The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1885-10-30
KATIES RIVAL.

b. ASSH So, III ASl St1l} WI
Lee is, and cannot be anythingmor to
me than a friend; SO if you respect my
wishes in the least you will not men
ton his name to me again"
And Katie Lane flung back her bright
brown curls as she spoke, a little dis
dainfully, perhaps, and bent q little
lower over the piece of crocheting she
held in her hands. @
| will not stop to tell you that she,
my heroine, was handsome; suffice it
to say that she was the belle of the
pretty village of M; and, as a mat
ter of course, vas sought after anda adj
mired by all the young men OF the
place, not only because she was witty
and accomplished, but because old Guy
Lane was the w~ealthiest man in the
place, and would one day leave his all
in the hands of Katie, as the only legal
heir.
Maud Anthony laughed low and tri-
umphantly as she returned:
"Really, Katie. you need not speak
so angrily. Everybody thinks you
are going to marry him, and for my
part, | think he will make some u a
kind husband"
"Well, lfyousee so many good quail
ties about him why don't YOU marry
him? When see fit to get married L
shall take whom Iplease, despite what
everybody says"
The curls flew again, and the spark
ling eyes glanced saucily at the finish
ed coquette opposite her.
ooh, no! SO my pretty young lady
is getting angry, Ell? II that's case
| must flee. Only remember l have
done my duty. l thought you ought
to know how peoplear are talking"
"1ou need not trouble yourself Miss
Anthony, to look after my affairs;
you must have enough OF your ownto
look after. When Ineed your advice
/ will surely let you know. SO l bid
you good afternoon"
The queenly little head rose proud
ly erect at this, and with ~ascornful ex-
preston on her lips Katie walked
quickly away into the shadow of the
~ ''S vi IL SttlbCIl.
As she walked hastily on a footstep
on the other side OF the hedge checked
her flight, andinamoment Wilkes Lee,
the subject Of the little conversation
under the elms, scrambled up into
sight. without seeming to have seen
Katie, and FASTENED away.
The strange little heart of Katie gave
a sudden start as she recognized her
old friend and-lover, and she paused,
murmuring:
81 wonder if he heard what we said?
| wouldn't have had him for all the
world. A plague on Maud Anthony.
She forcedme to say it. Isupposeshe
is glad, too; for now she thinks Idon't
care for him."
For II moment Katie was silent as
she worked nervously at the pretty
diamond ring hat encircled that
chubby forefinger. 1t was a gift from
Wilkes, a betrothal ring.
II don't care!" Katie at last broke
out, pontingly. "Now, that I've said
it, I'll show Mis- Anthony | mean it.
There!" she said, as she drew the dia-
mond from her finger andcastit away
into the bushes, "there, lie there and
rust, for all | care. Much good may
it do you, Maud, too. You can catch
him, know, but what do | carer"
More than you think, my pretty
heroine; we shall see.
"A moment Kate stood therelooking
in the direction of the hedge; then
clapping her hands to her face she
burst into aquiet shower of tears.
On the other side OF the hedge Wilkes
Lee strobe quickly away, sayingsheep-
ishly:
"NVell, well; a pretty scrape YOU
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS my boy. Didn't
mean to be an eavesdropper, certainly;
accidents will happen, you know. So
she don't care for you, eh2 Well see.
III warrant she don't know her own
heart now. | think I'll run away a
few days, and let her get owe her fit"
And the young man disappeared in
the underbrush that lined the road,
leaped over the fence, and was soon
lost to view in the distance.
y "
Katie waited patiently for many
days for the visit OF her once ardent
lover, and then, concluding that he
had not only overheard what she said
that day in the garden. but had taken
her at her word. commenced NOT 70
look alone. but to mourn him as lost
to her. indeed.
And Maud ANTHONY. to whom all
this was due. reioiced That, Wilkes
seemed to have suddenly ceased to
visit the Lanes, and strove With re.
newed efforts to ]entanole the hand
some Young fellow-for Wilkes Lee
was considered the best catch the VII.
lape afforded. Bnt with ali the pleas
ine ways she could effect. Wilkes seem.
ed imnreenable to her attemns. In.
deed. no one knew that he even no.
ticed her. save Katie. who looked ON
jealousy. thinkinp she could no lonoer
hold q place by her side. In Katie's
presence alone did Wilkes seem oco