The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-09-17
CARL LATROBE'S RETURN.

"And you will wait for me, Hester,
and will always be truef shall come
back from California rolling in gold,
and marry pretty Hester Grey"
They stood together in the old ap-
pie orchard-Carl Latrobe and his
pretty sweetheart, Hester Grey. The
bland October sun was just dipping its
last rays beyond the far-off range of
the Alleghenies. The sound of the
river seemed unusually loud and dis
tinct as it mingled with the wild cry
OF the cricket, and the woodland trail
ers that clung to the roof of the old
farm house shone in the deepening
twilight as if dipped in blood.
Hester Grey, tall girl of twenty,
smiled sadly.
"You may change, Carl" she said,
simply.
II change! Why, Hester, you know
that to be an utter impossibility. l
shall soon make my fortune, and
mine is love that will live
Burning with ambitious hopes, Carl
Latrobe bade his old love good-bv,
and was soon off for California, where
as he said-poverty was unknown,
and fortunes were made in day.
Hester bade him "godspeed,'
prayed for his safe return, but she ut
tered no complaint. The days and
weeks passed on in their dull monotony
at the quaint little farmhouse among
the hills, and Hester settled down in
the old life again, with only his picture
to look at, and the long, loving letters
stat came regularly every week to
Tighten her duties and cheer her lonely
life.
1t was wild night in November,
about year since her departure. The
trees tossed their naked limbs as the
wind whistlcd through them, and the
leaves lay thick and wet in the paths.
The curtains were drawn closely down
at the farmhouse, and in dimly light
ed room a woman lay dying. On her
bosom nestled tiny waxen baby, and
over her there lowered a loving girl,
who gently brushed back the brown
hair from the damp forehead, and bent
close to catch the last words of the
dying woman.
"Promise me, Hester, that you will
look after my child when l am gone.
You have been a good daughter to me,
and know you will
She paused, and breathed with diff
Guilty.
"Yes, mother, will take care Of lit
tie Agnes. promise to do all can
to make her life happy, and God shall
Judge between US
The dying woman smiled feebly.
God bless you, Hester! | will carry
the news to him, that his daughter
VIII DC mother to the babe he never
saw"
So the woman died quite content.
Hester Grey took from her stepmoth-
er's arms her dead fathers child, over
whose grave the gras had mot vet
grown, and whom this second loving
wife had followed to the mystic shore
SO soon.
She was true to her promise, this no.
BILE girl. and took the little half-sister
from the dear old home-for it was
theirs no longer-out into the world,
where she bravely took up the battle
OF life. With the little left her by her
own mother, Hester settled down in q
little brown cottage by the sea.
The years rolled slowly on. She saw
no change in the life she had chosen
except the change in little Agnes.
With what jealous care did Hester
watch over and guide the young and
wayward feet of her darling girl! She
divided her strong affection, and lived
only for the absent lover, and the little
one intrusted to her care.
Hester was quite content, as Agnes
grew into girlhood, and grew more
beautiful every day. She did not know
how cloud had risen sixteen years be-
foEe-a very little cloud at first, but
which was fated to grow and grow, un-
til her whole life should be enculfed
in its dark shadow. She did not know
that she was living in the glory of a
dream which should prove so far bet
ter than its reality.
Carl's letters still came regularly.
They told of the hardships endured by
him in that far-off land, how he was
slowly but steadily gaining. the wealth
he sought, and of the love of the wo-
man awaiting his return.
Seventeen years had gone. when she
received the glad news Of his return.
II am rich man, now, Hester, and
will soon be with you once more. Get
ready, darling. Do not keep me wait.
ing when come to claim my bride. "
''She had cried over that letter like
o girl, and Agnes, with the sunny hail
and dancing blue eyes, had thrown hel
white arms about her neck and read the
good news with her.
'What dear old boy he must be
Hester. am more than half crazy to
see him. Yet I know what he is like
by his picture in the parlor."
''You must not expect handsome
man. Agnes. Remember he is fort,
years old, and has always worked
hard"
Hester smiled through her tears, ant
Agnes danced with delight.
| "Let's go and dress, Hetty, for yo,
know the train is in from the west Il
49, 'i'hs!efit