The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1883-09-07

self preservation became active in
siantlv.
An animal emerged from the shadows
OF the trees. IT was seeming her foot.
steps. II would soon be upon her.
she mastered her first terror as it
came toward her slowly. 1t was-yes-
1t was a'huge dog.
Her fear diminished, Between her
sell II dogs was q strong tie of sympa
Ithy.:
He stopped within a ward of ler ana
looked into her face. She saw he was a
ST. Bernard, like her brothers. Ponto.
Apparently satisfied he stepped UP
ana thrust his cold nose into her band.
n put her arm around his neck.
b dumb expression of companion
ship touched her.
He; pulled her dress gently; she saw
that he wished to lead her somewhere.
But into what &C mpanyr
moments thought treasured her,
He was well-bred, had character in his
lace and actions. His associates must be
Oh the same stamp.
She followed him through shadows
and spaces of moonlight. He rounded
a clump of trees and bounded forward
with a peculiar whine.
"What is it Hector" she heard. The
next moment she SAT the speaker
She was not at all reassured. 4 stout
muscular man of middle age with eriz-
ely beard and dark face shaded by a
siouched hat sat on a messy rock in the
moonlight, He was roughls dressed.
She made a movement to turn away.
DO nt be alarmed voung lady" he
said; II am disabled, helpless, in fact,
l could not harm you If ] would,n
He saw that she was not convinced.
II am on a tramp through the noun
tains. l wandered from the path and
lost my way. In the dusk ! stumbled
among the rocks, sprained my foot, and
/ think broke a rib he explained.
She drew nearer. One foot was shoe
less, a flask lay beside it. A black va
, Use lay at his right. IN, ~
81 have been bathing it with alcohol"
he said. She could not see the question:
ing eyes plainly.
MAY | ask why you sre alone in the
woods at this hourP' he asked abruptly.
81 came out to walk and lost my way"
Olive said.
Where do you livS99"
81 am STAYING at the-house-wait-
ing upon tables" she added.
"Ahl' 1t was impossible for Olive tc
analyze the tone OF the interjection.
THAT is my destination" he said.
after a pause. "You will be missed and
search made?"
81 hope so, although l did not men
ton where l was going. Are you in
much pain now"
"Not at present" @
ri wish l could do something for
you," she said. her voice tremulous.
Hector. repnsing with his nose be-
tween his paws, lifted his head with
sudden energy and began to bark vigor.
ously.
Afaint halloo reached their ears a
moment after. f
They are searching for you," he said,
at is past H." consulting his watch.
The woods rang with halloos and long.
loud blasts from horns. In each inter
val Of silence, the man put his hand to
his lips and gave a clear, prolonged
whistle. Hector contributed his share
of answering.
The shouts came nearer, and Har-
wood and Hallowell appeared through
an opening.
Found Company, it seems" Halo
well said concisely, at sight of the trio.
Great excitement at the house."
HARDWOOD remarked. "Kimball rose to
the sublime in his indignation"
"Are we far from the-house?" asked
he MANNED man abruptly.
mo. The path is just below" returned
Harwood.
II am pretty we'll battered, but 1
think | could walk down with assist
lnce." a
Two of the farm hands are behind"
said Hallowell, blowing his tin horn. In
q few moments the stout fellow ap-
peared.
Ky the lime the man, bad begun his
slow, painful walk, with one on each
side, half a score Of W tiers appeared.
With a last anxious glance, Olive went
IN ahead, escorted By Haliowell. He
told her how they had first searched the
woods on the other side.
How near WAS I to the path?" Olive
remarked as they struck INTO it. 81
thought | had wandered miles"
Il have endured untold agonies,"
Kate said, laughing and crying BY turns.
Why didn't you tell ne you were 60
ing to be LOST" said Hallowe!l, at which
Hlberniclsm both laughed Historically.
II found a grizzly, commonplace look
ing man, with broken bones, or rather,
his dog found me-" Olive said. "The
farm hands are bringing him here. He
would have lain there the rest Of the
night, but for my escapade. A relative
Of some II of the help, Pve been think
ing"
-Kimball's father, perhaps, sug sested
Kate.
The next morning Olive stood a-rang-
ing the sidehoard. kimball came up.
II have given your party to Susie" he
said abruptly.
Then | am dismissed" she thought.
You are to wait upon a party in 49,
he continued. meals to be taken to
the rom Co pou-o p1 tol-, a., o.jo.- ;,
Wondering how she had escaped a
lecture, Olive went up stairs with a bill
Of fare. She raped at SO, and at a sum
mons opened the door.
A bearded gentleman, with keen,
smiling gray eyes, in crimson dressing
gown and tasseled cap, sat in an easy
ehair, his slippered feet on an ottaman.
Beside aim a dog, lop- cared, honest-
faced, regarded Olive benignlv.
1--WE all find ourselves able to be about
after our midnight ratnble," he said, en-
joying her comical bewilderment.
"Iou-you are the gentleman she
began;
whom you were the means of saving
from a night in the woods" he finished.
Hector, q mt you know your last nights
acquaintance"
The dog raped his tail on the carpet
in welcome.
II interviewed your head waiter, this
morning." the gentleman said with a
quizzical smile, as he reached for the
bill Of fare.
He ordered breakfast. Olive went
down stairs. Midway Of the carving
room She met Kate, with loaded tray,
under full Roadway for the dining room
hall. She halted a moment.
"Gr zzlyl Commonplace" size said,
m%ockingly. THAT was W, the great
artist, you found battered and broken!
I'll trust you hereafter to detect a lion!'
and with an air Of scorn Kate sailed
through the swinging doors leaving
Olive speechless.