The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-10-15
MY WIFE LUCIE.

To begin with-she was very pretty.
| don't know where to show you an
other just like her. She was straight
and round in figure, with a fair face,
golden hair and soft, white hands. She
had brown eyes, regular features and
mobile red lips. On rainy day. GER
tain fine tresses of her shining hair
would escape from the remainder and
curl about her temples in little gold
endrilrings. Her voice was quiet and
melodious, and she wore violet dress
es. This is as we'll as I can describe
her.
And I am afraid that this is ABOUT
all knew of her when we were mar
ried. We met first out west. was
alone ina strange country. She, also
was alone. She was music teacher
living in clearinghouse. She was
gentle and sad. made her acquaint-
ance. l loved her. I promised to
make her happy and we were married.
My western tour being ended we came
back east and settled at romantic
little place called Daphne Dell. We
had been married just a year when my
story commences.
was young, just startingin life, and
very much engrossed in my business.
| Neither was l a particularly demon
strative man, and, as Lucie was very
i, quiet and composed in mien, think
we hardly appeared like newly y-married
people.
had all confidence in my wife. 1t
was her neatness, frugality and good
| Judgment that won me, together with
her beauty. All home affairs-the en-
ployment of q servant, and bills-llef
entirely to her management. 1t was
Il great rest to leave my countingroom
and return homeward, for was sure
to find everything right. Ii Lucie had
any annoyances she never confessed
them, and | never took home my bust.
ness trouble.
| AsIsaid, we had been married a year,
when one evening came home as us,
ual. 1t had been fine day, but, as
left the cars great drop ofrain splash.
ed on my nose. / had ten minutes
walk before me and commenced the
task rather briskly.
Daphne Dell was within half al
hours ride OF the city. had thought
it better for our health to live out Of
town, and then to me, at least it was
infinitely pleasanter. Lucie, too, had
seemed to like the place. She came
and examined it before I made the
purchase-said it was. pretty and
would do very well.
The rain came down smartly as ]
reached my garden gate. AS entered
the sitting-room | found Lucieh hurried
ly putting away some papers.
''The rain is blowing up from the
west. You had better shut the pariol
windows, Lucie,'' | said, as | went tc
the closet to hang upmy coat, and get
my dressing gown.
"Ies, WILL" she said absently, rum
maging in a drawer The storm
struck savagely against the pane. Sht
went and shut the parlor windows anG
then came back to the drawer.
When she elooked the drawer through
she looked over the table, and finally
went to the escretoire.
"What are you hunting for, Lucie?'
said /.
sNever mind" she said, carelessly
ri guess it will come. Supper is ready
Will"
We went to the dining room. Sh
poured out my tea, and chatted O
her garden and the incidents of tn
day. She had planted mignonett
under the windows that it's fragranc
might come to her while she was sew
ing, she said. The Misses Granger hat
called, and the man had been to graf
the pear trees. Pleasant, ordinar,
chat that suggested nothing of the mys
tery to come.
The rain continued all night, bu
the morning was clear. felt myself
very happy man as | stepped from m
door into the balmy spring air. Th
tulips were i'll blossom, and the crc
cusses filled the whole garden wit
their fragrance. / walked leisurel
along the path, unlatched thegate an
went out.
A few steps distant, under the OF
chard wall, lay sheet of paper ]
looked like something that should no
have been there, and went and picl
ed it up.
1t was a single square sheet of VI
ruled paper, and the nandwritingupo
it was my wife's. AS l looked at it
word here and there caught my ey,
With arrested attention, Icommence
. a careful examination OF the shee
With some difficulty read as follows
!. "My Dearest Percy. entreat;e
r and my own heart will not longer a
low me to remain silent. My beloved
d l am SO miserable! These clandestir
t letters of yours which receive are m
q only comfort in the world. feed O
them. They are the only brightnes
which Eliminates my dark way. NJ
). life is almost insupportable: Yo
know that do not love my husband
t. that never loved him. You, onl,
know the whole army ofcircumstanc,
under which married him. Well, |
is my husband and l try to be
r good wife, but this existence is lii
~ sone dreadful nightmare dream. Pc