The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1885-07-10
An ESCRIToIRE.
BY ROSE AUBURN.

Brown-eyed, brown-haired Phoebe
Woldemere had laid two strips of lilac
silk acros her lovers knee as she saton
al ottoman at his feet.
There appeared very little difference
in the shade or quality, but there was a
difference and a very important one it
seemed to Phoebe; for whichever John
Rose decided upon, her wedding dress
was to be selected from.
So she watched the stalwart, blonde
fellow quite breathlessly as he took up
the shimmering bits OF silk and exam
med them.
But lie lald them down without speak
ing.
(Which do you prefer, John? I shall
get whichever you like best, said Pho
be anxiously.
"My little girl" said John Rose,
gently, Il am afraid there is to be no
wedding"
mo wedding!" repeated Phoebe, with
wide eyes.
"Listen, dear"
And as leniently as possible, the
'ers wrong against himself; but the
truth was, that the home which should
nave been his-which he had earned
twice over since he had peer Of age
had been gambled away by the vicious
old man; and p~alliate the matter as he
would, the cruel facts remained to
hang n cloud upon his brow anu
pale Phnhe's happy bloom.
He regarded her silently and sadly,
while her thoughts went back to her
melancholy mothers prediction that "no
good would ever come of her engage
ment to John Rose; he came of bad
blood"
There was not a bit of truth in it, for
she had beer very happy for two years;
and there was not a fault of his we'll
known father or grandfather's which
had been repeated in John. They had
both been terrible warnings to him
only.
II believed the hous and farm mine,
Phoebe. Thought l had a home to take
you to, dear" the young man went on
but the place is mortgaged for nearly
all that it is worth. My father has kept
up the deception for years. Last even.
ing he told me all"
He gave her the details, but they
seemed to matter little. Johns home
was gone, or nearly SO; and, as he said.
there would be no wedding.
81 may get it back into my hands in
time, Phoebe. | am going to try. But
it must he along time. Will you MATT 2"
"Of course l will wait, John"
Fortunately you are very young,
sweetheart" he said. and laid a strong,
carressing hand on the soft, waving
hair.
I'VE have been waiting two years
now, john" Phoebe said, with a faint
smile.
How cruel it had been! He had been
working hard to change, embellish and
furnish the honse-that was all gone
lnow-and Phoebe had had her little
trials with a taithless mother.
What a poor reward and dismal end
ing for both!
"t1f / had not lived there all my life
lif"-his voice i~aitered my mother had
not, died there, l would give it up.
But must try and get it back"
"How long will it take; John 2"
Il can not tell, There's the rub, fol-
I can not see my way clear at present
to do it at. all"
The two talked late into the night.
The next day John returned home,
for he lived some ten miles out of town
and returned by the train.
But that day a package came tc
Ph9be's hand-quite a heavy, square
package-which turned out to be a hand.
some writing desk, with an accompany.
ing note:
"MYDEAEPHGBE: Before leavingI CHANGED
into some auction rooms and bid off this es.
%crittoire which was going shamefully cheap
1t is very nice, and looks very old. l though
you would like it, and l thought I would like
to have you have it to write letters to me on.
l am, my little treasure, forever yours,
JOHN ROSE.
The box was of solid mahogany, lineG
with red satin, a little faded, but care.
fully preserved, and smelling delicate
ly of altar of roses. The arrangement
of the compartments was very nice, ano
Phoebe thought she had never seen any.
thing SO complete.
She was delighted with the gift, an6
wrote many sweet, maidenly Letters tc
jobs Rose upon it.
But h winter went, and the summer
came and vert, and they were not much
nearer marriage.
To be sure, John had permission tc
buy the place back when he liked, anG
the hay and fruit had brought Elm il
5000.
But he was only living on the old
place as a tenant, and he looked Sc sad
and when Phoebe saw hin
that her heart ached.
His old father, with his vicious hab.
sts, and weak good nature, vas a great
trial; and his inirm old grandmother.
who kept house for him was not the
best of housekcepers.
Phoebe knew Johns home might be
much more homelike; but it was not
possible to believe that it would be
best for him to add to his cares the sup
port OF herself and her invalid moth
er.
She was q nice milliner, but she
knew john would not let her work at
trimming other peoples bonnets after