The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1885-03-13
swine were said to make a poor meal

Aoou claSSeS were over at D. he went
at once to his study, a pleasant room
sacred to his most precious manuscripts.
Among these latter appeared a great
deal in other handwriting than that of
the professor. 1t was quite possible
that Fancy found it a pleasure to assist
her husband In his literary labors.
Martha was reminded by her brothers
appearance that she must set homeward.
Its time 1 was starting" she SAID,
"Johnu have the horse all ready and
waiting for me to go down after Phil
brick. Can't you come up tomorrow,
Fancy? My dressmakerM be there Tn
getting three elegantnew dresses made"
Fancy smiled. Her visitor had talked
constantly since arriving, and, though
at times diverging therefrom, had some
how managed to SWING regularly back
to The all-absorbing topic of dress.
Martha wore a new red shawl with
stripes of gilt tinsel--such a shawl as
city women keep for evening use. She
drew this over her shoulders and started
down the path.
III look for you tomorrow, Fancy"
she insisted, without attending the lat
ter's remonstrance and excuse.
Fancy watched her going up the road.
She looked voluminous and unwieldv
with the afternoon sunlight on her black
satin dress and her red and tinseled
shawl. BY and by she was quite
hidden by the trees-tho beautiful
trees!
Fancy remained at the door. Richard
Fairweather came out of his study and
spoke with something more than his
usual tenderness.
"How is it, my dear?" he queried,
that you always look so nice and young,
and--bright? . . . 1 think it must
be the tasteful way you have with your
hair. Martha is hardly your age and she
looks ten years older"
Fancy smiled.
"Are you going to work any this after
noon, dear, she asked. DO you want me
to come and help?"
81 think we will not begin till after
supper. What in the world would / do
without you, Fancy? You really inspire
me. But for you l should lose all con-
tidence."
II am Of son use then! Martha
SAYS / I'M timorous and insignificant.
Do you think SOP"
II don't know about the timorous-
ness" said Fairweather, "but you signi-
fly n vast deal-to me at least"
He was impelled Herewith to draw
her to his knee and kiss her soft cheek
several times. He remembered this af-
terward and blessed heaven for the i'm
pulse. He also remembered how she
laid a small hand gently on his hair,
not q very pretty hand, for hands that
have toiled are never fair to see.
Martha says q mouse would brighten
me-" she pursued. "Do you think So,
Richard? ?"
Fairweather laughed.
I'm sure I couldn't say as to that.
dear. Most women are o little weak in
that respect.
Fancy glanced across the room to
where her cabinet organ stood.
"There is q little mouse" she said,
argun,entatively, "that comes out every
morning to hear me practice. I lever
feel especially frightened. I
haven't been a bad wife, have I dear,
because l have thought differently from
most people on some %subjects?'
you've been the best wife in the
world" said Fairwea'her quite fervent-
ly, and kissed her once again ere she
left his knee.
Fancy returned to the open door, and
stood there looking out. Her husband,
watching her, must have felt complac-
ent. He leaned back in his easy chair
and dreamed awhile. He was at times
most thoroughly a dreamer.
p- ,,l H. ~ -I1 =.
rather indolent frame, and joined his
wife, resting his fair-complexioned,
amiable face upon her shoulder.
us anything the matter. desr?' after
a little. You seem unlike yourself,
FESTIVE and dissatisfied with something.
Has Martha SAID anything?'
She answered, reluctantly.
II hardly know. Martha has never
o very good effect upon me. She al
ways makes me long to run away some
where" Fancy paused abruptly;
this was the nearest she had ever APP
preached to the wltticism of Richards
only sister. "She makes me feel" she
presently resumed, "as if I we're living
a lie" She turned about and faced her
husband, who had lifted his cheek from
her shoulder in mild surprise.
"Why, what do you mean," he asked,
very slowly.
IL mean that because + am outwardlv
quiet and peaceable is no reason people
should believe me timorous or coward
ly. There's more strength md ambi-
ton in my nature than even YOU know,
Richard. If [ We're out i'll the world I
would show people that che woman
could amount to something.
She seemed to lack words with which
to properly express her thoughts.
However, Fairweatbev must have had q
vague idea Of her meaning.
II wish you would not talk So" he
answered gravely. "You distress me.
1t would be great calamity fer you to
become discontinued with our life. A
discontinued woman is a husbands
curse. There is no place for woman
like her home. This going out into the
world is a vast mistake. Woman is
not fitted for the labor of a man."
When he had finished reading her a
lecture, to which the foregoing served
as introduction-when he had succeed
ed, as he felt confident, in convincing
her that m were but fair and frag-
lie flowers, ever to be sheltered and
shielded from rough winds by the inter-
posing arm of a manly protector-he
returned to the doorway and stood
again beside her.
She seemed by no means vexed; she
smiled and shook her head, but she
said no more.
Fairweather looked up the road.
"What mailman is that, I wonder"
he began %curiously, driving down the
hill at such breakneck speed? If the
horse veers to either side farther down
they'll go over into the gully"