The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1884-11-21
HER DIAMONDS.

bit In love with each other" Lucy Bas-
sett said, reaching up to pull nv Wills
kers, and laying a coaxing check against
my shoulder. 1t would be very foolish
for yon and me to fall in love with each
other, and we just won't-there!"
Lucy was a whole garden of roses
dew, color, fragrance and all. When
she looked at you, you felt as if your
whole heart was exhaling at your eyes;
and when she smiled upon you, it did
not matter what sort of thunder and
lightning there was in any other part of
the globe, it was distilled sunshine
where you We're. l don't know if Lucy
were pretty, but she had q lot of pretty
characteristics. She was all quality
like q golden wine that is better the
longer you keep it, and that gets a new
flavor every time you taste it a moro
molten sparkle every time it drips over
the beaker's rim.
The beauty of her eyes was in their
expression; of her hair, in its bright
ness. Her face was a blossom, her
hands birds; and if the white wings OF
her fingers futtered across your hori-
zon, you might as well be blind for all
seeing anything else but her. In short,
you see, I was in love with Lucy, if Lucy
was not in love with me; and it was
my private opinion that we were very
much in love with each other, in spite
of Mrs. A%nstruther's parting admoni-
ton, that we We're on no account to
commit so absurd g blunder.
Lucy and l were both orphans. Lucy
was own neice to Mrs. A%nstruther,
whom she called Aunt Doria, and whose
prospective heriss she was supposed to
be, provided always she married to
please her.
l was nephew to Mrs. Anstruther's
husband, who was dead, and heir to
nothing but my wits--a rather slender
property, Lucy derisively assured me,
and scarcely likely to yield an income
equal to the probable demand of a pair
SO extravagantly inclined as we.
$50 you see it would never, never do, "
Lucy would say with q roguish pout of
her rosy lips at me, and Aunt Doria
needn't be one bit afraid, so far as [ am
concerned.
Aunt DORA had been absent from the
Grove sonnet three weeks now summoned
n wo Ip tho i1nncc Hf n fr,n,l ,,,,% r., T
had got myself comfortably bestowed
in her best chamber, with q dislocated
shoulder, which injury had been re-
ceived in a struggle with q refractory
steed which had tried to run away with
Miss Lucy.
Mrs. Anstruther was warranted in
considering the incident as dangerously
romantic in its tendencies, and she left
us together at the Grove with manifest
reluctance. She had, however, great
confidence in Lucy, and she gave her
distinctly to understand in my presence,
that if we two made such ninnies of
ourselves as to turn lovers while she was
gone, we should never see the color Of
her money, either of us.
Well, for some days l, for one, felt
like little else but grooming; and then
gradually [ became conscious of q vel
vet touch that swallowed pain, of a how
ering face that might have been an an
gels, of q voice deliciously attuned,
That chorused all sorts of soothing and
coaying speeches, with q dear" l
was petted and babied and pitied to an
extent that l don't mind confessing
here, ard it was the means of my pre-
tending sick a trife longer than vas
really necessary; but 1 don't think
many would have blamed me, under the
circumstances. The consequence was,
that l was only fairly established
down stars again when Mrs. An
struther returned. She eyed Lucy and
me very sharply, and we two bore the
inspection with great occurrences till,
CHANGING to encounter glances, a spark
from Lucy's ROBUSTNESS ]it on me, and
we went off INTO explosions of laughter,
that nearly took Mrs. Anstruther off
her feet in amazement. However, she
laughed, too, presently, and in the
same breath announced that company
was coming to the Grove the following
week.
"Shall I go, Mrs. Anstruther?" l
asked. I am sufficiently recovered, I
think"
Certainly not" she answered, sharp
ly. whatever mischief is done can't
be made any worse by your staying
and it might be as we'll, besides, for
Lucy to have an opportunity for COM
pairing you with other people. If I am
not mistaken she will know a gentle
man wher she sees him."
eff [ don't aunt, it will be the fault
of Felix, here" spoke Lucy, coming
swiftly beside me, and p~inching my
arm.
"Ta-ta," Miss Impertinence! Felix
is very we'll; but wait till next week"
II presume l shall, and considerably
longer" Lucy answered, %saucily.
"Miss Lucy Bassett, l should like to
know what this means 2? demanded Mrs.
Anstruther, loftily.
Nothing very serious-does it, Fe.
lix?" laughed Lucy. "We are too well
warned, aunty dear"
II don't know about that" said Mrs.
Anstruther, sailing 1r6lzethe room in a
very evident passion, and sending for
me to her apartment half an hour after.
submitted to the curious TRADE that
followed with mingled irritation and
good humor, and offered at least six
times in the course of it to leave the
grove that very day. But Mrs. Anstru-
ther would not hear to such proceeding.
Lucy was waiting on the landing out
side when I left her aunt, and she stood
N tip-toe to whisper in my ear: "You
don't mind, do you dear" and left the
warm print of rosy lips on my cheek. l
can assure you | did not mind so much
as I might.
When I left Mrs. Anstruther 7 had