The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1884-11-07

Detl SoOper, so was spared tuls =
her somewhat sensitive feelings. AND
a wh,te-robed maiden passes swiftly Der
the tassellated marble doorway and
softly opens the massive door, while
somebody following the example OF
Luna in the park, bends his stately
head over q lovely, %up-turned foce, and
something-could it have beer the
nioht wipd-murmurs low: Mydariing,
mine forever" A moment later two
lovers are seated in the contest nook OF
the drawing-room. while q massive mir
ror opposite reflects two happy races
"a faithful prophecy, we trust for the
future.
Yet in this charming world Of ours.
how swiftly the shadows dispel the sun
shine, and it is only the next morning
when Portia living again in the sweetest
of day dreams, the happiness Of the pre-
ceding evening, receives a summons
from her aunt, the Countess, to wait
upon her in ner boudoir, where that Ia
dy received her with diifusive demon
s~tration saying, as she critically sur
veved her nelce, CHEN mon enfant, l
trust you have we'll considered the mag
n~ificent offer of Lord r. and made up
your mind to answer it as becomes q
sensible girl"
AS becomes a sensible girl? Yes,
Aunt Marianne, and therefore l calno
accept the offer to which you REFER"
answered Portia firmly.
"Notaccept it, child! Are you mad?"
exclaimed the Countess angrily. Not
wed Lord R., who does you so much
honor!!" and, forgetting in her dismay
the affectionate demonstration with
which she meant to win her neice, Aunt
Marianne poured forth a torrent Of bit
ter words ard ~reproaches, ending with
"And what are your reasons pray. for
this unheard of proceeding"
"Simply these" replied Portia, quiet
ly: "The man is too d~issipated and too
heartless. I do not love him, and be-
sides" drawing herself up proudly and
looking steadfastly into her aunt's face
-"besides, as l have already told you,
my heart is pledged elsewhere, and l
cannot, will not, retract my promise"
Nonsense" replied the Countess,
growing each moment more indignant.
Nonsense; and you mean to tell me
that you will give up Lord r. with his
millions, for Raoul, that beggar of q
barrister ?"
Take care, Aunt Marianne" replied
the girl quickly with flashing eyes; II
cannot hear the one l love spoken OF
with dlsrespect even by you" But,
u~nheeding the last remark, the agitated
Countess continued angrily: ~ will
never give my consent to your union
with the barrister-never! Yon shall
not throw yourself away in that manner,
even if you are bent upon doing &c.
You hear my words, my commands,
and will heed them, mademoiselle."
Portia was silent, revolving in her
mind the condition of affairs and how
best to win her case as she was deter
mined to do. Being left at her parents
death to the care of her uncle, who had
married the present Partisan Countess,
she was at his death intrusted to the
protection aud guidance of his widow,
whose sole ambition regarding her
charge was to bring her up IN o n
BETTING her station, and when the pro-
per time came arranged for her a bril-
liant alliance. But at present the
young lady seems determined to cir
cumvent her aunt's pet project.
"Aunt Marianne" she answers pres
emily, II nm aware Unjust have your con
sent to my marriage, but let me tell
you l make n absolute condition
that the wedding shall be aprivate n
and take place en- masque."
Indeed, l shall allow no such con-
dition," began the Countess, "provok-
ing child that you are. Then recollect-
ing herself, she added refiectively.
However, Lord r. wishes to go abroad
Immediately. and there really is not time
to prepare for q grand wedding, as I
should wish yours to be. So, foolish one,
have your. way. Lord r. is himself some
what eccentric, and will no doubt humor
your within, so order the carriage and
we wlllcommence preparations at once"
added the Countess, highly satisfied,
saying to herself; Il was so afraid that
girl would, with American obstinacy,
absolutely refuse, that am quite will
ing to accede to her foolish request, il
need be, as the least of two evils"
And Portia, quitting her aunt's pres
ence, exclaimed with equal vebemence:
= ohihAA ~ lily CkS6s L WILL l. Will
Tia Love VS.. Diamonds"
A week later, and in the stately draw
lng-room of the Countess, redolent
with the perfume of orange blossoms, a
few intimate friends are assembled to
witness the marriage ceremony of her
niece. The masked bridegroom with
the officiating clergyman wait at the
tower-laden alter, improvised for the
occasion, and q moment later thu door
opens tc admit the lovely bride, also en-
masque, attired in her marriage robe of
snowy white, with the conventional
veil and orange blossoms, while
from an adjoining room m
the sweet yet subdued strain ofthe we'd
ding march. And in tho impressive
silence which follows is heard the solemn
marriage invocation, and when the
priest in charge, who is a warm friend
OF the groom, pauses to question: "Who
gives this woman TO be welded to this
man p the Countess from her station
near the bridal party places the hand of
her neice in that of the waiting BRIDE
groom, rejoicing ut this contamination
OF her dearest wishes. The golden cir.
clet, type of their eternal union, glistens
on the lair, white hand of the bride. The
marriage benediction is pronounced, and
tho Countess presses eagerly forward to
offer her congratulations when the
masks fall and she beholds, not Lord r..
but Raoul. the handsome Young
barrister, proudly triumphant, his
great love shining in his eyes, as
addressing the bewildered Count.
ess, he says pleadingly: "Forgiye
us. My Portia has won her case, and
l, from an honor recently conferred.
am no longer a 'briefiess barrister.' Init
the Earl of c." which statement.
IT is needless to say, speedily, obtained
the Countess forgiveness.
IN q charming villa zeal the Champs