The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1885-10-16

ever obtruded itself, 'tHe has not called
On me for two whole weeks" Sudden
ly. she checked herself. This will
never do she said. and sprang to her
feet, bathed her face in cold water. and
quickly dressed herself in her neat gray
walking sut and cap with scarlet
plumes, and went for a walk in the
chill December air, trying ever to Guell
the steady pain at her heart, but
thinking, ever think ng, of the endless
shifts and turns she was forced to
make in their daily life by the empti-
ness of their purse, and which seemed
this morning so utterly despicable to
her.
Prud'e was a rapid walker, and al
most before she knew she was beyond
the outskirts of the village and walk
ing along a country road bounded on
e'the side by a nigh Usage hedge. The
brown leaves of the autumn gone bv
swirled past her as she walked, hardly
noticing anything as she went by.
AT length, however. she turned and
began to retrace her steps. She walked
moro slowly now, the wind blowing
strongly in her face. Far ahead of her
the dead leaves were whirl ng in little
edd:cs and heaping theselves al the
side of the road. She picked up a long
slender stick and began turn ne over
the leaves rs she passed, finding a Ian
guld sort of enjoyment in her
ton.
All at once she started. Surely that
was no monster leaf. No, but a we'll
filled, worn leather pocket book, half
covered with the hurrying leaves.
Prudie stopped and picked 1T up. At
that moment her bad angel must have
been passing. for she glanced furtive-
ly around her, and seeing no one.
thrust it into the breast of her Jacket
and walked on with hastv steps.
AS she neared home She met Mrs.
Taylor, who exclaimed.
Laws, child. how white You be-
Have you heard the news? Old, Bryant
has lost h S pocket.boo'> with over 81
900 in it. and can't find hide nor hair
OF it. He's been postin' up a reward
Tor lt-S100- there's one of EN-"
po.nt ng to Il not ce at the corner.
Prud G read it hastily. and eNcusing
herself passed into her fathers yard.
leaving Mrs. Taylor to sol 10 luize to
herself.
She looked fit to drop. It's that
Lee Bryant S going on with Eva Eaton.
dun know as l are she ) ALWAYS
been that sit up above her betters be-
cause the Bryant's not ccd her"
Prudie on entering the house, found
not a wa ting father, but Il note lying
upon the table. 1t was 5iust the hour
of twilight, and she | GIFTED the little
reading lamp and read:-
"PRrD1E: My brother is very sick
at Manchester, and l am obliged tc
leave by the 4:50 train. Will be home
tomorrow. FATHER
Thus left TO herself. she clio <ed every
HI nd and drew every curta n in the
Little cottage. Always before, when
left alone, she had gone to the neigh
bors for company; but to n ght She
w she'd to see no one. CHANGING stealth
lily around into every corner of the
darkened apartment. she drew the
heavy pocket book from her breast
and opened it. Yes. there it was. rolls
and rolls of money. more than she had
seen together before IN her life. Over
50, 900 of that prec Gus st fl for which
men barter their souls every dav-for
which women sell their love and the
happiness of their Ives forever.
Need l say that She was tempted?
The poverty of her every day life rose
before her-the bright love dream of
her life, which lay n ashes at her feet.
passed before her mental sion. No
IL saw her pick it up, She could
destroy every article with it, and
even her own father would never know
it. Mr.. Bryant was the owner of Il
half million: he would never feel the
loss, while she must toll, unlovcI be-
cause she was poor.
Inst nctively her hand took up the
pocket book and the few papers it con-
tanned. and placed them in the open
CRATE. Then she went for kindlings
and a match. She struck the match.
1t burned with a feeble ray. but that
u ray cast all its | ght upon one line
of an anc,ent illuminated ten com
mandments'' which hung upon the
wall. and that line shone out like a
text of fire.
''Thou shalt not steal"
The match fell from the outstretched
hand. The articles were snatched
from the CRATE, and she replaced ev-
erything as she first found them. Then
the White Ups whispered, Am ] a
thief!T' Conscience answered. AL
most, not cutie. thanks to God!"
No. no! she might be rated among
tie humblest Of the earth-might be
tritied with in her tendrrest feeling
by the son of the man whose money
she hcld-but rude Warner q thief
Never.
Morning came cold and gray, the
mo,ning of the last day of the wear.
the morning before Mrs. Bryant's
party. Before nine O'Clock Prudie
Warner was again dressed i'll her gray
walking suit and upon the street
this tine bound for the great house
upon the hill.
1t was a timid little pull that Prudie
gave the bell, but it was immcdi ately
answered by Mrs. Bryant herself. who
kissed Prudie atlectionately as she en-
tered.
my dear, why have you not called
on us before? l have been telling Eva
all about you, and have looked for YOU
every day. We have been very lonely
since Lee has been in New York. but
he returns to-day. Come in and sec
Eva and she hurried embarrassed
Prudie into the breakfast room. My
niece, Eva Eaton, Miss Warner" she
continued. Why, Prudic, how dazed
you look!"
well. may" said Prudie. recov-
ering herself. II found MIR. Bryant's
pocket book"
sis that sop" cried Mr.. Bryant, from
the other side of the room. Where on
earth was itP''
Prudie explained as well as she was
able, while amidst all the EXPLANATIONS
and questions that followed, golden.
haired Eva Eaton had slipped into the
zeal by the side of Prudie. and had