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

outline of tho unfortunate affair was, he felt,
as certainly in his possession as it conld have
I been If he had been given the privilege of
10, king fully and freely into the minds of the
two lovers whose lives were drifting so far
apart
table-th,' winter sunshine stole the day or no
noblsr hea, land from his lips came those
words of which fra'l humanity has deepest
deed. LEAD uA not into tempation."
He thought it all out! Bertrand Kingsley
Owned the finest pi .'cs in all Marsham: or had
George Fenhy. Estellc Kingsley, the daughter
of Bertrand was a beauty, and something OF u
flint. i.
More than one lady in Markham had quar-
relied with her lover ON Estella kinssley's &C
count. And last night there had been . gath
circumstances had done their worst-seem-
ingly. Iu the first place. George Fenby camo
with Estella Kingsley: the meeting was not OF
q character to make 1t unkind for him to leave
his promised wife 10 come with her father, az
she had. but his coming with Miss Kingsley had
been noticed by several. With the deed before
him, Ralph Warder had no difficulty in decid-
lug why George had been at Mr. Klngsley's,
and consequently why he had come ~ no had.
Ralph WAS we'll acquainted with a young man
living where the Kingsleys had formerly re-
sided, and through him he knew of the engage
ment of Miss Kingsley to o gentleman living
there. He had known this for a long time;
and knowing it, had thought little of events
which might otherwise have deeply affected
him.
Last night, for instance, a laughing group of
gentlemen had spoken of Miss Kingsley. One
hRd said: s'She is a beauty and an heiress.
Whoever wins her will have a beautiful home.
The Kingsley estate is the finest one in
Marshum."
Now, every gentleman in the group knew
/ that fla klnUslpv eafata yyal far anla npl
everyone had counted at its true value the
answer which Fenby had made. Indeed, his
devotion to Alice Alnden was so absolute and
complete that no one. save her own modest
self, would ever have doubted it for u mo-
ment
1T is my highest ambition to be the master
of that estate, :" laughed George, land have
made an offer which / think will be accepted. l
am to have au answer tonight. II Isuc,aed,
| shall be supremacy happy. If not-why, |
will be as other men have done-failiug of
what ] want, l will take whatI can get"
Ralph could not remember whore Alice Arm
den had been when these innocent words had
been spoken. That she had been near enough
to hear them was evidenced by her letter.
which was before him.
He could only dimly imagine how she must
have suffered In trying 10 evolve the truth las
she had believed the trut, to beg from what
she had heard. When n human idol falls from
the place it has filled in the hart, not the least
of tine pAia comes from what we see, or believe
we see, Of its unworthiness.
To find our gold but sildcd clay is a sorrow
full thing. So he BAT there, aud pitled Alice
Arnden for the faith in man which she had
lost, as well as for the man himself who bad
bsen put from her. With what pal. beyond
that which would com TO her from a belief
that her lover would think and do what his
words seemed to imply, must she face the
added shame of his stopping to tell it; nay,
more, to boast of it!
Raipi raised his head Tho five hal ,.t
been long since he sat dow to think. But lie
knew it all. Two proud and obstinate Young
creatures had been parted by fate. And lie
muttered, with white. compressed lips: sI
alone understand it all. ], alone, of ali the
world, can set it right What a temptation!n
We will not seek to follow his thoughts.
What q man does should be the basis OF our
Judgment. not what he would do. II he
thought of the curative effects of time on suf-
feriug hearts, we can forgive him; if a possible
future, in which q happy nome of his own WAS
the central figure, rose up to meet him, we can
do no less than pity him.
If she ouly had the slightest reason for what
she had done-but she has none. If George
Fenby were really Il scoundrei-but he il truly
q noble man.
The band of sunshine rested on his head. like
a golden crown. His face was almost g%lori6ej
as no raised it to the light again. Aud surely
the angels made record Of a secoud grit that
day. coming to the lot of those whose lives fall
a little time within the lines of our story, when
he said aloud, 81 will do rigut! Alice Arden
shall have her lover back again!r
Evening service at the little church was over.
Ralph Warder stood on the steps as the cougre-
cation came out. He looked happy.
If it be true That coming events cast their
shadow before" and that "virtue Is its owr
reward" he was happy. He spoke cheerfully
10 this one and that wncn he passed. Tie did
not look like a conspirator. One would have
dreamed that he had made a plan which. for
audacitv, would tind few rivals, while for sim.
plicity 1t might find fewer.
"lrs better to have it over as soon as posi-
BILE" he said to himself; better for them and
for me-"
forward.
twill you come for a little drive with me.
Miss Alnden? The night is perfect. aud YOU
look aslf fresh mir would do YOU good.''
She accepted at onc-, hoping as she did sc
that George Fenby would see her. He was no
there to gee. however, and Ralph had taken
good care to know that. He was already half
way home.
But Miss Arnden was in no mood to refuse.
She was in a reckless temper, and Ralph War
der had counted on that. Ono DESTROYS of
widening the breach between Alice and George
would have found it an easy task to make q
beginning that night
Ralph W.>der's lips movea slowly as no
seated h:mseit beside Alice, but we will not try
to determine what he said to himself in that
crisis in more lives thah one.
II dnirs your cloak and hat" exclaimed
Ralph, Though the saying it may be as much
a compliment to my sisters as to your own
taste; Hers are like them, are they not?"
very nearly; not quite. But / didn't know
you ever noticed what your lady friends wear"
Il don't very often. l did to-day. Would
the masculine eye detect the difference? ''
Il think not But it is & pity to talk OF dress
on such a night as this. What a strong and
helpful sermon we had this evenlng?"
Eyes" said Ralph.
They made a ,ura in tho road, and there was
George himself only a few yards ahead. Alice
pu. down her voil at once. Surely fate was on
the side of Ralph Warder's piaus that night.
SECT in George. I won't take a refusal"
"Wko is with you? Your sister?"
Yes said Ralph, with a promptness which
should be admired and pardoned. "Sit on this
side" said Ralph, as George got in; III will SIT
between you. The night il beautiful, isn't it?'
every beautiful y said George, who really had
not thought of it before.
You needen't go home at once. l will turn
here and we will drive over toward the shore. :"
lie had turned his horse down the road lead
ing in that direction before either of his COM
panions could say a word. The two lovers were
gazing again at the scene they had looked upon
IN the morning. The moonlight may have
softened the harshness of it a little, but tue man
between them heard q sob from the woman al
his left and saw the moonlight sparkle su-pic-
iously on the oyelaehes of the man at bis right
and he thought grimly of himself as the image
Of fate-fate, with the destiny of two human
beings in his hand.
Il found apaper OF yours this morning."
said Ralph, slowly, land here it lie. l could
hardly help seeing what it was. l congratulate
you on your bargain. You havo bought the
finest estate about here, George. It is remark
ably cheap atthe price. l believe the decd was
signed last EVENING""
"Yes." 4
N Kingsley had no. fully decided to sell it
until then, had he?"
mo fully. He told me his daughter might
decide to want it herself when she i. married
MI. Kingsley viii, OF course, give her . hand
some residence somewhere when that event
takes place. for Mr.. Jones, who is to marry