The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1885-12-25

a penthouse.
"Oh, ma, how very genteel he ISL
said Abby Jane, all in a fiutter OF adj
miration.
"a very nice young man, indeed"
responded the deacon's wife.
And the very next week Abby Jane
came down to the Leeds farm house.
Have you heard this news about
your Eliza" she asked Of hefarmer's
wife in a mysterious whisper.
"Eh?" said Mrs. Leeds.
She's nothing but a play actressl'
said Abbey Jane, nodding her head
until the stuffed blue bird On her hat
quivered as if it were alive. "Mr. Al
phonso Trudkins saw her himself in
the Great New York Combination
Troupe. She was acting a woman
who was married to aCuban, and lost
her pockethandkerchief, and was al
terward chokcd with the pillows off
the best bed. Desdemonia her name
was, Think
"Well, and suppose she was9" said
Mrs. Leeds, who was too good n Gen
eral to let the enemy see what havoc
had been carried into her camp.
"What them"
''Nhat them" echoed Abby Jane,
Well, | do declare, Mrs. Leeds, | am
surprised"
81 don't believe a word OF it..'' said
Mrs. Leeds, %detiantly.
But Mr.. Trudkins saw her with his
own eyes" cried Abbey Jane, flushing
scarlet with Indignation. He knew
her the minute he looked at heryes-
terday i'll church. Elizabeth Ellesmere
her name was, he says, in the adver-
with a yellow scarf and u lot OF roses,
between the pieces, making herself out
to be a Spanish mandoline player.
It's enough to make ones hair stand
on end to hear Mr.. Trudkins tell
about it,"
at don't do to believe all one
hears" said Mrs. Leeds losing all
count OF the eggs she vas breaking in
to a china bowl, in her consternation.
"And Stapleville does beat all for Cos
sip"
"Well, you can ask her yourself, and
see if she dares deny it, said ABBY
Jane, e~xultantly. "Here she comes
now. Ask her-only ask her."
And Eliza came into the kitchen,
with the spice-box i'll her hand. Mr..
Nillars followed close behind, tanning
himself with q straw hat.
81 have come from the men in the
bayfield," said he. 'They want an
other Jug OF cool ginger and water,
with plenty OF molasses stirred in,
Aunt Leeds. Good morning, Miss
Clark! hope the deacon is quite well
this morning."
Abby Jane turned pink, and smiled
her most seductive smile.
con. quite So" she simpered. 81
SIS 1t true, Eliza?" Mrs. Leeds
asked, sharply. ''Have you been de-
ceiving me? Are you a play-actress
all this time?"
ELIAS large eyes turned slowly first
to one, then to another OF the little
group. She did not blush-it was not
her way-but the color ebbed slowly
away from her cream-pale cheek.
81 have been d~eceiving nobody"
said she. 81 am not an actress now.
| have been one But l did not like
the life, and so | left it. Ii any one
had asked me, l should have told
them about it long ago"
Mr.. Nillars came forward and stood
at the girls side, as he saw his aunt
shrink away.
"Wcll." he said "even taking it all
for granted, where is the harm?'
"Charles! Charles,,. cried Mrs. Leeds.
putting up her hands with a ges-
ture OF warning. Remember poor
| Alice!"
"1t is because | remember her that
speak thus" said Mr.. Villars, calmly.
III had an elder sister once" he added,
turning to Abby Jane Clark, "who
away from home and became an ac-
tress. She had talents far above the
average, but my parents were old
fashioned people, and their ideas ran
innarrowgrooves. They disapproved
of the stage, so Alice LETT us. Whether
wherever she is, | am sure that she
can not but be good and true and
pure"
Abby James eyes fell under his calm
glance. She was a little sorry that
she had chosen to come hither and
bear the news herself.
Somehow, Mr.. Nillars had taken it
in q different spirit from what chad
anticipated. And ELIAS soft, Ian
guldly-modulated voice broke on the
constrained silence like drops ofsilver
dew.
II have been an actress, and per-
haps I should still have been on the
stage" she said, had it not been for
circumstances. My father dealt in
stage properties, and | was brought
~ 10 M, E,.i,,n. l,,%+,l .....
liked it. But one a not easily step
out OF the path where ones feet have
been placed, especially if oneis a WON
an.
"However, the turning point came
at last. Our leading lady fell sick OF
a contagious fever, in a lonely village
where we had stopped to play one
night. The manager packed up every.
thing i'll a panic, and bad us all to be
ready to go. tod him | could not
leave Mrs. Montague alone. He said
that if l left the company thus, l
should never return to it."
"Well, what could I do? The stage
vas my living, it is true, but our lead
ing lady had no friends. 1t would
have been inhuman to desert her, sol
stayed behind and took are OF her.
She died, poor thing. and it swallow
ed UP all my earnings to bury her
decently.
"And then l tried here and there to
earn my living as best [ could. was
not always successful. More than
once | have been hungry andhome-
less; but heaven be praised I have al
ways found friends before the worst
came to the worst. Now, you know
all" she concluded quietly, leaning
up against the door. where the swing
ing scarlet beans made II fantastic
| BACKGROUND for her face.