The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1884-10-31

fLE. -EHt.NaE If1EE4INr TTIr-N .=H4F-Es 49,
worn out, and even Rhoda was losing
spirit, with her youth and bloom.
One evening the girl was going home
from her days work ayoung man step
ped to her side.
"Rhoda Townsend he exclaimed.
"You don't know mel"
But she did know him, she was
greatly surprised and agitated to see
him; for it was years since they had
met.
"Mr. Ringdon!" she said, trembling.
"Not Mr.. Kingdom" he replied, 'tbut
Mark-call me Mark, if you please.
How long it is since / have seer you'll"
sIt is hardly my fault" Rhoda cold
ly replied; for she thought he had pur-
posely avoided her family since they
became poor.
Perhaps it is mine," he said;
stthough, indeed, Rhoda, have thought
of you a great deal, and inquired 10,
you, lately. Are you walking home
now2 May I go along with you?"
81 you wish to see how poorly we are
obliged to %live," she answered, in the
same cold tone of voice.
They walked on together, but with
few words. They came to Mrs. Town.
sends door. Rhoda stopped, as if to
bid him good-by.
"May l go in and see your mother?" he
asked, as if he had been humbly begging
a favor.
ooh yes, I suppose So" said Rhoda!
and, after hesitating a moment, she
showed him in.
Perhaps, on reflection, she was quite
willing that he should see the poverty to
which they had been reduced.
Mrs. Townsend received him kindly,
and he sat down in a little sitting-room
where the long struggle between neat
ness and want had left its sad trace.
II should not have known you," she
remarked. Indeed, I never saw you
many times. You came to Rhoda's birth.
day party once, / remember"
Tears rushed into the mothers eyes,
as she thought of the changes in her
family since that happy time.
Marks heart was full. 1t was some
time before he could command himself
to speak.
"Rhoda thinks I haven't wished to
keep up the acquaintance" he said at
length.
"There was no reason why you shonld
wish to-" Rhoda said demurely. ~
wasn't blaming you"
Then suddenly Marks words came in
burst eff emotion.
"There has never been q day since l
last saw you, Rhooa," he said, when ]
haven't had you and your folks
in my mind. I promised once.
you remember, to do something for
you. But 1 wasn't able to. That is the
true reason why haven't tried to see
you since"
1t evidently gave him so much pain
to say what he did, that Rhoda inter
rupted him.
"You needn't explain! always had
faith in you. Please don't allude to
what's past, N more!'
But I must!' Mark exclaimed.
"There was a business transaction be-
tween your father and mine, which I
could never feel right about. Mr..
Townsend was a looser by his bargain.
MY father was in the end a gamer,
though he didn't think so Mt first; he
didn't mean to be unjust. He is dead
now; and [ want you to think better OF
him than you did at one time"
Dead" said Mrs. Townsend. II
hadn't heard of it."
"He has been dead six months" said
Mark, in a low tender voice. "He left
everything to my mother and MEG
large property" -
He hesitated, then turned his eyes
earnestly on Mrs. Townsend. She was
studying him with strange, sad, fearful
looks.
My mother thinks as I do of that SON
tract" he went or. "There is some
twenty-three thousand dollars, including
interest, o due-iustly due-from
our estate to yours, and we have made
all arrangements to have it paid"
TO have it paid--twenty-three thou
sand? [ don't understand you'll" said
Mrs. Townsend, in great agitation,
II understands" said Rhoda, wild with
Joy. at is Mark! the same Mark fused
to know, and have such faith in!"
The poor widow still looked bewiId.
cred.
10 you really mean"-she began.
Il mean every word [ said," replied
Mark. radiant with happiness. "Our
lawyer will pay over to you tomorrow
twenty-three thousand and some odd
dollars-the sum which we 1--WE YOU
HAnd Maria can leave that horrid
store! And Thomas can still goto col
lege!" exclaimed Rnoda, throwing her.
self on her mothers neck. and kissing
her wildly, while Mark shed tears Of
Joy and sympathy. "And you, dear,
mother! you shan't work so, as you do,
any more!'
"You don't think of yourself, Rhoda!n
said her mother.
Indeed, that was always Rhoda's way.
Fortunate with Corn Fodder.
I consider this one of the most profit.