The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1884-08-15

manly handwriting. "To Hester; June
%, IS" I stared aghast at such an
act of impertinence, and glanced at Aunt
Hetty, to see whether she would resent
it; but she had probably not noticed
the offense, for she made no sign.
The congregation began to dispense,
and We passed out in our turn, the ma
isr close behind us. We were scarcely
fairly in the street when ha spoke 70
auntie.
MADAM, I am going to ask you a
very singular question; but let me as
sure you that / have a deep personal
interest in asking it. Will you tell me
how you came by that red prayer-book
that you use?"
I shall never forget auntie's answer,
given as quickly as if it was the most
commonplace matter, though l could
tell by the faint rose-fush on her u.s.
ually pale cheek how deeply she was
moved.
"You gave it to me yourself, Major
Blake, six-and-twenty years ago"
The majors face was a study. Sur.
prise, delight and incredulity seemed
struggling for the mastery. He TOOK
off his hat and stood bare-headcd. l
hardly know why, but that n little
gesture seemed to tell me, better than
most passionate projections would nave
done, that the old love had kept Q
treasure and a sacred thing. And !
think, from the faint sweet smile that
gathered round her mouth as she looked
up at him, that the same thought came to
auntie.
"And you are Hetty?" he said. Eyes,
I know you now"
"You had forgotten the six-and-
twenty years, Major Blake. l knew
you from the first"
"And would you really have let me
go without a word or a sigh?" he
asked.
"Why not ?" she replied. Glow could
know you would wish to be reminded of
old tlmes?" ,
"Reminded! I have never forgot
ten. I tried my hardest to forget, and
couldn't. Although you preferred an
other"-
Another! What other?"
"Young sandys. Did you not marry
him?"
II have never seen him since"
At this stage of conversation it struck
me that I was decidedly de trop. Major
Blake had replaced his hat, and, side
by side with %auntie, was walking slow
ly homeward. ] had hitherto been fol-
lowing behind; but, reaching q con
venient street corner, I let them proceed
alone, and went off, without beat OF
drum, for a stroll in an opposite direc-
ton. When I reached the boarding.
house, half an hour later, / found di1ptie
and the major sitting in the courtyard,
under the shade of the great tree. The
major courteously lifted his hat at my
approach and said:
"Miss Danvers, your aunt and I are
very old friends; indeed, many years
ago, we We're engaged to be married, but
an unfortunate misunderstanding sep
arated us. We have lost many happy
years of life together, but I hope some
may still remain to us. 1 trust we shall
have your good wishes"
I looked from to the other.
"You dear, darling auntie, then you
really are going to be married after all!
OF course I wish you joy, and Major
Blake too, from the very bottom Of
my heart!"
II don't know" said a%untie, shaking
her head doubtfully. I'm a little
afraid we are two old fools"
NAY, dear" said the major, raising
her hand CALAMITY to his lips. Per
haps w were young fools, but that is
SIX -and-twenty years ago.. Let us hope
we have learned true wisdom now."
l don't know how the secret oozed
out, but before "a hours were over every
n in the boarding-h house, even to
uninterrupted Adele and her assistant
maidens, knew that the handsome Eng
lish major had met an old love in the
person of the gentle little lady with the
sweet smile and the soft gray hair, and
that after a separation of six-and TWEEN
ty years they were again engaged to be
married; and were promoted to the
rights and privileges of engaged low
ers accordingly. And lovers they
Enthusiastically We're, though in a
very quiet way. No lover of 90
could have been more devoted than
this weather. beaten warrior to his
faded bride: no girl of eighteen more
proud and happy in her lovers devo-
ton than dear old auntie. They ought,
by every rule, to have been ridiculous,
but somehow nobody seemed to think
them SO; and l really believe they had
the heartiest sympathy of every one in
the house.
l must pass yer the homeward jour
ney, and the establishment of our friends
at Fairfield, when auntie returned, en-
gagged to be married. Some few of them
had known Major Blake as q young
man. but to most of them he was a
stranger. Many we're the questions,
and long the explanations, before ev-
erything was accounted for to every
body's satisfaction; but it was done at
last. And then came the preparation
of the trousseau; and at last, this very
morning, the happy pair have been
made one, and auntie is off to the Isle
of Wight to spend her honeymoon.
And last night, just before we went to
bed, she called me into her own room,
and taking out the little red prayer
book, said:
ruth dear I am going to give you
this little book as a parting remem-
brance. You know how / have treas-
cred it; and you won't value it the less.
l m sure, for having been 10 dear to
me. And if when Mr.. Right comes,
Ruth, you are ever tempted to the will
full n hayward, d, pains heart that
loves you truly, think Of your old Aunt
Hetty, and don't forget the moral of the
faded leaf"
A popular scientific lecture" is
nothing if not sensational. @. A. John
son, who is designated rs "the editor of
the American Eagle and the British
Lion" delivered q lecture on electricity
IN 81 T,o,,;u Tho o&bor ,;oL4 r. a.