The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1885-08-28
HER lUSBAND'S SECRET.
b Heller FonREsr GRAVES.

- WI
For Minna Morton RAJ q working
mil. Too delicate to stand behind the
counter or superintend the busy loom,
shs yet endeayorsd to earn her own
ivelihoodb by means Of nm artists palette
and sleaf Of brushes.
Her outfit had cost a considerable
SUM there was no denying that; but
Rosa Hale, who stitched kid gloves in q
down town factory. had lent her the
money forthe purchase. and little Bess
Beaton, the landlady's daughter, "sat"
o her two hours every day after school
quite satisfied with gingerbread nuts
% munich and q battered rag doll, which
hail belonged TO Minna's own younger
days, to play with.
And Minna was young and hopeful,
and in the far distance saw herself ac-
curing name and fortune by means Of
her beloved art.
This morning, however, the
seemed q degree gloomier than its usual
won't; and when Minna arranged her
canvas on the easel, a dim sort OF mis-
giving crept across her heart.
il was . simple picture that she had
paintsd--a little girl playing on q sun
Ascked barn-loor, with q brood OF
chickens Auttering around her, and q
stealthy cat advancing from beneath
tangled masses Of hay.
Yesterday the little girl had seemed
animated with real, actual life; the hay
hAd seemed almost t rustle in the wind;
one could almost perceive the sinuous,
gliding motion Of the cat. But to-day it
was asn . leaden spell had descended
upon everything.
Am an artlst?n Minna asked her
self .aor am / not?n
Rosa Hale's step. coming softly down
the stairs, aroused her from : Disagree
able ~reyerie.
She hurried TO the door, with the al
most invisible limp which had always
haunted her since that unlucky fall Of
her childhood.
Rosa" " she said. care youth ahurry ?
Do come in q momentls
And Rosa came in, with her little
brown bonnet neatly tied under her
chin, and her lunch basket in her hand,
on her way to the factory where real
imported kid gloves, fresh from Paris"
were turned out by the dozen gross a
day; 49,
cheerfnlly.
.Look at this PICTURE said Minna,
drawing her up in front of the easel.
We'll, I'm looking" said Rosa.
aWhat do you think Of it,"
Rosa repeated. why, / think it j,
beautifully
oh, I know THAR impatiently cried
Minna. .tT'he bits Of hay are painted
to perfection, and the rat-holes in the
barn-foor are copied exactly after that
one in the corner Of the cupboard, but
al that isn't true art, Rosa. Does the
childlook as if she would speak toyoug
1.-THE checks in her bingham
apron are painted beautifully" said
Ross, timidly.
Minna frowned.
But the cat?" said she. lis il
live cat? Do 70 fancy you are going t.
nee her spring? p
.N-no,s unwillingly admitted Rosa
It's . lovely cat, but it's only a picture
Of q cat! Minna-dear Minna,
haven't offended you, have II"
tOh, no" said Minna, lightly. "Bu
you have told me exactly what I wanted
% know-whatI was sure Of myself
Good-by, Rosal-and mind you don
bring me any more Of those delicious
little bouquets. They're lovely, bur
they cost five cents, and you haven
d fve-cent pieces to throw away"
And so, with o loving kiss, she dis
missed the pink-cheeked little factory,
girl, who was always so kind to her; ant
then she sat down in the Upas SHADOW
Of The dismal whitewashed wall, AM
cried
1Iknew it all along" she declared
HYou are ahideous little impostor!" It,
the simpering figure in the foreground
And You TO the cat fare simply
thing Of wood. And i am not an arts
ct ALI II"
.Rat, tat, tail" cam a soft knock a
the door.
Minna started guilty to her feet, ant
dashed away the wet spray Of tears iron
her cheek.
Come in!" said she,
And to her horror, she saw standin.
there q tall, pleasant-faced young man
What did you please to want? y sait
she. rather timidly.
81 beg your pardon" said he
but are you the young lady who sent
note to Palmer & Co, picture dealers
My father has q attack of lumbago thi
morning, and is unable to come out
He has sent me in his stead
Minna colored deeply as she remem
bered that in her elation of the day be
fore she had actually been so foolish q
to write to Palmer II Co. to send up q
expert to value her picture for the sales
room.
Where is the picture?" he asked
sis this lip"
.Yes, Minna answered, with an ode
choking sensation in her throat. "Br
but
IT was of no use. The tears woul
come. She sat down in the cushione
windOwsseat, and hid her face in he
hands.
aHas anything ~happened?" aske
MI. Paul Palmer, genuinely disconcer1
ed.
Nothing more than might hay
been expected, said Minna, trying |
smile. Please don't think me foolish
Yesterday / fancieds that this daub (
mine was q gem of art. Now my eye
have been opened. ! know that it
northeast
Mr.. Palmer glanced scrutinizingly {
the picture.
But. said he, ARE you sure tht
you are the best iudgs?"
One can trust ones own instinct
mid Minna, sadly. s am sorry 1 hay