The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1885-12-11
renely. "But let us keep up at least
the sanb]opc, of ,;J,a1 ,

Every good" said Laura, retiring
with a final wave, while Alfred laughed
quietly to himself.
You are Il child, and no mistake
he thought, contemplating his cousin
~patronizingly from his lofty summit
OF twenty-three years. at would be
comical if the black flag should be ex,
changed for u white one before | leave,
young lady"
Early the next morning Laura stood
IN the garden waiting for her aunt.
The horse was harnessed, waiting to
take them to the village where Miss
Southweli did all her marketing. She
had been trying for some weeks to in
doctrinate Laura into it's mysteries,
and the young lady proved herself an
apt scholar
The old-fashioned, pleasant house
which Miss Southwell and her brother
had occupied now some thirty years
stood on a hill in the outskirts OF the
village. The grounds We're tastefully
laid out, the mountain air was deli
cious and in~vigorating.
There could not be q more glorious
morning than this, yet the expression
OF trouble on Laura's pretty face
showed that hcrmood was not in har-
mony with the day.
$50 provoking,"sh muttered, chat
| should have lost my temper that
way! But it was bad enough to have
my ball croqueted way to the ends of
the earth without his looking SO
pleased over it."
UScpb;o H;1Io,, +o2 ,o,. ,-
Mr.. Palmer and me as she did! 1t was
real unladylike. And to think of her
whispering to Mary Shaw that l was
a little stinging cockatrice!' l never
canget over that"
"But, oh dear! l did say some
dreadfully spiteful thing. Well,
don't care; Alfred and Sophie were
really aggravating. and Mr.. Palmer
thought 50, too. How polite he is, al
ways making You feel SO pleased with
yourself! l wish he wasn't such a
fool"
At this moment Maria, one of their
servants, came running down the
piazza steps. Shelooked so frightened
that Laura's heart leaped to her
mouth.
"Oh, Miss Laura, your aunt has
hurt her ankle bad, and Pm most
afraid It's broke. She was hallway
down the stairs when she fell, and her
whole weight came on it,"
But Laura was in the house by this
time. She found her aunt in her room
lying on the lounge. looking very pale,
but composed. Don't be frightened,
child" she said in a soothing tone;
"my ankles not broken, only badly
sprained. katy's drawing NE some
hot water to shower it with. And
now dear, as your uncle is away, |
feel that you and Alfred must be my
main dependence"
"iou and Alfred" 1t seemed an odd
conjunction. But Laura only muir
INJURED, as she laid her cheek against
Miss Southwell's, What can we do
for YOU, dearest aunty?"
Aunt Lefty kissed the girl affection
ately. Our friends from New York
will be here this afternoon, as YOU
know, and | am sure they will spend
at leasta week with us. Judging from
past experience, | fear l shall be laid
up sometime with the sprain. Now,
Laura, YOU have proved such q capa-
bic little housekeeper on II or two
occasions hat | feel | can trust YOU
even with company in the house. And
then our girls are SO capable''-with q
smile at Katy, who came in lust then
with the hot water.
"Bless you, ma'am, we'll do bcautl-
full" said Katy" Though its sorry I
am to see YOU laid up."
well, Laura, ! want you to go to
market the first thing. Your cousin
will drive you over, | know. I've al
ways found him kind and obliging.
And then he has such good Judgment.
Here is the list OF things l want you
to order
Whatever misgivings Laura felt, she
did not make them known. "ln do
just what you tell me, aunty," she
SAID, with unwonted docility. "Now
please attend to that poor ankle right
away. Sha'n't we stop at the doctors
and ask him to come round?"
"No, no; I'm an old hand at sprains
and III treat it better myself"
"Weil, don't worry, precious aunty,
for we'll ali do our very best" said
Laura.
But as she descended the stairs she
felt half afraid, half rebellious. 81
hate to ask him." she murmured to
herself. GLOW he did treat me last
night and this morning, too. Why,h lie
would scarcely look at me-"
Yet in her heart there was a secret
longing to be friends with her cousin.
She vas too proud to apologize, but
an idea struck her just then. Her
face broke INTO a smile, as, taking out
her handkerchief, she tied it to the
handle OF her parasol.
"My flag of truce" she said, giving
it q flourish, II shall ask for a sus-
pension Of hostilities till uncle gets
back"
fastening her steps, she trippcd off
in the direction OF the arbor where
her cousin was wont to smoke his
morning cigar.
''Yes, there he was, enjoying that
masculine luxury and the newspaper
together. Laura slackened her gait
now, as she approached, waving her
''whlte flag solemnly and slowly.
Alfred looked up, and his face relax
ed into a smile. "Well?" he asked,
slanciny humorously at the handker-
chief.
Its a flag OF truce" said Laura,
solcmnly.
GIVE come to request OF my honor
able enemy suspension of hostilities
for tw~enty-four hours"
Agreed said Alfred, rising and
speaking with such cordial good
humor that Laura felt her heart i'm
mensely lightencd. "But l may ask
the reason for this o on my fair
enemy's part?"
'oh, it's a shame to Joke whenpoor
aunty's hurt herself so?" said Laura,
with a sudden change OF tone. "She's
sprained her ankle badly, just when
she's expecting company, too. Uncle
won't be back till tomorrow, and she
feels she must depend upon you and
me, and so thourht we mipht'-