The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1885-11-06

noJoAhAue WV LII ~ UOdEu
out his fortnight's vacation Mt Deacon
Clark's.
The Clalks were q well-to-do fam
lily; but the deacon was a little close
in his financial administration, and
Mrs. Clark and Abby Jane were not
avcrse to earning a new dress now
and then GU of the rent of their big
spare-room. And MI. Trudkins
brought a letter of recommendation
from a friend in Packerton, ana hs
dressed in The latest fashion, and had
n big black mustache that overshad.
owed his upper lip like a penthouse.
"Oh, ma, how very gentcel he is!'
said Abby Jane. all in a tlutter of ad-
miration.
"a very nice young man, indeed"
responded the deacon's wife.
And the very next week Abby
Jane came down to the Leeds farm
house.
"Have you heard this news about
your Eliza?" she asked of the farmers
wife in a mysterious whisper.
"Eh?" said Mrs. Leeds.
"She's nothing but 4 play actress!"
said Abby Jane, nodding her head UNI
til the stuffed blue bird on her hat
quivered as if it were alive. '.Mr.
Alphonso Trudkins saw her himself in
the Great New York Combination
Troupe. She was acting u woman
who was married to n Cuban, and lost
her pockethankerchief, and was after
ward clicked with the pillows off the
best bed. Dcsdemonia her name was.
1 think"
"Well, and suppose she WASP" said
Mrs. Leeds, who was too good n Cen
eral to let the enemy see what havoc
had been carried into her camp. "What
thenoh
What them echoed Abby Jane.
well, / do declare, Mrs. Leeds, l am
surprised!"'
"Idon't believe Il word of i'll" said
Mrs. Leeds, d%etianlly.
''But Nh. Trudkins saw her with his
own cyes." cried Abby Jane, flushing
scarlet with Indignation. '.He knew
her the minute he looked ut her yes
terday in church. Elizabeth Ellcsmere
her name was, he says, IN the adver-
tisemcnts, n she danced a dance,
with a yellow scarf and Il lot of roses,
between the pieces, making herself
out to be a Spanish mandoline PLAYER.
It's enough to make ones hair stand
on end to hear Mr.. Trudkins tell about
it."
"Itdon't do to believe all one hears"
sad Mrs. Leeds, losing all count of
tho eggs she was breaking into
a china bowl, in her CONSERVATION.
''And Stapleville does beat all for
gossip"
We'll. you can ask her yourself,
and see if she dares denylt!!" said Alb
by Jane, c%xultantly. ''Here she comes
now. Ask her-only ask herr
And Eliza came into the kitchen,
with the spice box IN her hand. Mr..
Vlllars followed close behind, fan
ming himself with a straw hat.
81 have come from the men in the
bayfield, said he. "They want an
other jug of cool ginger and water,
with plenty Of molasses stirred in,
Aunt Leeds. Good morning, Miss
CLARK! hope the deacon is quite well
this morning."
Abby June turned pink, and smiled
her most seductive smile.
ooh. quite So" she simperod. ~
I only came on"
is it true, Eliza?" Mrs. Leeds
asked, sharply. ''IIave you been de-
ceiving me? Are you ~ play-actress
all this timep"
ELIAS large eyes turned slowly
first to one, then to another of the lit
tie group. She did not blush-lt was
not her way-but the color cbbeG
slowly away from her cream pale
cheek.
II have been d%eceiving nobody"
said she. II am not an actress now.
l have been one. But l did not like
the lie, aud so l left it. If any one
had asked Inc, l should have told
them about it long ago.
Mr.. Vlllars came forward and stood
at the girls side. as he saw his aunt
shrink away.
"Well." he said, ''even taking it all
for granted, where is the harm?"
st("l,.,.1nsf Ckurlo,,, o3 NJ.
Leeds, putting up her hands with a
gesture n warning. ..Remember
poor Avice!"
ut IS because | remember her that
speak thus said Mr.. Vlllars. calm
@ly. I had an elder sister once" he
added, turning to Abby Jane Clark,
"wio a away from home and be-
came an actress. She had talents far
above the average, but my parents
were old fashioned people, and their
ideas ran in narrow grooves. They
disapprovcd of the stage. so Alice left
lis. Whether she is dead or living we
know not, but wherever she is, am
sure that she can not but be good and
true and pure"
Abby james eyes fell under his
calm glance. She was q little sorry
that she had chosen to come hither
and bear the news herself.
Somehow, Mr.. Villars had taken it
in a different spirit from what she had
anti cipated. And Eliza's soft, Ian
guidly-modulated voice broke on the
constrained silence like drops of silver
dew.
~ have been an actress, and per
haps l should still have been on the
stage" she said, chad it not been for