The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1885-04-17
luCE'S LETTER

ter was not in q mood for activs e1er-
tionsor remonstrance Of any kind. II
her pretty daughter, kneeling there on
the carpet, with her curly head on her
mothers knee, her blue eyes seconding
the motion Of her coaxing cherry-red
mouth, her little hands, so soft and
white and delicately shaped, clasped in
playful s~upplication; il she, I say,
had proposed q voyage to the South
Sea Islands on q mission Of charity
instead 81 : pleasure trip to the
country, Mrs. Rossiter would scarcely
have found the strength OF will to OPP
pose her. AS il was, tho bright face OF
the kneeling girl grew brighter still, ~
she sprang up with a musical THANK
you, mamma" and changed her seat on
the aoor for one on the knee Of . port
w pleasant-featured old gentleman,
who sat ina lounging-chair before the
window, reading.
With 4 quick movement, as graceful
as a was audacions, she pulled his
morning paper away from him. and
sdropped i on the floor, set her pretty
little foot upon il firmly.
What DO you say, papa?g" she asked.
well, Whist il it, my pet?"
The old gentleman did not seem
EEt4za IDtl1ns
much ont Of temper for the liberties she
had taken, bnt. putting his arms about
her. drew her toward him and kissed
her over and over again. Any one,
with half 9 glance at the pair, would
have known that Alice Rossiter was the
pride and darling Of her fathers heart.
We'll, you see, papa, instead DIGGING
to Brighton with Helen and Marion, I
want to visit Auntie Russell, for a sir
weeks'rustication. II has been 80 long
since ! inhaledsa real country breeze,
that actually Ihave forgotten what one
Is like. Buttercups and daisies would
be greater Injuries than Jewels to me,
and for the life of me I don't believe /
could tell to q certainty whether poSa-
toes grow on vines or bushes. Then I
overheard DR.. Andrews telling grandma
yesterday how shockimgly thin aud
sallow I was getting. He saidI needed
air and exercise more than phvsic-that
. few weeks in the country, with plenty
OF romping, pudding and milk, fresh mir
and hirtationwith q rustic lover, would
set me mp in roses and dimples for q
wAole year. Besides. papa"
Hush, You rattle-headed pussy cat!
Eonr reasons are forcible ones, and 80
plenty and veil arranged that I think
you must have made out q list of them
AtdleR1ned them by heart. But what
about Brighton? / don't understand
how the belle Gifts last season-the vain
miss who came home again with her
giddy little head quite turned with her
numerous ronqnests-can relinquish
thus the chance to repent her triumphs."
Aliaescurled her scarlet lip disdain-
fully. Her father smiled. That aues-
tion was disposed Of.
"But Alley, it won't beprudent foryou
TO- go Alone What with fence-climb-
ing, hunting for new laid eggs and SIM
liar propensities which wonld develop
themselves in you, should be in con-
tinual fear of sprained wrists, dislocated
ankles, . bruised head or q broken neck.
You would need some one to keep CON
tinual watch oye You. We could not
spare any OF the servants, and as for
having q private companion-"
THAT was just what I was going to
say when you interrupted me,n Alice
broke in eagerly. "There is Miss Dun
bar, Hattle's governess, who could be
spared IS we'll as not, and I am sure
she would be willing to oblige me-"
aVery we'll, Just as you and she can
agree. You have my consent to any.
thing reasonable. And now be off,
gypsy Hereis something TO defray
expenses. Pick up that paper under
your toes, and don't smother me with
kisses, pussy. And, placing a bank
note in her hand, Mr.. Rossiter unseat-
ed her from his knee, and following her
graceful figure for a moment with o
glance Of pardopabie fatherly pride, rc-
gurned his reading.
Dear, sweet. uuselfsh Ally Rossiter!
How from my heart of hearts thanked
her, when she came into my room few
minutes afterward and told me of her
The day before when she was
chatting gayly with me OF the coming
season at the fashionable watering-place
I was more her confident than
were either Of her naughty elder sisters
~ had accidently let fall q wish that
/ might have q few weeks vacation from
my duties as goyerness to pass in the
GOODNESS and quiet Of the country. Ev-
er since the sprung / had been longing
for the green fields, the singing birds,
the smell of the young meadow clover
and the sight Of the growing corn; for
4 was born and bred o country maiden,
and the old tastes and instincts were
strong within me. The hot breath of
town stuffed me. and so / told her with
wiStfrl tears nmy eyes. Ashadow came
over her fair face whileI was speaking,
and Ichecked myself mvoluntarily. I
had without meaning II stirred her gem
erous impulsive nature to pity. Blessed
darlingl She did not know that I saw
through her ahectionate little strata
gem, when gsle came to me the next
morning, and asked me If 7 should be
willing to accompany her on o visit to
her country relatives. Her air was
anxious and %lnquiring, for she preferred
to seem soliciting rather than comforting
. fayor-as though she did not mistrust
how my very soul leaped up with de-
light at her question. At first I refused,
confronting her with a knowledge of
her: denial and tender sacrifice but
she adhered So steadily to her resolu-
ton, declaring that if did not ac-
company her, she wonld stay at home
entirely, that she would not go any
where il she could not go to Suffolk,
coaxing me with kisses, and holding up
before me the very picture that I had
painted the day before in my yearning
sadness, that at last / yleldeda half
pplahsed, halfrelEctant but inexpressi-
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