The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-07-30
LEOLINE.

ooh, mother, [ wish we were rich!
l think ii is a shame that we are oblig-
ed to live in this little hut. while my
naughty cousin lives in a mansion and
wears the diamonds that should have
been mine.''
My dear, how can you call this
pretty cottage hut, and how can YOU
complain when you are doing so we'll?
Let May wear her diamonds, and
please, dear, for my sake, if for moth
ing else, do try to be contented."
Florence Arleigh made no reply, but
pressed kiss on her mother forehead
and left the room.
AS the door closed, Mrs. Arleigh
leaned back in her chair and watched
the last rays of the setting sun, while
her thoughts flew far away to the home
of her childhood. Her cheek was fan
ned by the soft South wind and po-sound
disturbed her musings of by-gone days.
She gazed into the blue sky, where the
clouds foated and tloated away in the
distance, but she saw not the clouds,
for her mind pictured the old home,
where her infant footsteps had been
guided by the tender hand of mother.
Then she saw herself. happy
maiden, in the shady, old forest,
twining wreath of flowers and crown.
ing herself Queen of the Nav. She
smiled as she thought how surprised
she had been to learn that an artist
had been sketching her while she adj
dressed the trees as her subjects. How
her young heart had leaped with de.
light as she saw the admiration express.
ed in the eyes of the stranger Then
she thought how she had been wooed
and won by the artist and how he had
taken her to the residence of his father.
Then tear after tear fell from her ewes
as she thought how she and her hus-
band had been turned away from the
home of her father-in-law, and how
her husbands proud sister had said
''When l marry, | shall not disgrace
my family by marrying the child of 6
poor farmer" Oh! the days that fol
lowed, the happy days, in which she
tried to make their cottage pleasant
home for Leon. who worked early anc
late TO paint the pictures which brought
enough money to support them. Bit
terly she wept as she thought of the
brilliant June day when death entered
her home and her brave, handsome
Leo. was laid in the little parlor anC
her two children walked on tip-toe say.
ing, over and over. Papa is dead, and
| mamma is sick" Her revcrie was in.
:errupted by sounds of mirth, which
came from the chamber of the little
cottage which Mr.. Arleigh had beer
| pleased to will to his sons widow.
Upstairs is coZy room in which
Florence and Leoline Arleigh do the
copying by which they earn their bread
They have been copying, but are mo-
doing SO now, for Leoline is laughing
heartily while Florence stands before
the mirror saying. in tragic tones
How have the mighty fallen! And Ar
leigh must earn her bread by the swea
of her brow. Where is the poet who
will immortalize the fair face reelected
in yon mirror? Where are the brav,
men who will gaze with admiration up
on these golden tresses, these azure
eyes? Where are they? Alas! the,
are here, but they are not the ones il
whose pockets the gold dollars jingl,
merrily, for the men whose none,
would make them acceptable in III,
sight pass my beauty unadorned' ant
bow at the shrine of my cousin'
Leoline leaned back in her chair an,
laughed until the tears started from he
eyes. '.Oh, Florence" she said. .'ar,
you crazy or are YOU rehearsing for pri
vate theatricals?'
Neither, but, seriously, Leo, 1 wa
not intended for this kind of existence
was not born to spend my life daub
ing my fingers with ink. / was born t.
walk like this through rooms which ar
had done its most to beautify," an,
Florence raised herself to her full
height and walked majestically acros
the room.
WELL" said Leoline, ''if you hav
finished, we will continue our work.
''Oh, dear! Work! work! Nothin
but work! I think our grandfathe
was too mean for anything or he woul,
not have given all his property to Aun
Emma and left us without cent
Florence said Leoline gravely
sour grandfather is dead and whateve
his faults may have been,. we are not t
Judge him. He gave us this pretty col
tage and we are doing nicely
There, you little saint; take it a
back. Let us have peace" said Flol
ence kissing Leoline and hurrying to
small table on which were scattere
pens. ink, paper, etc.