The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1884-11-14
his visionary ward rising clearly beforf

"She is q tritie dark" was her reply; and
somehow the general traced suppressed
merriment in her tones.
"She is q brunette, then? he asked,
anxiously.
Mrs. Comyns laughed softly. "My
dear Ger. Biddulph," she said, looking
at him for one moment, II see you are
not an courant with the state OF things,
May 1 ask if you remember the late Mrs.
Daly?"
II have no personal recollection, Ger.
tainly; but / know her to have been q
beautiful and amiable woman" he re-
turned promptly.
"That was the first wife,; 1 mean the
second"
"The second!" repeated the general,
blankly.
"It is a most extraordinary story.
Major DAILY, in one Of his eccentric
moods, wandered up country, fell, i'll,
and was carefully nursed and tended by
a native woman of inferior rank. With
zeal worthy Of q better cause, Major DAILY
sought her out when he recovered, and
he married her."
Mrs Comyns' soft low voice died
away. The general stood silent as a
statue. ''Then this GIRL" he said, at
length, "is-is"--
"Black," observed Mrs. Comyns,
"black as your hat on the chimney. A
sound of rapid movement came from
the inner room, the door was burst open,
and before the general had time to re-
cover himself a girl stood in the open
ing. "Ah, here is Dessa. Dessa, this
is your guardian; come and shake hands
with him."
Speeches. with %astonisment and vex-
alton, the poor man gazed with horror
on the figure before him. Squat, short,
dressed in the most unearthly garb,
with huge gold rings dancing in her
black ears, and 'innumerable silver ban
giles shining on her dusky arms, stood
the beauty of his dreams, the heiress,
his ward. He advanced feebly, with
outstretched hand. The girls face ex-
banded into a broad grin, her white
ever teeth cleaning like pearls in their
ebony setting"
"She is shy" said Mrs. Comyns, with
a smile still lowering around the cor
ners of her mouth. "You will be bet
ter friends by and by"
Murmuring some incoherent fare
well, the general seized his hat, and
hastily made his escape from the room,
and out of the house. He strobe home
overwhelmed with the horrible discov-
cry. Modification. anger and vexed
pride surged in his heart, and belonged
at that moment for Major Days head,
that he might have relieved his over
charged feelings. He would be a laugh
ing stock of the season. After so much
anticipation, what result! He passed
the evening alone, he could not face
the club, and sought his pillow a much
depressed and annoyed man.
As he sat at breakfast the next morn
ing, carefully studying his Bradshaw
preparatory to taking flight, Scott en-
tered, marched up to his side, and ten
dered q tray with a card upon it. The
general tookit up mechanically. "Miss
DAILY" He dropped the innocent
pasteboard as if it had been a scorpion.
II am engaged, Scott" he gasped,
leaning back in his chair aghast. "Say
very sorry, but
BEG parkon, general; the young Ia
dy was most anxious to see you"
The general groaned. "Show her in"
He turned savagely to his Bradshaw.
What was he to say to the blackmoor
when she appeared? He could not sub.
NIT to be hunted down in this way
She must be made to understand clear
ly that he would have nothing to do
with her, and tonight he would start
for Paris enroute for some place, the
further from England the better.
The door opened. He shut the book
nervously. The apparition of the night
before doomed in the doorway. He
turned cold; it was worse by daylight
than in the evening gloom. He shu.
his eyes for one second, and when he
opened them again they fell on the
sweetest, fairest face it had ever been
his lot to see. Before he could recover
from his surprise the owner of the face
was speaking.
"Gen. Biddulph,n she said hesita-
tlngly, please forgive me for disturb
ing you SO early, but I could not rest
until l had seen you and apologized for
my nonsensical rudeness last night"
The general looked mystitied. "To
whom have I the pleasure Of speak
mg" he asked hurriediy.
II am Dessa DAILY"
Miss DAILY! But, surely-I-that isl
"Please let me explain all" said Miss
DAILY, quickly, her pretty face suffused
with bushes. Il scarcely know how to
begin. when we landed Yesterday
some people, friends of Mrs. Comyns.
met her, and when they were gone /
learnt from her tlat there was a LITTLE
excitement about me, and-it was very
foolish of them-they wished to sec
what 1 was like. They told her Won
knew nothing about me, and a spirit Of
mischief entered our heads, we deter
mined to play a little joke on YOU, and
pass OF Sunda here drawing the sm1l.
ing black maid forward, "as me. II
was very, very wrong, but I hone Won
will forgive u.s."
The general drew himself up stif1y, and
locked decidedly grim. l'
! don't know what papa would saw
II he knew how shockingly I had treat.
ed his old friend" continued the cnln,;t
~ Pi"'J nSau uTooPng gracefully:
Sbu lhope--l do hope you will forgive
me-" eNo
The general thawed. He took the
the little hand outstretched and pressed
Who could resist such a pleader?"
he replied CALAMITY, the vision Of lovii.
ness before him dispelling his wrath,
"But--then you We're not-scolding1
your mad last night?"
No, no." laughed the girl gayly !:
that was part of my plct, wanted Won
to THINK l was the most horrible crea-
lure IN the world. Sunda acted that
scene all alone fo: your benefit
She was most successful" said the
general, dryly;"but 1 will be ever with
you yet, Miss Dessa, for the trick Won
nave played upon rae. I might Nave