The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1884-08-15
| CANNOT TELL YOU.

evil you marry me, Violet, as your
father wished?"
The girl turned and laid her hand in
the ~questioner's with the simple answer
contidingly uttered:
IT will"
And then Violet Allyn was betrothed
to Carol Danton, just one day after the
cruel stroke that had left her fatherless.
She was but sixteen, and love as she
was to know it in later years, was a
sealed page to her as yet; but her whole
respect and esteem had been long since
won by the noble man whom her father
had loved during the last years of his
life as a son..
Carol Danton was twice her g and
had seen much of the world, but surely
never in any cline could his eyes have
rested upon a lovelincss more perfect
than that of his betrothed.
In her deep mourning garb, her sweet
face, surrounded with its aureole of pale
gold, seemed to him as fair as an
angels.
They were married, and a brief happy
year fitted by. Though outwardly the
same, Violet was n child no longer.
With her now life and duties new
thoughts and capabilities had sprung
into Immediate being, and an emotion,
overmastering and absorbing, had taken
its dominion within her heart.
Her love for her husband in its inten-
sity almost frightened herself, and it
servedto render her shy Of expressing
herself through actions or words, lest
she should appear ridiculous; and thus,
though he recognized the affection that
was SO thoughtfulfor his every comfort,
Carol little dreamed of the real depth
Of the tenderness that filed his young
wife's heart for him.
Although it occupied a large portion of
his time to attend to the extensive estate
which his wife had brought him, Car
rolls own business interests, which he
had retained, notwithstanding his
wealthy marriage, compelled his occas-
ional absences from home.
At such times, at his desire, his
cousin Maria Danton, abouthis own age,
and therefore much older than Violet,
Installed herself at Allyn Hall as COM
panion for his young wife.
Gop11 Carmel baro 1nolo5 into +bo
future, he would as soon have placed a
viper amid the bouquet of fragrant
flowers which was his daily Offering to
his wife, as to have introduced into his
happy home one who came there with
the intention fully formed of working,
if it came within her power, no good,
but deadliest harm.
All her life, despite entire lack of
encouragement, Maria Danton had
loved her cousin. She was very plain.
and keenly sensitive to the fact, and
aroused a demon of jealous hatred with
in her breart. But she had managed to
conceal so we'll her real feelings under a
garb of cousnnly affection and interest
that Violet, as Carol, had been de-
ceived.
She had been at the Hall three
weeks, during which Carol had been
away from home. His return was
expected at the expiration Of another
week, but, Unexpectedly, he came sew
eral days sooner
Late one evening, full of eagerness
to see once more the dear little wife
from whom he had been separated SC
much longer than ever before, aud tc
enjoy her surprise, he entered the
drawing room unannounced, to find
Maria there alone.
An ]onr passed. Satan had placed
at last the coveted opportunity within
Maria Danton's reach, and she used it
SO skillfully, vailing her malice under
81 aspect of grave and %sorrowful con-
Germ, that when Violet entered the
room, her fair hair clinging, wet with
dew, about her forehead, and q shawl
enveloped her slender form, it was tc
shrink back In startled surprise at the
expression upon the two faces that met
her eyes.
Her train laid, with an evil smile
Maria made her exit from the room.
Time passed, and no sound of alter.
cation penetrated the closed doors.
But the traitor without smiled still
more ev1lly as, a half hour later, she
heard the hall door close with q re.
sounding clang, and a few moments af.
ter a light football go falteringly, witt
many pauses, up the stairs.
To her husbands natural query a.
to where she had been thus alone al
such a late horr, Violet had replied
that she was unable to give him an an
swer.
When she realized the suspicion.
that We're filling his mind, terror hat
seized her, and she had vowed to hin
that there was no occasion for them.
"Then give me the explanation
ask" he said. II Will brook no secrets
4 can give my trust either n all, or no
at all. Violet, as your husband, I com
mand you to tell me who it is you hav.
met clandestinely every night for !,
week"
At the conclusion of his sentence IN
indignant light famed in Wiolet's face
II see now who it is that has poisoned
your mind against me, she cried. .sNt
one but Maria could have known 81
much concerning my movements. Car
rol, if you choose to believe and trus
her before YOU wife, I lawe nothing
further to say or plead"
"Then you refuse to tell me what
ask? Violet, l have given you a hus
bands Affection; it surely calls fol
something better than reserve and du
plicity. For the sake of your own hap
piness and mine, I implore you to bt
frank. Innocence has no fear; it il
only guilt that overs and trembles."
But though tears drenched he
cheeks, II cannottell you what you ask,
was all the answer Violet gave to he
husbands moving appeal.
More words passed, angry and bitter