The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1885-02-27
"Forgive what?" in innocent sur

But her color betrays her, and Ber-
nard smiles o. he says still holding her
hand:
You are no actress, little cousin, You
know to what l allude."
But, Bernard, that blue dress was
well, was really shabby, and you would
not at all have liked to see me in it.
And besides you know-Mr. Derwent
had offered to escort me to the party. u
Hes decidedly oilicious and frisky
for his age" says Bernard dissapprov-
ingly.
"Frisky! Oh, Bernardo" says Edna,
laughing.
Has he asked you to go to the pic
mic enquired her cousin suspiciously.
Not exactly. He-merely alluded
| to-"
Merely took it for granted that you
were bound to go with him, and so he
needn't be in a hurry to ask you'll" says
Bernard wrathfully.
"Ihen he will find himself mistaken"
Edna says with emphasis.
Are you sure of that 2"
Sure? OF course! And to prove it,
I'll go with you, Bernard" this very
swectly. eff you will let me, and aren't
engagedto Miss Ogilvie.
Miss Ogilvie is nothing to me. She's
a nice sensible girl, but I'm not in love
with her, as Laura, and mother, and all
of them seem to think"
"Ihey say you liked her once" says
Edna, glancing up askance, and half
shading her face with her fan.
81 like her we'll enough, and, per-
haps, might have liked her better in
time. But since you came, Edna"
At that critical moment, Laura inno-
Gently entered the room.
1t was q charming picnic, as every
body said. Laura had plenty of part
ners, but as for Edna, the beaux gener-
ally, though reluctantly, seemed in
cllned to respect the %pretentions of Mr..
Derwent.
Bernard, from remote corners,
watched that gentleman's attentions to
his cousin, and pulled his moustache
with inward wrath and resentment.
he began, too, to look with doubt up
on Edna, for had she not that evening
encouraged him in the sweetest manner,
and was she not now, to all appearances,
equally encouraging his rival?
A sudden thought sent the blood to
his brow. Could it be that this charm
ing cousin OF his was q coquette, and
was making a fool of him?
At this moment the couples began to
take their places for O quadrille, and
Bernard sees Mr.. Derwent, in his usual
stately and deliberate manner, making
his way to Edna across the crowded
floor.
Slipping past the row of wall flowers,
he reached his cousins side in advance
of his rival.
care You engaged for this set?" he
whispered!
Eyes, toto Mr.. Derwent," glanc;ng
at her card.
He takes the card from her hastily,
and thrust it into his pocket, Just as a
tall head and shoulders loom up near
them.
"Dance this set with me, Edna:I ask
1t as a favor-as something more than q
favor!" he said earnestly.
She knows what he means. He is
pressing her hand. This is the deci-
sive turning-point, which she feels that
II cannot evade.
"Our dance, 1 believe, Miss Edna"
says Mr., Derwent, offering his arm.
Edna hesitates, and casts q glance at
Bernard, wistful and appealing.
He speaks Instantly, and there is a
subdued triumph in his look and man
ner:
BEG pardon, Mr.. Derwent, but I
think you are mistaken. This is nv
dance"
Edna slightly turns to Mr.. Derwent.
Her breath m quickly, and her fin
gers tremble a little as she endeavors to
fasten that troublesome bracelet.
"Let Miss Edna decide which of us is
right" says Mr.. Derwent with dignitied
politeness.
He is a little flushed.
Bernard, on the contrary, is slightly
pale, and his eyes are ~intently fixed up
on his cousin
She avoids his glance, and turning,
takes Mr.. Derwent,.s arm, murmuring
something about having lost her card.
Mr.. Derwent walks off with her upon
his arm, with a little pleased smile of
triumph lurking about the corners of
his mouth, and Edna sees no more of
Bernard that evening.
Next morning the girls come down to
IN IL o'clock breakfast, and Aunt Mary,
as she poured out their coffee, scolded
them for staying so late on the moon
light porch after their return from the
picnic.
Laura only smiled placidly, and Edna
toyed with her apron and blushed.
IL have something to tell you,
Aunt Mary"
Aunt Mary, glancing at her, nearly
sprang from her chair.
BLESS my soul, child! you don't
mean that Mr.. Derwent proposed to
you last night?"
Edna smiled as she nodded assent,
and Aunt Mary at once turned up the
girls face and kissed her.
"Im perfectly delighted. Why, it's
the very best match in town, and
almost in the whole country. Your
father and mother will be SO pleased"
81 knew he would propose last night
Edna" Laura says quietly; "and I'm
so glad dear!"
And then, after some moments ex-
cited talk on Aunt Mary's part, the lat
ter says suddenly:
"And I have apiece of news, also,
though not so important as yours, Ed
ma. Bernard"
"Whore is Bernardo" said Laura,
land why dbl he leave the picnic SO sud-
denly. And the news-what do you
think of his having purchased that
Morford House opposite-the one next
to MI, Derwent's "said Aunt Mary nod
ding to Edna.
"Why, mother?" said Laura in sur
prise. HE heard-let me see, it was
the day before yesterday-that Judge
Taylor wanted the house, and he just
rushed up to the agents Office and Sc
cured it on the spot" said Aunt Mary
triumnhantly.