The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1884-05-30

Hcers u men Went down In hundreds
together.
Kitty's heart, which had never failed in
its lightness, nor her step in its speed,
now sank and faltered for the first time.
Early in the next year-in fact, on
New Years night-the officers gave q
ball, and every girl and young man for
miles around was invited.
Girls were in great demand, and I
went down tony aunt's house especially
for that night.
u was anxious to see Kitty myself,
and to find out how the years had passed
over her head.
"You think, perhaps, twenty-six was
rather old to be callad a girl-do you,
Kitty?
"Well, I felt almost the same as I did
when / was sixteen, and quite as ready
to enjoy a dance or Irritation, I can as
sure you.
kate Daly-that was her name
went to help the ladies unshawl them
selves, and to be ready with needle and
thread when an unhappy damsel
with torn skirt or fosnce shouldErequire
her assistance.
"She wa then twenty eight, and the
young girlish beauty had developed into
the most lovely of women. Only when
her face was at rest, and You caught the
suspicion of an anxious heart upon it,
would you have guessed her age.
"She wore pale tea -rose-tinted gown,
with rufles of lace of her own making
at the neck and sleeves.
1T was a wild and stormy night with
out, Just such a one as this, but it only
served to enchance the brightness and
animation Of the scene within.
"The dancing ofthe high-heeled shoes
and the silvery laughter rose higher
than the wall Of the wind; and the tink-
ling wine-cups drowned all sound of
rain.
Suddenly there was . lull; we
stopped in our dances; a chill blast
seemed to have entered the room; we
turned and saw q silent, dark figure
standing in the doorway.
"He was tall and handsome, but his
large black cloak, carefully flung over
bis shoulder, was dripping with the
rain and making large pools on the
floor. His legs, booted and spurred,
We're mud up to the hips.
Just at that moment the clock struck
10 and the year 1916 had broken.
Some of the more excitable girls
screamed and ran behind their partners.
WAS it an apparition? Was it an i'll
omen for the coming year.
al seem to frighten you, good peo-
pie. Does nobody know meg
kitty at that moment was bringing
4 ~, q, f,,n. &c ,1.1 -. -
"She turned round, tremblingly, with
a wild cry, sKinloch, Kinloch, I knew
you would come backr And amid o
crash of breaking glass-for she let the
vessel slip from her hands-she bound
ed to his side and then disappeared in
the folds Of the great cloak"
"How splendid, Aunt Bell?" said her
niece, drawing a deep breath; Ssbut if
she married him then, 1 do not see why
she should not have done so before"
"Ah, but she was q wise girl. little
one; she knew it would test his con
stancy and prove if he really loved her.
A young mans love at 81 Gas she
knew very welD would not be his choice
at 3D.
aWhat became of them, aunt?"
"Oh, they married and travelled about
q good deal, and finally both died out
in India within a few months of each
other. There was one son, and 1 be-
lieve he is in the army also. Come,
Kitty, / shall go to bed, and not wait
up any longer for your father"
There is new lieutenant coming i n
Mr.. Perry's place." said her niece as
she babe her good night.
"The young men are not what they
used to be" sighed the oldlady. "Some
little whippersnapper, I'll be bound,
with feet that would goin your slippers.
Good night, childie!"
Kitty went slowly down stairs and
pondered over in her mind the story OF
the beautiful Kate DAILY and the faith
full Kinloch. She went to the window
and undid the shutter. She pictured
to herself the young man coming to the
window and scratching his name on the
glass, and then taking the girls ha nd
in his own, slowly guiding it just be-
low.
She leant in the deep shadow of the
win,low-seat, and stroyeto realize each
scene in the little drama. There, nm
der the very door, stood the black
robed figure they had all shrunk away
fromin hi midst of their mirth. What?
Was she dreaming? What stood there
at that very moment?
A figure darker than the gloom OF
the room. The rain poured in floods
outside, and the wind whistled and
moaned round the corners of the house.
The figure came q little further into
4 tho p.nN,o, E2 S1n1 r. n r, 1-p ill., -. 1s-Ik
he was a tall man with n dark cloak
over his shoulders, booted and spurred,
with mud up to his hips.
She felt as if the whole scene was to
be played again before her very eyes
but she looked in vain for the pretty
girls and ladies in their puffed sleeves
and short waists, their flowing curls
and high-heeled shoes. Kitty-where
was she?
And here she blushed to herself in
the darkness.
There was q Kitty; but not theo ne.
The man came up to the window, evil
IDENTIFY thinking no one was in the
room.
The girl shrank back as the wet
cloak brushed against her cheek.
"Kinlochp she said, half doubling
whether the figure would answer, for
she could hardly tell yet if she was
dreaming or no.
aWho spoke my name?" he called
out, startled and looking around.
\ did, said Kitty, feeling very
abashed, almost at his elbow.
am sure I beg your pardon. I
thought the room was empty: must