The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1884-11-14

lhe warmth ana glow and sparkle o.
wine in their depths. Her dark hal,
was wound carelessly about her head,
and q cluster of white daisies shone Out
like stars in the bronze coils. A great
bunch of them was at her waist.
That was all CASTOR noted as he be.
gan to talk to her. He saw o tide Of
crimson rush over her face, leaving il
pallid as it ebbed away, and he knew
that somehow he had told his tale. His
mother was at hand to help, but Claire
did not faint; she looked hurt, puzzled,
as a child might from whom a cherished
plaything had been taken. Tears came
into her eyes, but no sudden storm OF
them. The grief did not shake her he.
ing to its center. She was shocked.
sorry, but there was still q world OF
sunshine, and birds and flowers. This
blow did not darken all the landscspe
Of her life.
"She never loved him." said CASTOR
to himself, as he stood in his room
alone that night.
And somehow strange to say, he did
not feel sorry! He awoke next morn
ing. still feeling low and miserable, and
with so little interest in life that his
mother summoned a physician. By his
verdict he was dispatched to Trouville,
and as soon as he was better he went
INTO active service again until the war
was ended. He sought the seaport
once more to renew his strength, and
his mother wrote that she would meet
him there.
81 shall bring Claire" she said; mot
that she is dropping at all, for she has
bloomed into w and more glowing
beauty since you saw her. I knew she
was n who would not pine long. She
wears white now, and looks more like a
Young bride than a bereayed widow.
All, well, she was but Is when the blow
came, and life had rot yet opened its
bright possibilities fo; her. Sometimes
l think that Nerle-But I won't Cos
sip"
CASTOR read this letter on the gay
Trouyille beach; but for q moment the
white sand, the bathers in their bright
suits, the Japanese umbrellas that
looked so much like green exotics stuck
in the sand, all seemed to float away.
and he saw the dim green lane, the
pallid moonlight that fell on the face
of the man who died for him,
with the caryen image of that other
Friend who died for oil mankind CLEAN
In the white light above them!
"Oh, Rafe l-oh, my friendt" he
moaned; lis the hour coming for the
sacrifice? Why did I not warn her
tell her his dying words? It might
have influenced her. 1 hope, I pray.
it may not be to late!"
For CASTOR had given the young
widow no hint of her husbands dying
agony, nor the love that gave the keen
est sting to death. Merle, too! 1t
could not be possible that Claire's heart
was very deeply touched by that iacka-
napes. Surely, any feeling he had in
spired would be light and easily over
come. Hetook courage from the thought,
Perhaps Merle had been useful in keep
ing her safe from . more serious pas.
sion. Still, he grew more wretched, and
his mother looked at him with anxiety
as the days passed by.
"You must stay in the water too long,"
she said, %anxiously. II don't like your
looks"
Nor T." said CASTOR, with a laugh:
II never did"
Claire stood regarding him with a
puzzled air. She was bewitching in black
lace and white roses.
81 think he's in love, I" said Merle, re-
moving his silver head for this sapient
remark. "Goes that way with some fell
lows. He looks off his feed"
Castor did not feel his old i'm
patience with his cousin. He had
an infinite pity for everybody
for Claire first, for tbs silly
moth who was smuggling his wings at
this new fame, bu. most of all for him
self, who had Aeen a sort of fate for
them both. Claire watched him with
curiosity, and with an Unborn couuetry
tried her power on him. His indiffer-
ence baf1ed her, and she began to MT
heart into her work. One afternoon
she happened upon him as he sat mood
lily in the shelter of a rock. She was
alone, and with a throbbing heart he
saw his opportunity.
"You look as gloomy as q November
day" she cried gayly.
II am thinking of something very
sad, something that haunts me" he
said grayely.
"Oh, put it away; get away from it
somehow" she cried: ST always do.n
$50 I see," he answered, with a
shade of bitterness in his tone.
81 know what you mean, p she answer
ed, with q mutinous all, "you are think
ing OF poor Rafe! Do you expect me
to sit in dust ana ashes all the rest of
my life? I III too young. He would
not have wished it."
II have never dared to tell you his
wishes" said CASTOR.
"You did noty she cried with an an-
CRY flush; "then you were a false
friend!"
"Ihope it is not yettoo late" answer