The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-09-03
A MAYNARD WARD.


It is the business of the philosopher,
as the world knows, to find law and
order in even the most abnormal pheno.
nlena, to suggest, at least, an adequate
explanation of every enigma. For what
other purpose does he exist than to
throw light on the surrounding dark
pess? He is torch bearer to human
ity's ignorance. If now and again, by
reason of pessimist temperament or
defect of training, the rays he sheds
around intensity rather than dispel the
gloom, and cast shadows as of Egyp-
tian night across mars forward path,
surely he misconstrues his mission.
But the wisest head is sometimes puz-
zled, and the shrewdest explorer OF the
all environing mystery is sometimes
confounded. A problem presents it.
self which cannot be resolved by any
Of the familiar processes. The why of
some suddenly disclosed fact is as in
scrutable as the Sphinx of the Eastern
desert. 1t was thus with Bernard Ral-
ston.
Those who thirst for fame, as misers
thirst for gold, or coquettes for admir-
alton, would have found much to envy
in this young mans position. At an
age when statesman is currently sup
posed to be studying his parliamentary
primer, and when future general may
still be writhing under the sercasms of
barrack-room instructor, Bernard
Ralston had been welcomed into the
front rank Of philosophical thinkers.
His book on Instinct, Conscience and
Reason" was read and criticised by the
few, praised and avoided by the many.
The noisy heterodox claimed him as
new and promising recruit; and so also,
to the amusement Of the onlooker, did
the stanchest maintainers of old land
marks. He was hattered. feted and the
lion of his senson.
Tt was from this suddenly acquired
distinction that his embarrassment had
appros ched. The solicitors letter that
was the beginning of SORROWS made this
clear. 1t ran thus:
DEAR SIR: We have to inform YOU
that by the will of our late client, Mr..
Humphrey Power, you are appointed
sole guardian of his only surviving
daughter, Olive AS this may be in the
nature of surprise, we beg leave to
quote the precise paragraph of
the will "And l hereby empower
Mr.. Bernard Ralston to act in
every respect as the guardian of my
child. am sure that Olive can have
no fitting or wiser protector, none bet
ter qualified to advise and to regulate
her life; and should he-as L earnestly
beg-accept and fulfil this charge, 1
give and bequeath to the said Bernard
Ralston, over and above such reason
able expenses as he may have incurred
on my daughters behalf, the sum of
Go, 900. to be paid by my executors on
my daughters twenty-frst birthday, as
small tribute of my gratitude"
The young lady is very considerable
heiress, in her eighteenth year, and at
present at private pension in France
Further particulars will follow on your
reply. We are, dear sir, yours, obedi-
entity,
VANsHA WE s FITCH.
The gift of the proverbial white ele-
phant could have produced in no heart
o greater CONSERVATION. What should
q retired and solitary student, of se-
rious pursuits and uncourtly manners,
answer to such challenge? If Clee-
thorpe Hall were large, it by no means
followed that he wanted more life with
in its bounds; and girl in her teens
mere child, as with the sage wisdom of
fiye-and thirty years he considered her!
How could her presence by his freside
be harmonized with the quiet current
of the life he elected to live?
Yet, the bait OF five thousand pounds
was temptation. The glories Of Clee-
thorpe Hall lad been sadly tarnished
through the improvidence of Bernard's
father, and PHILOSOPHY is not partic-
nlarly remunerative hobby to ride. Mr..
Humphrey Powers legacy, if not pre-
cisely fortune, would be an assistance
in the keeping up of the restricted
establishment.
The matter was debated long and
anxiously, and as the result Miss Olive
Power arrived at the hall one snowy
February morning, Slight of figure,
winsome of feature, with merry, violet
tinted brown eyes, and lips continually
parting in q piquant smile over teeth of
whitest pearl, Bernard Ralston was
forced to admit that, if he was properly
to protect his ward, his position might
not provea sinecure. Neither did it.
The girls beauty attracted suitors as
clover blossoms allure bees and it was
soon an open secret in the country side
that Miss Power. as well as being
lonely and lovely young thing was
richly lowered one. This brought the
sometimes lugubrious voice of Prudence
into reasonable accord with the chorus
of alteration.
But Olive was not minded to be an
easy capture for any of her wooers.
With woman's instructive dexterity
she kept them all at bay, and at twenty
bad escaped the necessity Of as yet re-
fusing any offer in formal and unequivo-
cal terms. She was developing taste
for study, which half amused, half in
terested her guardian. One evening
he playfully rallied her on her applica-
tion to sundry big tones in the library.
II shall be accused of Transforming a
merry and bewitching young lady into
q blue stocking--a disciple Of my own
dry as-dust pursuits" he said; "some
one some day may have special cause to
blame me, / fear"
A sudden blush was on the maiden's
cheeks, and her glance fell. It was i'm
possible that she should misinterpret
Bernard's meaning.
"There is Oswald Harbury to think
Of" Olives guardian was daring enough
10 add.
Tyo cb;n;po ayao x,,ero Y,o,,ortor;l.,