Kimball enterprise. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1883, 1883-05-04

wealthy gentleman, who eventually be-
came his patron.
ltmust be confessed that he was sim
gulariy fortunate. Up TO the present.
little Of the bitter hardships ordinarily
attendant on an artists formative peri
Cd had fallen to his lot. With the adj
vantage OF a wealthy pat ron, passion
ate love OF beauty, and an intelligent
skill, he had made rapid advance
ment.
Hehad made during that time two or
three visits home; but although but a
mile distant from the Carriers farm, he
had not seen Leila since before size was
a little freckie-faced urchin.
lie was now at home for Il month or
more. a prize had been offered to
young artists, and he had resolved to
compete. 1t was for this purpose that
he was at work upon the beautiful land
scape scene in the neighborhood of
Lella,s home when interrupted by her
and Sport. He was quick to appreciate
her fresh and blooming beauty and as
she bent over Sport with her arms
around his neck, and her indignant
glance directed at him, he promptly saw
what an addition the scene would be to
his contemplated picture.
During the next few weeks Leila saw
much OF the young painter. She visited
him daily at his work in the field, and
watched the progress OF the picture, in
which she had nearly as great n interest
as he himself, as her own pretty face
formed an important feature. A less in
nocenr minded girl, or one more ac-
quainted with the world, might have
objected TO the publicity thereby given
her. Leila did not. she felt proud of
1t and grateful to the artist for the com
| pliment.
After their unconventional first meet
ing, it did not take long for them to be-
come the best of friends. Ivan told her
mach of his life in London, his successes
and hopes, the men and women with
whom he mingled, the methods and
customs OF society, aad many other
things which Leila knew only as she
knew of fairy land-throueh books.
The more he saw her, the more head
mired her, and drew favorable COMPARE
SONS between her and certain bedecked
and powdered bali room visions he had
seen. Owing to the difference in their
ages, he felt little more hesitation in ex-
pressing. his admiration than if she had
been a child prattling on his knee.
True love runs most appalling smooth
whatever it does afterwards. So it was
with Leila. She loved with her whole
soul, and did not even suspect it. Com
s%equently when Ivan, with his picture
completed, babe her farewell, and re-
turned to London, it was like a rude
awakening, a cruel shock, that seemed
to stun her at first. Life became a
weary Watang for what she dared not
hope. Her step lost it's buoyancy and
her cheek its roses. She seemed to have
gone at a step from girlhood to omar
hood; and, instead Of playing with Sport
and other pets, she busted herself about
about the past.
much of her old spirit, and her laugh
echoed among the hills again, not so
loud and careless as formerly, but still
merry and sparkling.
II was one afternoon in June, as wan
derlng alone the roadside, she met VANS
little brother Johnny.
"Iyan's coming home tomorrow"
said johnny with a startling sudden
mes.
so, soon?" exclaimed Leila; and her
heart began to tlutter painfully.
Yes; and he's been married, too"
Leila looked at the child in dumb,
white establishment.
heard ma telling Mrs. Grove, this
~, ,Ss ooiiiliSs foile
dldn,t say married, she said welded;
but It means the same, don't it?'
Yes, dear, it means the same"
And she turned with quivering lips
and ileav1ng bosom and walked rapidly
away, past the wild roses that seemed to
ioak after her, grleved and surprised at
her neglect-past the mild-eyed sheep
that stared at her with gentle reproach
past ~ElackDirds and skylarks singing
IN field and hedge-past all the bright
things OF nature, and that now appeared
but a dreary mocke,y, and fell upon a
messy bank with a deep, heart breaking
sob,
this, then, was the end-the end Of
her first pure love, and all the visions it
had Created Somehow Leila never SO
much as questioned whether little ten
year-old Johnny was a worthy messen-
ger OF such news. What right had she
TO expect anything different? Had she
any claims Oh Ivan, OF any assurance
that he had not forgotten her entirely?
What more natural than for him TO
marry?
If Leila, when she had turned from
the road, mad looked far ahead. she
would have perceived just round the
L.