The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1884-11-07
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= I4o DlhNOAo! ut
"You are mistaken, Lillian"
II am not mistaken" she answered,
positively. II saw you theme, and Effie
did, also. Where's the use Of trying to
! deceive me 500"
He colored, and for an instant looked
as if he would have spoken hastily; the
next moment. however, the cold, quiet
look came on his ~countenance.
Il am not trying to deceive you, Lii
ian; but there are some things which I
can not tell you'll"
Engaged people should never have
mysteries from each other" she an
swered, Indignantly.
Tho mystery is not mine Lilianl"
"As you choose" she retorted; "but
I do not choose to be the butt Of your
practical jokes any longer. Please to
consider our engagement at an end!"
Lillian, do YOU mean what you say7'
Certainly I dol"
She drew the Offering engagement
ring from her finger and tossed it to-
wards him, but he, standing with fold
ed arms, made no effort to catch it, and
it rolled down into tho gutter. And
thus they parted, these two. who had
been affianced lovers so long!
The weeks passed by-bleak March
softened into violet-eyed April, and,
somewhat to Lilian's disappointment.
perhaps, Meredith Allston made on
further effort to see her. She grew
pale and heavy-eyed, but she would
have died ere she would have sent to her
lover, saying, Il have been wrong
come to me once more"
For Lillian Graham persisted in be-
lieying that Meredith alone had been
in the wrong.
She sat at the head OF her fathers
dinner table one evening mechanically
devoting herself to the duties of hospi-
tally, when o we'll known name sound
ed in her ear.
"Allston," said one, q pussy looking
old gentleman, who was eating q great
deal of lobster salad. eyes, I saw the
notice OF the death in the morning pa
per. It's n OF the Allston of Gra-
mercy Gardens-Meredith Allston's
cousin. He was hopelessly insane, and
no n ever saw him until of late years,
when the old gentleman insisted on
having him at home. He didn't believe
in asylums, he said; but he was so SEN
sitive on the subject he never allowed
any one to know the poor young man
was at his house. A fine looking young
fellow, too; they say he looked very
much like Meredith. Got loose one
night, I believe, and paraded about
town, behaving so we'll that people
mistook lrim for his cousin-ha, ha, hap
And the old gentleman swallowed
half q glass of champagne aud turned
very purple in the face.
Lillian listened, feeling as if she were
in o dream!
This, then, was the secret Of the
strange misunderstanding which had
parted herself and her afianced lover.
The cruel secret which Meredith ALL
ston was obliged to conceal-the mis-.
taken identity of the two cousins had
been at the bottom Of her heart wreckl
She could hardly sit through the tedious
course of the formal dinner party, and
rejolced when the time came for herself
and Mrs. Wallis to leave the table!
"Efie," she cried brenthlessly, as
soon as they were alone, "did you hear
what Mr.. Van Ness said?"
eyes; isn't it a strange story?" her
cousin assented. "What a relief it must
be to the Allstons! But what are YOU
going to do?"
"To send for Meredith at once!" Lii
ian answered promptly.
"And confess yourself to have been
i'll the wrong?"
Eyes, certainly"
Efie Wallis smiled and elevated her
eyebrows.
"Then you have more moral courage
than I have"
But Lilian's heart secretly urged her
on, and she could not rest until she had
summoned Meredith Allston to her pres
ence.
HE came somewhat surprised, yet
not lacking in dignity.
Meredith" she said softly, coming
up to him, will you forgive me? /
have been wrorg and hasty, but I love
you still. I never knew until tonight
of-of the cloud which o~yershadowed
your household"
II knew YOU were misunderstanding
me, Lillian" he said calmly, "but my
lips were sealed by a promise exacted
by my father"
AAeu YOU Will forgive ues
He smiled.
1T is easy to forgive those we love-"
he said gently.
Meredith" she whispered, edo you
love mo as you once did,"
my sentiments have undergone no
change Lilian"
The lover-like kiss he pressed upon
her brow "a the signal of q newer
and more suspicious ~betrothal, whereof
the handspring was perfect love and
trust.