The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1884-12-05
An EXPERIMENT.

II is just to say that Miss Woodbury.
was made and not born q fIrt. At an
early stage of her development a bril-
liant woman of the world had taken a
fancy to her, and assured her that she
hadin herIthe material fora chef ouvre.
Belle was restless under the training of
her friend. She was naturally reserved
and little melancholy, and the adj
mitted diversions of young ladydom
bored her. ~
TITS all SO pale and meaningless"
she fretted; 1T could be Mrs. Adah
Menkin, or I could be a nun, but this
pitiful betwixt and between, what is
it?"
cts very interesting to be so extreme,
no doubt, my dear" said her friend,
but we must work with what we have,
and of the women who don't fascinate
the men about them it is simply said,
they-a-cant. Think of that when
you are feeling particularly superior
and high-minded."
Miss Woodbury. acquired from her
friends invaluable lessons an insincer-
ity which made her more companion
able than trustworthy.
There was an interesting woman IN
the city of Saint Dominic, where Miss
Woodbury. lived, who desired to pose
as . patroness aud fosterer of literature
and art, to the CONSERVATION of such
artists and writer's as had the misfor-
tune to live in Saint Dominic. Mrs.
Reade professed an admiration for
Belle Woodbury., and from the hour
that misguided young woman had
rashly printed a volume of poems Mrs.
Reade had marked her for prey. Bellies
fixed rule was to decline three invita-
tions and accept one. Mrs. Reade's de-
light was in her Friday afternoon re-
ceptions, and into one of these throngs
Belle projected herself one day, wond-
ering how she should make herself
smile when she finally reached Mrs.
Raade's. When she did she became
quite interested and so forgot herself
altogether.
BY Mrs. Reade's side stood a long.
ungainly man, with a good face. To be
sure the lines were round, rather than
oval, but that stands for the
gentler side of human nature;
and his nose. small and undecided.
like a child's, but prettily shaped,
Indicated a lack Of combativeness
and power not good to see in Il mascu-
line face. He had full. soft lips, like q
German's-kindliness again, and love,
and talent, eyes soft and patient, like
those of q lady's horse. He was very
quiet, and had a sweet voice. Belle
summed him up in this wa. and had
met him (Mr. Bracey) and was talking
with him about whatever everybody
was discussing that afternoon, when she
became aware low distinctly she was
saving to herself: Il wonder if | car
make him love me? I wish l could
Not at all because she was interested in
the man, but because she thought il
would interest her to see him suffer
He would not be fierce and FESTIVE or
the rack, hui dumbly and submissively
wretched, like the dog his strange mas
ter vivisects, or the doe the shot thai
should have been kept for statelier game
has wonton1y done to death.
Bracey gave himself up to her bland
ishments with an alacrity that gave hel
food for reflection. II wonder if he il
msrried?" she mentally observed.
Miss Woodbury. was ina dangerousl,
savage frame of mind.
"You are o poet" said Bracey, with
thrill in his voice.
$50 are you" said Belle, softly. Sh'
made the remark at a venture; sh'
couldn't know the man rhymed, but tn,
muscles Of his face relaxed subtlely
Showing that she had stroked scientif
caily the velvet of his softest vanity.
"If Mrs. Reade could hear us SD,
would be delighted. This is the wa,
she wishes us to talk, J" she continued.
"Iaon't understand you" said Bracey
simply.
III mean that Mrs. Reade wishes us Il
pretend that we believe that our miser
able little penny dips are lighted witt
the SO ned fire, and to talk as if it wer
real"
4Are you not rea]2" said Bracey
gravely. II am perfectly sincere in all
write; / couldn't write if I we're not"
"No, I'm not real" said Belle, i'm
p~etuously. II try to be sometimes, bu
I am not
Bracey looked first sad, then thought
ful, then radiant. His eyes smiled in
to hers. II believe in you" he said.
II must certainly ask Mrs. Read
about this man." thought Belle. An,
she accordingly did SO, elieiting tina
Bracey was a man even more of til
people than most Americans, but on
who was ambitious for q college educa
tion. Every kind of misfortune ha
combined to make the fulfilment of hi
hmlsiti0, impossible until within til
I pas}sfd lths, when not daunted b
the fact CHAT he wasStwo or three year
older than most graduates, he had en-
tered the freshman class of the univel
sity. and fully des:saed to remain amt
he took his degree.
nHe writes" said Mrs Reade. "
liked hrs poems-oh, he has genius
Miss Woodbury., and / ore rested III
tiI Imet him. Isn't he strange an,
brilliant, and isn't it delightfully."- Bohe
mian for him to dress as he does
ABohemian!" echoed Bell, IT do nc
think him Bohemian Q brilliant.