyes-Connie's mother. The lawyer
started and smothered an exclamation. Could
that emaciated woman be Constance Resde?
Surely not! 80
Mother, dear, here ia Mr.. Oldcastle," the
girl whispered, and as she opened her eyes and
extended her hand, he seemed to recognize her.
A strange tremor passed through his frame
as he touched those wasted fingers, and all
| feelings Of revenge died out of his heart TO-
ward her, but with some one else, there would
be y heavy ACCOUNT to settle. ''&2
Thank you for coming, Ralph" she said,
family, 81 did not ask You till the very last,
but | knew you would not fail me-. Connie
leave us alone: I have much te cay to Mr.. Old
castle" f
Reluctantly the girl left the room, and closed
the door after her, bnt she did not 60 far. She
obseryeda startling change in her mothers ap-
pearance. even during the short time she had
been absent. ''Perhaps ii may only be the eff
fects Of the storm. Mother was always dread
! fully frightened by thunder" she said, as she
stood at the window Watching tho lightning
cleave through the black clouds. But her
heart misgaye her; there was something be-
sides mere nervous dread in her mothers face.
Ralph 0ldcastle sat down by the sofa and
waited for Mrs. Wilton to speak.
'You forgive me, Ralph" she said at length,
Il ircntad Won Ill. hnt [ hnYe Sn1rarnd and |