The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1885-10-09

Il dsredescapeto you. Freedom, love,
happ;ness-mlay they still be mine?
Before long / will grant you an inter-
view. will promise you nothing
more than that now. Percy, my only
love, God bless and keep you until we
meet.
Zone word more. Pray becautious.
III my husband should discover this
correspondence l cannot 8 W for
the consequences. Though he has new
err lll-treated me I know him to be q
hard man. Let me hear from you
soon. Yours"
The name was illegible, for the sheet
WAS much discolored and blc:ted by
the rain. But it was Lucie's fine, del
icate chirography, and / ielt as if a
thunder-bolt had broken around me.
After q moments blank wonderment
and strange, bewildering pain, / put
the sheet in my pocket and quietly
continued my way. Such a flood OF
emotion was stirred within that /
suinmoneda superficial calmness from
an instinct of self-preservation.
I WAS conscious of one predominant
feeling as | went to the city-hatred
against my wife for her duplicity. /
must have looked w%retchedly when /
reached the Office, but my partner was
too much excited to notice it.
1knowles,H heexclaimed ssthere was
a terrible fire in Philadelphia last
night, and our branch house is burned
to the ground. Here is dispatch from
Weiss. He wants you to come on inn
mediatelyu
In two hours ! was OF my way to
Philadelphia.
There was much to doto restNre our
interests, and I lent myselfto the work
with all my energies. 1t was the best
thing that could have happened to
me. 1t gave me no more time to think
Of Lucie.
| wrote her once, telling her very
briefly that / should not be at home
for a month. 1t was six weeks before
! again arrived at Daphne Dell. The
maid was washing the hall.
How do you do, Dorcas? How is
Mrs. Knowles?"
very comfortable. / think she is
sleeping now, sir"
Somewhat bewildered by this reply
| went into the sitting-room. No sign
of Lucie or at her work. / mounted
to the chamber and quietly opened
the door.
The room was darkened. Luciewas
sitting up in bed nursing the infant.
Sweetly and calmly she extended her
hand to me. Invent to her-I put my
arms about her-I kissed her. Icould
not help it, for / felt that the child up
on her bosom was my own. The
nurse came in, took the infant from
her, and babe her lie down to rest.
She was very weak. Icannot ex.
press my contending feelings as ]
watched her fragile face upon the pill
low.
Slowly she gained strength. 1t was
midsummer before she was about the
house again. The little one had beer
prematurely born, but it throve, and
the mothers health was finally re
stored.
/ was rejoiced at this. ! should
have been perfectly happy but for the
letter. The memory of it was like ar
ugly devil that Knocked me.
One day as Lucie sat tending her
child in a low chair by the window
laid the'sheet before her. had fixed
my eyes upon her face, and saw asloN
surprise dawn upon it.
Where did you find this, Will? ]
lost it months ago"
"Under the orchard wall. What
does it mean, Lucie?"
"Well,n O slight blush, "you have
found me out: It's a leaf from q story
was writing
"And Percy"
tsNYas the hero. The sheet mus,
have blown out thewindowthat rainy
night last spring. You see, dear
| didn't like to tell you, because
I thought you wouldn't like tt
have a literary wife, but Ihad beer
accustomed to writing stories some
times, and when / knew baby was
coming Thought would earn themon
ey myself for Che embroidered flame
and cambria, dresses. / knew YOU
needed every cent in your business.
had to rewrite this letter for my 70
NANCE" she continued, "and / didn'
get it quite the same examining tn
sheet.
l looked at hersweetface for a mo
ment and then fell down on my knee
beside her. / confessed all. Sios
amazement dawned III her counte
nance. At length her soft eyes filled
with tears. She drew my face dow
to her bosom where thelittle baby wa
slumbering.
Another lover?n she murmured
why, VIII, nobody but you ever Low
ed me in all my lifel'
Then, again, / knew that she wa
once more my Lucie!