The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1884-12-26
A CHRISTMAS HEROINE.

IL CllilID WAD llLflUlNLs
The writer of this article was this
year assigned to the task of preparing
q Christmas story, and as the reporter
couldn't think ofanything about Christ
mas that would be worth reading, he
concluded to demand the aid of one of
those persons who are always loaded
with q fund Of stories relative to the
private life of prominent people.
Come with me-" said he, as soon as
ne learned what was wanted. land /
will give you the material for a story
that will not only be interesting, but
strictly true"
He led the way to a large and hand
some dwelling on a street devoted to
residences, occupied by solid merchants
and their families. The guide and re-
porter we're admitted by a neat-looking
servant, and were ushered into a parlor
furnished elegantly. Within five min
utes a lady, tastefully but richly attired,
entered the room and graciously greet
ed the student of secret history, whom
she welcomed in a most cordial but
ladylike name After the reporter
had been introduced the guide had a
few moments conversation relative to a
moon of YNpn7,orfy f1tA 1n1r Woe nlNr,,& +@
sell, I'd this matter disposed of q gen
eral slversation on the topics of the
day owed, in which the hostess took
part y III q yivacity and grace at once
charming and unaffected. The lady
was a great reader and lover of fine
arts. Her familiarity with books and
authors and men of the tunes showed
that she had improved her mind to a
high degree. The paintings in the par
lors We're all admirably selected. The
lady, the reporter learned, had travelled
extensively in this country and abroad,
She spoke French fuently, and had ac-
CURED considerable of the politeness for
which the French people are celebrated.
AT the end Of half an hours chat the
reporter and his friend took their de-
parture.
"You have just left the heroine of
yonr Christmas story" said the guide
Us the two strolled down the street.
II supposed as much said the report
er; "and now for the story itself"
And now for the story ITSELF" re-
peated the guide. "You shall have it.
The woman you just saw was once a
country girl residing on a farm thirty
miles from Milwaukee, Wis. At the
age of ID years she was a loving, con-
tiding. ingenious child, the perfect pic
ture of the ideal, rosy-cheeked country
maid. One day, when she was IN her
18th year, q middle-aged bachelor, who
wa in business in Milwaukee, called at
her fathers house to buy some horses
or something-T've forgotten just what.
He saw the little country maiden and
was struck by her marvellous beauty, as
we'll as her childish simplicity of man
ner and sensible mien. He took oc-
casion to onverse with the little lass
and asked her if she would not like
to marry him. The child really did
not know the full import of his
meaning, but she innocently replied
that she would be delighted to marry
him. He then told her to be a good
girl, and that some day he would come
and make her his wife. The gentle
man went back to his home in Milwau-
kee, aud the country girl resumed her
life OF humdrum country existence.
Christmas times approached, and on
Christmas v our country maiden pro-
posed to hang up a stocking in anticipa-
ton of q present.. She was blessed
with a stepmother, a woman of vicious
temperament and a deep hatred for the
little beauty, who was SO unfortunate as
to live under the same roof with her.
The stepmother, always on the lockout
for an excuse to have a row, seized upon
the simple act of hanging up q stocking
on Christmas eve to frame an excuse to
treat the poor girl to Il most violent
Whipping. The bright anticipations of
the happy Christmas entertained by the
girl were thus swept away, and she re-
tired that night with her busy brain on
fire, as she Immediately determined
that she would no longer submit to the
cruelties of her brutal stepmother.
Suddenly she thought of the gentleman
at Milwaukee who had said he would
marry her, and instantly she made UP
her mind to go to him. She had no
money, and could not get any, but that
did not stand in her way. Al
four o'clock on Christmas morn.
ing she packed a few articles of cl 9th.
ing in a handkerchief and set out or
foot for Milwaukee. 1t was a frightful
undertaking for a young and tende,
girl, but she bravely pushed on, and
that night she reached the city. She
was footsore, cold and tired, but moi
discouraged, for she never dreamed
that she was in danger of being dlsap.
pointed. Her faith in human nature
was something sublime, and her con.
fdence in the gentleman who had sale
he would marry her was as great as
though she had known and trusted hin
all her life.
"The bachelor sat in his coy private
parlor al. his boarding house, which was
the best place of the kind in Milwau.
kee, on the Christmas evening, wher
the landlady made her appearance lead.
ing our little heroine by the hand.
"As soon as the gentleman could re
cover his establishment at the sight O
the suffering child before him, he ex
claimed:
""'Why, what in. the world are yot
here for in such a sad plight?
"sI have come to get married! wal
the reply, as the child confidingly ap'
preached her lover.
"'To get married?'
Yes, sir; to marry you.'
"'Well, we'll. WE'LL" unused the bach
elor, as he led the little wanderer to tn,
| fro and sfroLod har Lonr4;ful hi.