The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1885-11-20
~UNACCOUNTABLE."
BY HELnN FOREST GRAVES.

'N'S
said Miss Nemourville. "a black-eyed
romp, chasing the wild horses all Owe
the farm, and pitching hay up on the
NOV, exactly as If she were a boy.
Our third cousin, wasn't sheer
tou1th, or some such PARKWAY kin?
But what OF herr"
"What OF herr" snarled old Colone,
Nemourville. "'Why, Just this. Her
folks are dead. And one OF the Off
cious Meadow Hill %clergyn,en has
written to us, asking us to adopt her.
Just as ii we hadn'tenough to trouble
us, with three daughters on hand al
ready. and no earthly chance, that l
can see, of their getting married" (this
last envenomed phrase accompanied
by agloomy contraction of the speak
er's shaggy browse, "without assum-
ing the charge OF all creation into the
bargain! Adopt her, indeed! Why,
what claim has she on us, I'd like to
know? The in,pudence OF some pco-
ple,n .
1--WE couldn't possibly think of such
thing!" said Mrs. Nemourville, an
elderly lady. with " good deal OF pow
der sitted skillfully over her features,
and 1t lace cap patterned after the lat
est French models in the Broadway
windows. "Our income scarcely meets
our expenses as things are at present.
I do wonder at the assurance OF those
people out there"
The Nemourville family had always
kindly remembered their relationship
to Mrs. Nassall when the vertical sun
beams OF July and August made city
life n burden to them, and theirpurse-
strings, straitened by the ceaseleSs
attempt to keep up n style far above
: their means, rcfusedto admit ola trip
to Newport, Saratoga OF the White
Mountains.
Mrs. vssssaH had welcomed them
with the sweet graciousness Of that
hospitality which comes from the
heart. Lassie, the ''black-eved romp,"
had shown Blanche, Vera and Editha
Nemourvil!e the hooks where the
dearest springs dubbed out, the fields
where the ripesth lackberrles grew, and
the dcl!s where ieathcry sprays Of
maiden-hair could be gathered by the
double handful, and no pains We're
spared to make things pleasantfor the
city cousins during their somewhat
prolonged visits.
But all this conveniently etfaced it
self from their memory now.
Adopt Lassie Vassall? Make them
selves responsible for her board, and
clothes, and lodging? Good heavens.
What were people thinking OF?
So Colonel Nemourville wrote back
apoIite decFination, fairly glittering
with its icy conventionalities.
Lassie Nassall, sitting N her deep
black robes, heard the good clergy
mans vile read it twice over before
she fairly comprehended it's meaning.
Don't they want me to go to
them" she asked, lifting the heavy,
black-frin9ed lids that were weighted
down with tears.
Tin afraid they don't, DEAR" said
the clergyman's wife.
Lassie drew a deep sigh.
Then | must try to find some waJ
OF earning my own living" said she
you have all been so good to me, but
it must come to an end sooner orlater
Dear Mrs. Hall, wont you 90 and see
the lady who wanted nursery govern,
ess to travel with her little children
to Scotland? I always liked littk
children, and they fortunately don't
require many accomplishments.
dread crossing the ocean a little, but
Unjust try to leave off beingacoward
So the Nemoursvilles heard nothin!
further OF Lassie Nassall.
But the girl herself did not forget al
this.
They might have been a little kint
to me" she kept repeating to herself
They might have been a little kind II
mei'
The Nera0ursvilles meanwhile brave
iy kept up, although against wind ant
tide, the struggle for a satisfactor,
matrimonial settlement for Blanche
Vera ard Editha.
They gave tive-osciock teas, purpt
dinners and pink lunches; they sen
out cards for ~soirees; went to all tn
charity-halls, Harnesses and chance
parties to which they could obtain 81
entree. They smiled and simpered
and danced, and promenadcd witt
Spartan endurance; and still they re
manned the Misses Nemourville
But when the waves OF society wer
rippled by rumors OF the advent Of
live English baronet, Blanche, Yer!
and Edithn began to hope anew
Miss Clitcaett, one oftheirparticula
friends, had been introduced to 81
Reeve Kenneth at Deimonico ball, an,
she had promised to ask the Nemour
Vile girls to u charadeparty where tn
English baronet was to be present.
LADY Kenneth repeated each on
of the three to herself, with an eXult
ant leap Of the heart. 'Oh, l do won
der if he has an oldcastle with adraw
bridge and a moat, and forty thou
sand dollars awear? And ii heshoul,
take a fancy to me and marry me-
stranger things have happened, an
every one knows that Englishinen 81
special admirers of American types {
beauty-should l:be presented to tn
Princess of Wales?'
Miss Nemourville ordered a ne1
dress OF white brocade. Vera ordere
MADAM Petherique tomake over he
Cherry satin with founces of blac
Escurial lace and "a train a full qua,
ter Of yard long. Editha, who enact
ed the juvenile rose, ripped her on
white muslin to pieces and remade ii
with puffs and pleatings OF SPANS
blonde and occasional knots OF tn
palest blue ribbon.
But they were doomed TO disaI
pointmcnt. They went to the party
So did Sir REEVE Kenneth. But some
how they could not get near the reigr
ing star. i,
ett!" sold Miss Nemourville, as pal
as her own brocade. "She hasn'