The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1884-01-04
A GREAT TEMPTATION.

ueuue auu litnlu, out IL was o beauty of nc
wonderful or unusual type, and was OF that
kind which grows on one gradually as his
knowledge OF the possessor OF it grows. There
was a wealth of sweetness and purity shining
upon her eyes, which tears could never wash
out; and the mouth indicated frmness aud
resolution, which had its beginning long before
tho nights vigil which had left it 80 s.erniy
agonized.
The trouble which has come to Alice Arndep
is of no unusual kind. IL is q sudden sorrow.
Of a kind which has crushed out all Of hone in
life, many times in the past, and will many
ems are proud and willful. One may say,
only q lovers quarrel" but one should re-.
member that there are heart tragedies in this
world. under the torture of which men and
women drag ont long lives without finding
peace. To Alice Arnden it seem as though
everything worth having in life was now for
ever utterly beyond her hope.
She arose from the seat she had occupied
for so long and moved slowly around her hum
Bile room. She had not known until she moved
how much she was suffering physically; how
cold 1t WAS; how cramped and weary she was.
There was really little to do. Her bed had no,
been used, her room was in order. She mad
plenty OF time to prepare herself for the task
OF hiding her sorrow from the gaze of he,
friends, if she could.
She made a fire, and into tho fire she re-
morseiessly pnt all the fragments OF the paper
which she had spoiled in her efforts to write a
SIMPLE letter, long ago when her sorrow was
new. Long ago? Last night! Happiness gives
wings OF llghtness 10 eternity dying about our
being and so-cailed time, rather than e~ternity)
winch we roughly measure and called minutes
minutes and seconds; but sorrow weights their
n%oiseless feet with lead
Mr.. George Fenby is next among the actors
in thus little fragment OF human life.
he had sat at his window that morning. ms
ALICE AfnIpn aHf ut IEra - Eia win -.
n the same direction; frcm it he saw much the
same scene as she saw. The stars faded ouI
for him as for her; day frightened; the sun
light fell across his face.
But he sat there with a cheerful fire near
nim; he was strong from happy sleep; his eyes
were bright and cheerful, and looked as though
tears had always been strangers to them. and
his lips were smiling.
The icy marshes seemed to him a type of his
future. smooth, white, pure-tne light ]stretce:-
outside standing to him, as to her. as u type
tternlty-an eternity which he felt would u.
one of strength and happiness.
George Fenby thought of what ho had to b,
thankful for, this lovely morning. A small
fortune, enough for himseif-and one other. ,
fair Woman-and good as fair-for his prom
ised wife; health, education. influence, friends
| position; 1t was indeed II goudly prospect.
This man was strong and quick; good look.
ing, if not handsome. He looks like q man who
would not do a wicked tMing, or think 1t, while
he might do q weak or foolish one. He was q
man who would be likely to win q wumau's
hoart-and hold it; q man whose love u woman
might prize aud tho loss OF which she nigh,
| wisely mourn Weak enough TO be q MAJ, he
| was strong enough to be one hard to win from
the life which had once had him.
There was a happy smile on his face as he
heard his little brother knock at the door, and
he answered "Come in,'' in q CHEEKY voice.
Here's q letter for you, George"
"Ilank you,n said George, as he took it.
t'Yon are welcome. By the handwriting on
the envelope l judge the message Will be a
pleasant one"
And the boy left the room.
A pleasant essage! Tho smiled eepened OIL
the mans face as he lovingly handled the let,
ter before he broke the seal. A pleasant mes.
cage!
These were the words he read:
Mr.. George Fenby: 1 will not consent to be any
longer a hinderer regardug your higher ambi.
ton" Inever wish to speak with you again in al
my life. give you back your freedom,
ALICE AREpES.
So Mr.. Fenby's m. rning gift was the gift OF
his freedom. What shoald he do with it? His
cheeks and lips grew cold and white at the
thought. Merciful heaven! What should he
do with it?
The sky seemed darkened, che earth seemed
dreary and desolate. George Feuby and Allcc
Arnden, a bare quarter of a mile apart, could
not have been more widely separated had al
ocean stretched between them. And eacn
looked on the same landscape, and saw it alike
at last.
The village of Marsham was a small one, and
| most of 1t was farther from the ocean than
were the two houses at whose windows we
have seen two unhappy persons.
1t was a relief to both George aud Alice that
there was service in the little church that
morning, and that everybody would be looked
for there. Secret sorrow finds a certain abate-
ment of it's intensity in the effort of appearing
unconcerned Then there is a mournful
pleasure in seeing what one has lost
Ina place no larger than Marsham every one
knows everybody else. Every one knows the
business of everybody else, in some degree, OF
thinks so, aud says 30. So our two friends
were known, and their relations to each other
were known also. And so poorly had they
played their parts that when service was fin
ished nearly all their friends had concluded
that their engagement was over. and many
were specializing as TO the reason for it
Ralph Narder was too shrewl 8 man not to
see what every one else saw. He said but little
about it, as he spoke to one and another after
church, but he was deeply interested and very
much puzzled. The time had been when the
gOssips had connected his name with that Of
Alice Arnden. and there were those who had
shaken their heads when it became evident tina,
she had been won by George Fenby, instead OF
by Ralph.
Ralph had never spoken to Alice of love. and
We VIII TcspeCk Ills TeSeTVb. w uut DS cared IOr
her may remain u sealed book.
George Fenby walked homo alone. Ralph
Warder came the same road, but q quarter of a
mile behind him. Some distance out of the
village Ralph suddenly came upon two papers,
resting on the snow by the sido of the road.
Trey had most likely been pulled from the
pocket of the owner in removing his handk er-
chief. The smaller paper had blown apart; ii
lay upon the other, and its contents were sc
brief that Ralph had read it before he was
aware of what he was doins We have seen
tho paper before. 1t was the brief letter in
which Alice Arden had dismissed George
Fenby.
Ralph Warder stood for a long time with the
letter in his hand.
eve read it once; it can do no harm to read
it again." he said.
And he read it again-not once-merely, but
q dozen times. 1t seemed as if he was trying
to draw something from the bit of paper which
he did not find there.
After a time he stopped and picked up the
other paper, a long, folded document, but the
not open it to zee what it was, but with his
head bent forward on his breast, and with q
very grave face, he went on his way. He
walked moro slowly than before; he some
times stopped, and he talked to himself from
time to time.
'If this is final" he commenced aloud, and
then relapsed into silence. ga hinderer.''
Then, after standing aud thinking for awhile,
he went on: "She never was that to him.
And she never was moody and self-distrust-
ful."
He thought for many minutes now.
81 don't understand what she means by his
higher ambition His highest ambition lately
seems to have been to win her. Ithas cost her
q great deal to give him up-any one can see
that with half an eye. And his freedom ia not
welcome to him; no neither wanted it nor ex-
pected it."
Suddenly no stood still, and q hot, fierce flush
crept into his face.
caught in the rebound as they sometimes say
they are? will"
And he clenched his hands and hurried On
his way. Fl
He did not stop again until he reached bis
home, where his mother and sister were wait