The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1885-07-17
IN A PICTURE.

was only a servant, but such an honest,
faithful, long-tried old creature could
not slip put of her place without being
missed and mourned for. She had
waited on Roscoe Vane's beautiful
granddaughter since they were
babies, and humored her masters
whims to the day of his death. ''What
will they do without Peggy? If it
were some people 1t would not make
so much difference, but the Vanes-'
and the nCighbors left the sentence ex-
pressively unfinished.
And how was that? Well, the
Vanes Were a little singular. Roscoe
Vane, the second, did nothing but
study art and paint pictures, or rather
a picture. He had had the same one
on his easel for five years. Once in a
while he would retouch it and alter it;
the rest of the time he admired it.
The girls were fond of music, but they
knew nothing of art. They had been
taught that this was a great picture,
but Ray SAID she wasn't sure. Ray
was IA beauty; Ruth was simply pretty.
Ray would do nothing but sing and
dress and dance about the garden.
Ruth practiced music diligently. but
stitched at her sisters pretty costumes
and visited the poor. Yet neither of
the pretty girls ever soiled their dainty
hands. Their Uncle Roscoe forbid it.
He was reserved, refined to fragility,
like his father before him. At fifty his
hair was already white. When Peggy
died she had, apparently, many last
things to tell him, for. he was alone
with her more than three hours. At
ter that he shut himself up with his
picture more than ever.
81 don't know" said Ray, pouting
her red lips, "what Uncle Roc expected
to become of you and me, Ruthie!'
"Why, Ray?n
"Well, [ am eighteen tomorrow,
and you have been twenty this long
time"
Eyes" smiled Ruthie, stitching away
on Rays rufties.
"Grandpa intended us to go into
society; but Uncle Roc"
HAS no intentions regarding any,
thing. l know it, Ray. But IL am
quite contented with my lot"
"Thatis because Lisle Staniels comes
to walk with you in the garden, or lay
) over the piano while you play"
/, well, you have Lord Layton for a
5 lover"
Yes, a veritable lord visited at the
old mansion; poor, but not threadhare;
A no longer young. but courtly and
: agreeable. He had invested his small
+ income in America, and he liked Ros-
y coe Vane.
Q Hes fifty, if he's a day. But he
q has his title, and he's not a bit disa-
greeable. l might do worse" and
Do, +,,,od How !; +tlo font ,bo,rbtf,)1u
There's no danger Of any n marry
ing us for our money, Ruthie,' she
d continued, after awhile. "You know
g papa lett us nothing. Do you suppose
there's any money-anywhere?"
There must be a little-for oul
bread and butter, Ray" said Ruthie
thoughtfully. .'But 1 think some,
times, Ray, that we are very poor
ir When they called this place the Or
o. chards-"
. 80 ridiculous!'' interrupted Ray
+ "with it's ten-foot garden"
% But when grandpa was young i
d was surrounded by apple orchards
VI and pear orchards, and peach or
chards. 1t was part of a great estate
There was q summer mansion dow
~ by the river, and cottages for tn
~ workmen; but grandpa was not goot
~ at taking care of property, and littl
y. by little it went. Land and house
IN were sold, a road was cut through
+ and house lots sold and built upon
All is changed. We might have bee
- great helresses, Ray" conclude
We Ruthie, sadly, ''but, as | said before
~ Think we are very poor"
~ Ray silently reviewed tho situation
II shall make the best of t." sh
: said, at last, rising and speaking t
-, her reflection in the mirror ''Ruthit
III who told you all this?"
w. elsie S%taniels.n
lie In faithful, wise, untiring old PEG
gy's place came an inefficient mulatt
y. girl, who went to sleep owe the fir
:. and let the mullins burr. Uncle Re
ID was surprised that his mutton WI
ep underdone and his coffee muddy.
list never never occurred to Ray that 81
could help it if they starved to deaf
but when Lord Layton was comir
lat to dine, Ruthie, in very slave, in d
fiance of her uncle's well-known col
er, mands, went into the kitchen with
a cook book and prepared a decent di
;he ner.
of But day by day the old house SCENE
IN to grow forlorn and shabby. The
atty was no one now to fight dust and d
cay. The small PANIED windows we,
fol obscured by dust. the brasses tarnis
the ed, mold crept into the presses, al
yed the mice into the larder. Uncle R
,st. came out of his study only to look d
ib- jectedly around, shake his head, a
var retreat again to his den. Ray ma
MT the same pretty toilet. and sung
gaily as aver for Lord Layton, but h
for spells of meditating. 1t was a d
and and lonely summer
Isle Staniel, with his blue ey'
golden hair, and debonair grace, cal
sometimes and chatted with Ruthie
vea strolling II. the little garden with
sad sweet williams and princes feathe
I.a or practicing a song with her. Sur
~ he liked little Ruthie, but was that a
, no He was poor; he could hardly think
marrying; certainly he had never $,
10 one word to her of it. Though it v
Ruthie's nature to be serene, sol
oei' times her eyes were red with cryil
JUS, And now Uncle Roc stayed in
oere bedroom that led from his studio.
had eaten little Tor a week, and, WI
anu Ruthie, who had learned-after ms
man times burning tho bread and her +
together-to make toast, carried |
Aaty up a repast, which, though a ,
del delicate, he moved the tray aside
her pointed to the open door.
heir .Look at the easel, Ruth. Do
ma see that l have had my picture fran
Iteu. Is it not beautiful"
but And when Ruthie acouiesced,
long took her hands
ring Dear child. we have fallen upon
city times. Not that it matters much
nd q me; but for you-well, you will no,