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

plucked helitrope trembling among her
glossy brown braids, and her pretty
blue dress floating around her like an
azure cloud.
Only l8, and very fair and lovely was
our little Rosa trifie spoiled and
wilfnl, perhaps, but what else could one
expect? Every one petted and made
much of her-every nj smiled ut her
pretty, kittenish way-and Clarence
Hyde thought her the fairest specimen
Of feminine humanity that ever the sun
shone on.
Lizzy Eldon made room for her sis
:er-Lizzie, just one year younger and
scarcely less fair yet very different in
character. Lizzie wa quite, and sage
and demure, while Rosa ratified away
like q merry mountain stream flowing
over its messy stones. Lizzy thought
her sister perfection, while Rosa was
featuring Lizzy in a capricious fashion,
md laying down the law to her after
the most approved manner of elderly
sisters.
"How nice it must beto be engaged
said Lizzy, with a half-encouraging
smile, as Rosa paused at the glass to
adjust her hair. 81 wish I was en-
gagedw
"You? Oh, you are nothing but q
child Rosa said, patronizingly.
"There-give me my pocket handker-
chief
And away she went, light and 1.-THE as
q butterfly.
Clarence Hyde was in the parlor anx-
iously awaiting her coming, but Clar-
ence had rather a disturbed face. He
was a well-made, handsome young fell
low, with laughing, wine brown eyes,
straight features, and brown hair thrown
back from a broad, frank brow.
why, what makes you look so
sober p was Rosa's first question, when
the ceremonials of greeting were gone
through with, and she had had time to
take q good look into his face.
"Sober? do II"
He was playing rather restlessly with
the crimson cord that Topped back the
white muslin draperies of the pretty bay
window that made Mrs. Eldon's cottage
look like one of the lovely rustic habi-
tations you see in old English engrav-
ings.
Exactly as if you had the toothache
or bad conscience
Clarence laughed in spite Of himself.
"You are wrong, then, my little rid
dle-guesser; I am afflicted with neither
the one or the other"
SWELL, what is it, then?"
"Rosa, what should you say if it
were to become necessary to defer our
marriage for some time?"
A shadow came over the ~infantile
bloom and freshness of Rosa's face.
"To defer our marriage, Clarence?
l can't imagine what you mean"
Listen, Rosa, and 1 will tell Won.
My uncle has just come from California,
very poor and q confirmed invalid. I
am his only surviving relative, and to
me he naturally appealed for protec-
ton and companionship. / must give
him a home, Rosa. You know / had
laid up just enough to begin housekeep-
ing in q quiet, economical sort of way,
but the plan will necessarily alter
all my arrangements"
Il never heard of any uncle before
mo, dearest; I knew little of him
nothing personally, as he never visited
my fathers during his lifetime"
Rosas lace was turned away from
Clarence Hyde's; she was silently twist
ing a piece Of paper round and round
her slender f%orefinger.
Rosa" he said, after waiting a min
ute OF two for hertom make some remark,
tell me honestly, dear one, which you
prefer-to begin housekeeping on this
new scale-one more frugal and hum
BILE than | had originally hoped and in
tended-or to defer onr marriage until
/ can earn enough to carry out those
original arrangements?"
She was silent fora moment, then she
answered in a voice which seemed to
chill Clarence's buoyant young heart:
'tNeither!!n
Rosa" he exclaimed lido not I'M
derstand you"
u spoke plainly enough. "Neither!n
( "Doyou mean that"
Imean that you must either give up
your uncle or me. After all that has
been said aud known Of our engagement
after its publicity and length, I certainly
can not consent to q further postpone
ment. And we shall be poor enough il
we marry Immediately, without filling
onr house with needy relatives"
Clarence Hyde looked at his fair f.
ancee in perfect amazement. Never in
the whole course of their acquaintance
mad he seen this phase of character. He
had fancied her all that was sweet, pure
and womanly. Could it be possible that
she was cold-hearted, selfish, and dead
to all the sweet ties Of nature?
Rosa, he said, mournfully, lis this
to part u.s."
1t is for You to say"
DO you wish me to give up my poor,
dependent uncle?'
Either him or me" Rosa answered,
indiferently.
ut will be hard-very hard, for me
TO lay aside the brightest wishes of my
life," he said, earnestly, ''but, Rosa,
duty is my first object. ] can not leave
my rncleto wear ont his remaining days
in poverty and solitude"
Every well" answered Rosa careless
~ stopping to pick up the odorous pur-
pie blossoms which had fallen from her
|hair, then we shall consider our en-
gagement dissolved"
And can you give nj up 30 readily,
Rosa?"
"Oh, said Rosa, a little impatiently,
where's the nse ofbeing romantic about
it? You have chosen your part, I have
chosen mine. So let it be?"
Clarence HYDE took his Ioaya ia