The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1885-05-22

the evenings moro delightful as she
sang her old ballads with an art and
a sweetness that held him spelIbound
He was drifting, drifting with the
tide. and yet he knewit not. Only one
| was conscious of it, and she only in a
vague. uneasy way.-the wife who felt
that he was changed. Someway she
feared more than she knew, and her
fair countenance began to wear an
anxious, foreboding look, and some.
times the soft brown eyes were full of
tears.
Carl noticed his wife's changing
looks one day, and very gravely asked
if she was ill.
"No, Carl, feel quite we'll"
..Bnt you are pale, and you are los
ing flesh. See how thin you are, Lii
lias!' and he slipped the diamond ring
up and down the slender finger that he
remembered at one time had ouite
filed the golden %circlet.
ut is the hot eason perhaps she
said, turning away her head.
You ought to 90 out doors more.
Won't ynn go boating with us this af-
t%ernoonp" asked Carl. so~licitouslv.
"No. thank you Carl; l do not care
to-
Then come out and play croquet
on the lawn with us, Lillias."
II never play %croqnet, you know"
she replied with y sigh.
esHullo, Sir Cavalier!!' cried Maud's
silvery voice, $50 you are making love
to your wife while your guests are suf-
fering from enaiWt!! Don't sit here
like an owl, but come out into. the
sum-
She laughed gayly and went out, and
he arose and followed her. In her COM
pany he forgot the momentary thought
that had troubled him.
That afternoon they took a row up-
on the river. Carl, Maud, Ellice, and
Guy and Stella Vincent, two Young
folks from a neighbours house. Never
had Maud appeared SO queenly, never
had her conversation been so brilliant.
She fairly facinated them all by her
cancellations OF wit, her quickness of
repartee, her rare faculty for story
telling And poor Carl a%dmiringly
listened while through his brain fash
ed the thought. III | was free / could
win this glorious creature. Why can
not Lillian be as brilliant PY
1t was nearly dark as they walked
up to the house, and the grounds were
dim in the twilight shade.
"stelia, Guy, you must sec Lillias'
rose tree" cried cou i Ellice. ..It is
a wonder and she d them to a dis
tant part of the garden.
9" am tired said Maud. 81 think
q little music will cheer me. Mr..
Leigh, shall 1 not sing to youpn
de bowed, murmnring some gallant
speech. he scarcely knew what, as she
flashed her sorceress eyes full upon
him.
The piano stood in a far of, shad.
owy corner of the long high parlor.
and her white hands sparkling with
rings went strAying over the KEYS with
mastery skill. 1t was no schoolgirl
jingle; every note breathed fire and
passion, flames from the hot BURNING
Southern heart of the ploud beauty
singing. She had a rich, clear voice,
" n p%laintive, and was a perfect
mistress of it.
u was an Italian opera that she
sung full of love and passion, and of
music, too, and she played it from
memory. Carl went and stood by her
side. and gazed down upon the inn
%Iperiously beautiful face. The be-.
witching spell of her music and her
beauty, and tile dreamy stiffness of
the hour fairly intoxicated him. He
felt that he could have fallen upon his
knees there and worshipped her.
She finished the opera, aud the Jew
elled hands went wandering tremu-
lously oyer the ivory, the long black
lashes yelling the dark l%ustrous eyes.
Finally she stopped. whirled round on
her stool. and said, with one of her
bewlldering smiles:
- am going away tomorrow, Mr..
Leigh. So yon must prepare to bid
me goodbye"
Going away Y he gasped. 80
Maud, where Pr
t.Homc-down South. | am tired
of this northern climate aud the cold
hearts in it. Oh, my beautiful Louisi-
ana ! that any one should prefer this
country to you! I"
Carleton Leigh turned white u mo-
ment, and then u hot flush swept over
his face. He grasped one OF the soft
lily hands and ~knee!ing cred:
cannot let you go. Stay, here,
Maud, and be the sunshine of my lite.
| never knew till now what u paradise
you have made this world to me. viii
you go and leave me when I-oh, God,
what am | saving r"
Maud Armitage placed her other
hand in his and stopped forward, oaz-
ing will, her beautiful eyes upon his
strained, passion-heated face.
You love nc, Carlp''''she breathed.
He raised both hands to his lips ram
ing kisses upon them till they were as
flushed as her cheeks.
Love you! Great Heavens, L."
The merry laugh of Ellice and the
yolces of their friends on the piazza Mt
this instant startle them both. Maud
turned suddenly to the piano and
struck up a lively air. Carl arose and
lighted the lamps,
Two hours later he lighted a cigar
and wandered mechanically IL among
the garden paths. He came to a lit
tie sulmmer-house, and with a sigh en-
tered and sat down on a rustic seat.
His brain was in a whirl; he could not
think clear, and he sank into q stupid
reverie.
He was aroused by the sound of a
voice-her voice; it thrilled him all
over like a draught of wine. The
soft rustic of feminine garments paus-
ed near HIM and he heard Maud say:
"Ellice, | shall conquer. If you had
not interrupted us l should have o
his confession tonight. But I know
that he loves me. / told him that I was
gong away tomorrow, but / shall
stay a few days longer now"
E Al -A go - -. ST.. -.