The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-01-15
MISS MIDFERN's WEDDING.
HY HELEN FoRREsr GRAVES

BRING no good to u.s." said Martha
Midfern, land now his words have
come true"
There had been a railroad accident
on the "Black Rock and Rewnesvoort
Line The engineer had been killed
at his post, the telescoped train had
caught fire. one passenger was taken
Up for dead, and all the rest were
NOR or less bruised, wounded and
terrified; and by the way of sequel to
the rest, Miss Midfern's barn was
burned to the ground, with all the
newly-garnered store OF hay, and the
new patent reaper, which had cost
sucha sum OF money. The farmhouse
itself had narrowly escaped; the cat
tie being at pasture, werefortunately,
unhurt.
Miss Midfern never had been q nerv.
GUS woman, but she vas q little pale
AS she stood on the front porch, look.
ing at the wrecked train, whose
hands were hard at work.
Flows the young MANI" said Mrs.
Dulcimer, who lived. on the nearest
tarm.
He's better" said Miss Midfern.
Mrs. Dulcimer sighed. Even in a
railway accident, luck seemedto 90 on
the opposite side of the boundary
fence, which separated the two estates
of Dulcimer and Midiern. Why, she
asked herself, could not the pleasant.
looking young man with the diamond
studs have been flung into the arms OF
her four unmarried daughters, instead
OF falling to the lot OF Martha Mid.
fern?
"Going to recover" said Mrs. Dull.
elmer.
THAT'S what Doctor Paley hopes
"H you want any help in nursing
him." feebly began Mrs. Dulcimer.
"Much obliged, Pm sure" promptly
answered Miss Midfern; "but | don't
require any assistance"
Mrs. Dulcimer made no reply, but
she glanced obliquely at Miss Midferr
and thought that there was no danger
OF any mans losing his heart to that
wry-faced old maid.
'lf it had been my Caroline Augusta,
now, OF Hannah! thought Mrs. Dul
elmer, with a thrill OF maternal pride
But there is no accounting for tn,
freaks of Cupid. Henry Sevior was
young and grateful. DR.. Paley told
him truthfully, that Martha Midfern'.
careful nursing had saved his life, anG
one autumn evening, i'll a burst O
gratitude, he laid that life at the mid
dle-aged woman's feet.
.'Do you really mean it?" sail
Martha, who had never had a bonahd,
offer of marriage in her life.
And she blushea red and white like {
girl.
lis it likely that | should lest O,
such a subject" said Harry, earnest
~.
"But | am olderthan you.
"1n years, perhaps-yes. But wha'
differencedo does that make?"
So Miss Martha Midfern became en-
gagged to the hondsomeyoungG Georgian
whom fate had drifted to her door.
~ supposepeople will laugh at ME,
she thought. Out there-why shoult
Icare? He loves me and l love him
aud that is enough. But Iguess WEI
better keep the secret to ourselve
Just at present.
AS the beautiful October wood
blazed forth in their mellow autumn,
tints, Mr.. Sevior began to stroll out
little way at a time, to sit on me SIS
powders and dream beside merr
little brooks. And one day Hanna
Dulcimer came dancing home iron
a search after mutt in the woods.
1--WE seen him, mother" said she
''the Captive Knight! Tho old vito
has let him out OF the tower 10
awhile. And he'sas hand some as
picture! and oh mother, he is SO nict
Andh he is coming here this afternoo
to see the view from Apple-Tree-knol
May / bake fresh angel cake, mother
And can Sarah Alice make some val
lila %fritters?"
What will Martha Midfern say?
uttered Mrs. Dulcilner.
".As ii that signitied!" caily retorte
Hannah. who vas the youngest an
prettiest of all the Dulcimer girls. II
isn't hers, is he?"
And then she ran upstairs to brus
out her auburn curls, which wei
blown into silky confusion by tt
wind, and to put into water tt
cluster OF blue asters which Mr.. Sevit
had given her.
Nobody was to blame-in these vi
fortunate cases nobody ever is t
blame. But the mischief was all dor
before poor Hannah Dulcimer foun
out that Harry Sevior was the ca.
tive of Martha Midfern's bow al
spear. And Harry himself awakene
at last TO n consciousness Of his lie
mistake.
: He was a Georgian gentleman, ho'
ever, and honor was dearer to hi
even than love, SO he made nc sign.
Hannah, however, was less reticel
and self-contained; and when Marti
Midfern came over to consult Sars
Alice Dulcimer, who was q milliner
trade, as to the wedding bonnie
Hannah came into the room with II
eyes and burning cheeks.
"Oh, Martha! Martial" she sobbe
~ know it isn't maidenly, but car
help it. love him, and he loves n
Oh, Martha, be magnanimous al
leave him to me-" i.
"Hannah, hold your tonguel'' cri
Sarah Alice, greatly scandalized.
II can't help i'll" walled Hanna
wrinrine her hands and r%ockingtoa al
fro, like one in mortal PAIN. Il 10
him, and he loves me, and he is
gagged to you, Martha Mld1ern! Y
what is to be done?'
Martha turned pale. More thu
once some mixing of this uniortuna
complication had crossed her mln
but she had dismissed 1t as too utt'