The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1885-11-27

"Ohl l hope not, l hope not, put in
the officer kindly. "You must keep
up your heart. Iouknow while there's
life there's hope,and a man just in his
prime, as you are, mustn't think of
giving in yet awhile. Besides, there
are others to think of, you know, Ar
nitt-there's your wife, and there are
your c~hildren-you must make an eff
tort and do your best to live for their
sakes."
poor souls, God help them!" muir
INJURED Arnitt, feebly. "I've never
been much good to her, and she's been
the best and dearest of wives to me;
but there'll be a provision for her and
forthem, never fear; and, Lord Archie
it was about that was anxious to see
you when Nellie told me you were
down below" 'Ought youto be talk
ing so much?' Lord Archie asked, gen
tly interrupting. He had noticed the
change in Arnitt's manner OF address
ing him-a change frcsn "my lord" to
"Lord Archie"-and it made the man
more familiar than ever.
"Oh, yes, yes-what will it matter
in the end?" impatiently. "Just u
few minutes more or less. must tell
you some things, and get you to help
my boy into the rights and position
which | had to foreso and give up. /
know you will, when / have told you
my story, begianing from the time
when you We're Archie Falconner, OF
Paul's, and | was Studham, OF Brace
nose"
Lord Archie uttered q sharp cry OF
recognition and surprise. "Studham,
Ct Brazenose, and the ranks of the
Twenty-fifth dragons! Good heavens!
what could have possessed you? You
must have been mad-mad!'
mo, | wasn't mad, not in the least;
/ WAS only the victim of circum-
stances" answered the sick man, with
a sad smile; "But, tell me, didn'tyou
know all along?"
~ never guessed it. Ineyer suspect
ed it for amoment. Ioniy knew Ihad
known you long ago in tina old 'Varsi-
ty days. Yes; OF courseyou are Stud
ham; but, heavens!!" how you are al
tered"
Fourteen years OF theranksdo make
a change i'll q man, and the Studham
you knew was very young and very
foolish" the other answered.
"Ihen what can l do for you? Why
don't you claim your own, and take
your own place in the world? It'sab-
surd to think OF you, Studham-nay,
but you are not Studham, but Man
nersleigh, now, since your father died
dragging out such a life as yours
must OF necessity be. It's absurd, and
we must get you out of this at once"
mo, no; it's a poor little hole. but
I've been happy in it. I'll stay here
to the end of the chapter. We've got
to the last page, | fancy. Still. my
children have rights, and I have kept
silence long enough"
"For Observation-Disclosures foryour
brother Taft"
"Yes, Taft; do you ever hear any
thing of him? Have you any idea
what kind of a life heis leading?"
Lord Archie laughed. "Oh, he has
turned owe q new Leaf; he has given
up the old ways with the old name.
But how came hetoproveyourdeath?
He must have done it to claim and
gain your fathers title"
Idon't know; ] have not heard a
word of him for years-never since the
day when [ last saw him, when I told
him / had proof, proof Of his guilt for
which have borne the blame all these
fourteen log weary years past.
gave him the opportunity OF tlyingthe
country, which, he secuted, declaring
l must be mad, crazy, idiotictodream
OF suspecting him"
"Of what?"
"Murder!!" the sick man answered.
"He foully and cruelty murdered my
mothers niece, III cousin, because he
had made. But what am | saying!
l am wandering in my head, that | &C
babbling out the secret | have kept al
these years to my own hurt and ruin
He looked anxiously at Lord Archie
as he spoke, as if he thought he
would rush out OF the room and pro
claim the whole of his secret to the
world at large; but Lord Archie soor
set him at rest.
"Don't worry yourself. You didn't
mean to tell ME? Well, l shall neve,
disclose it, don't worryyourself about
it. And now tell me what steps
shall have to take to secureyourson's
rights. Have you made awill, and lief,
your papers in order?"
hseiy el'iiiS! IHey die &til III liIu
little tin box. AS to my will, that is
made, too; but / should like to ado
something to it, if you will consent"
II? Oh, Of course; what is it?"
"To act as trustee to my children
and their mother. I dare say she vii
marry again, and I'veprovided asuit
able income in case OF it,"
I'll do it, of course; but, tell me Stud
ham, tell me-" reverting instinctivel,
to the old name other Varsity days
"why, when you had the power to tax,
everything and provide properly ant
suitably for your wife and children
why did you'd bur yyourselfin the ranks
and let that young ruffian Taft usurl
your placer"
"I'll tell you. AS l said, Taft hatl,
refused to clear out of the way, ant
challenged me-yes, actually chal
lenged me-to produce my proof
against him l had them safe enough
and SO I told him-they're in that DO:
now. l shouldn't have spoken-wha
would have been the good? 1t woul,
have broken my fathers heart, AM
furnished our old name; and the gil
was dead, had been lying dead anon
!, the sedge and bulrushes for hours be
fore we found her. All the ruin tina
could come upon the Mannersleig
family would not bringher back agar
, so / determined to keep s%ilence, simpl
] because l could not see the good {
!, speaking.
"I had been all that day sittin
: with my lord, but l happened to +
: the first to find the poor girl, lyir
| face down in the water, and as Iturne
her over / tore open the bosom OF he
gown, in doing it, when there fell OF
q letter in Taff's handwriting, asknr
: her to meet him in that place at 4 i