The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1884-06-20

- - "'N w SilS hlIeILutely.
The drawlng-room at Bruton street
was like many other London drawing
rooms. 1t occupied the whole of the
first floor of the house, save in one cor
ner where the staircase assembled: and
1t was therefore L%-shaped, the longer
arm OF the L having three windows
looking out into the street, and the
shorter arm one window looking ont
over some news in the rear. Heavy
curtains of tapestry hung between the
back and front portions of the room,
II We're usually Topped up; and in the
back room was the piano az which, with
IN the halo of the two candles, Lydia
Lirripip played and sang.
She had considerable knowledge of
music and a fine voice, and, wrappedup
In her occupation, she started when the
door OF the front room opened and a
servant, who was to her invisible, an
nounced Mr.. Horace Freake.
Lydia rosc and received her visitor,
meantime ordering the gas to be lighted.
1t was half-past eight. Why had he
called at that hour? Why had he not
come III the daytime, while she was so
dull, rather than just when she was
singing? But, upon the whole, she
was glad to see Horace, who, no doubt.
simply desired to inquire how she was
after the dance of the previous evening.
and had not been able to do so earlier.
AS he betrayed, nevertheless, a certain
hesitation i'll his manner, she led the
conversation, and asked him whether
he had enjoyed Lady Carnaby's ball.
He had, he said, pretty we'll; and then
ensued a pause, during which Horace
rather ~awkwardly took a seat at Lydia's
side, on al ottoman, and gazed at the
carpet. Mr.. Freake was not altogether
stupid. but even wits often become rath-
er dull when they are meditating an
immediate proposal; and the situation
Is SO trying to almost every man who
finds himself in it, that it amply ex-
cnses the exhibition of q little uneasi-
ness and nervousness. Mr.. FreaLe GER
tainly was nervousness, but he soon re-
covered himself.
"Your father is at the meeting, I sup
pose. Don't you find it very dull abby
yourself here, Miss Lirripip?"
ooh, no! have been singing and
all day | have been painting"
But dull, Imean, without society ? I
know that l do; and | have much more
society, / suppose, than you have. I'm
less go out, the evenings, [ find, pass
very slowly. l cannot get the excite
ment of work, for of course one can't
paint by artificial light; and if I try to
read | generally go to sleep over my
book" :.
II think that you must be difficult to
please, Mr.. Freake. You have a lovely
studio, and you ought alwaysto be able
to amuse yourself with such beautiful
things as you have in your house.
NO! Idon't think that / am difficult
to please, Miss Lirripip, for l know ex-
actly what l want. The fact is, that q
bachelors existence is not suited to a
man of my feelings and sympathies. I
have lived wrapped upin my seltishness
and feel my heart growing colder and
colder every day. I have beautiful
things i'll my house but they don't salts
fly me. l want living ~beauty-some-
thing that I may really care for, do for
something which shall make my life
complete. And it was to talk to you
about this, Miss Lirripip, that Icame
to see you this evening.
Lydia experienced ac,mious sensation
which she had never felt before.
"You know, I suppose, Miss Lirri-
pip" he continued, what l mean. You
know that since ] first saw you, three
or four years ago. | have loved YOU
And Horace took Lydia's unwilling
hand. "Can YOU he went on, learn
to love me? Will You be my"
Ratatattatattatatt! There was a knock
ut the front door, and Lydia was greatly
relieved.
els somebody coming np?' asked
Horace, anxiously. sob, l so much
want to- tell you all. Say you are not
in. Send them away. But let me stay"
A voice, evidently Mr.. Merton Muir
ley's, was now audible from below, the
drawing-room windows being open and
the voice being loud.
cit is Mr.. Marley" said Lydia. I
expect that he only wants me to give
some message for him to my father. He
will not detain me. But if I let you
stay you must not talk any more as You
have been talking, Mr.. Freake."
At this moment there was footsteps
on the staircase, and Horace, without
another word, fed incontinently into
the back drawing-room and rapidly
drew the curtains behind him so rs to
conceal himself from the newcomer
who Immediately afterward was an
nounced.
Mr.. hurley was not so nervous as
Mr.. Freake had been upon his first APP
pearance. He shook hands with Lydia
in an easy and light-hearted manner,
paid her an airy compliment. seated
himself comfortably opposite her. and,
without any preliminaries, revealed the
object of his visit. II know your father
is out, Miss Lirripip", he said, "and /
may as we'll confess at once that / have
deliberately taken advantage of his
absence to come to see you upon o sub
ject which nearly concerns my happi-
ness. Lshould have spoken about it
last night but that l could not command
your attention save for q few minutes at
a time. Now, however, we are safe
from interruption"
But. hIr. Murley,' said Lydia, "it
would be much better if you would call
when my father is in"
"Oil, that is not important, my dear
Miss Lirripip. 1t is a subject that may
be settled by you alone"
"Please, MI. Murley, do not tell nue.
,l,,,,4 - - lnalal TIT .tTl.