The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-04-23

ing out of the room, and shutting the
door with a snap.
When the children were quite ready,
they went to kiss their mother, and
found her dressed and ready to go
downstairs. She smiled, and kissed
them passionately, telling them to be
good, and keep with their teacher
when they were coming home.
AS she stopped to kiss Maggie. q vi
olent pain seized her, and she turned
quickly away, grasping firmly at the
dressing-table for support. Thechild,
alarmed at the sight Of her mothers
white face, clasped her arms about
her, crying
go mamma! mamma! you are i'll!
Let me stay with you! Let me call Es-
ther!"
But the paroxysm had passed, and
with an eager, nervous embrace, Mrs.
Talbot dismissed the atfectionate
child, telling hershe was "better now"
Esther was clearing away the break
fast things when Mrs. Talbot entered
the room. She started with surprise.
Looking up, her eyes met those of her
mother, and she will never forget the
panied and wounded expression she
saw on the pale, pinched face. Her
heart, however, was not then soften
ed, and when her mother said, in allow
voice.
Esther, you may go. Ii you are
quick in dressing, you will be ready to
join the procession as it is passing the
| house." she at once left her work, and
hurried to her room.
The eager girl now resolutely put
away from her the thought that her
mother was really i'll, and needed her
love and care. With feverish haste
pretty suit that had cost her many
hours OF labor. About her neck she
arranged a delicate white lace rutl1e, in
which she fastened a handsome gold
brooch, a gift from her father on her
last birthday; then she took out the
lovely little bonnet she had SO longed
to wear, but would not put On till to-
day lest some othergirl should get one
trimmed as near like it as possible.
Now the pretty gloves We're on, and
she was quite ready.
She could hear the strains OF music
from the brass band that always ac-
companied their school" on Whit
Monday; so, putting her purse and
lace-bordered handkerchief hastily in
her pocket, and taking one last look
into the mirror, she ran lightly down
stairs, through the hall, and out at
the front door Just III time to take her
appointed place between the rector's
daughters.
She was fully conscious, however, OF
the looks OF admiration with which
she was regarded as she stepped across
the broad tagged sidewalk.
Mrs. Talbot had walked into the
parlor and was standing behind the
lace curtains watching the scholars &C
by. She saw how lovely Esther
looked, but, for the first time, felt nc
Joy in her child's beauty. Her heart
had been too sorely wounded by hel
wilfull and heartless conduct.
AS the scholars moved on, she saw
her other treasures among the young
er children. They were looking at TIN
house rs they passed, and when the,
caught sight OF their mother, who hat
drawn the curtains aside and wa
looking eagerly and lovingly toward
them, they waved their hands anc
shouted in great glee.
The mother watched them NOV
away with a strange, half-sad, who'll,
!, passionate desire to hold them to he
= heart once more, then, turning iron
I the window, she burst into an agon,
OF tears.
| Two hours later Nh. Talbot cam
home. He lifted the heavy bras
:. knocker and let it fall gently for fea
. of disturbing his sick wife. lmagin
J his surprise when she herself opene
: the door. Somehow he seemed to III
, derstand why she was alone, an
> spared her the pain OF telling hir
what had occurred. But he inward
resolved that Esther should be mad
= to feel his displeasure at her heartles
:. conduct.
!, Soon after the doctor called, an
ut m ordered his patient to bee
V Then he told Mr.. Talbot Il mus
: be sent for Immediately. Before !
left he gave some important direction
A and said he would return in an lou
"She has had some shock orgrief, al
r. | am afraid it will ~aggravate wins
! would otherwise have been 81 seriol
> matter" Then he hurried away, t
% attend % his other patients, leavil
"A Mr.. Talbot sorely distressed.
q All the schools belonging to II
"a diocese OF Manchester met, as usua
,r in Albert Square, then, after singh
AZ the National Anthem, joined in OIL
long, grand procession. and pass,
ar along the principal streets OF Ma
= chester. The windows OF every hot
and warehouse and Office along t.
Il. route were filed with spectators, al
"A many OF the street orner had sor
"a sort Of platform, on which men al
women were standing.
nc Very few persons can see the pref
sight without being moved. Hundre
a of people reckon it among their a
OF nual treats. Many of the pari
er schools had their own brass band,
We few of them had a drum and fife bal
il composed Of scholars who attend t
I'd school. They all practice the sa,
OF hymns and tunes, SO, when one
cir struck up, it is played and sung
en- along the line; and the music a
'al singing by the children; the charge, har
on some silk banners, whose long cor
RI with silk tassels are carried by lit
girls dressed in white; the smaller ba
,r- ners; th~e"wreaths and bouquets ofi1o
to ers; the clergymen i'll their robes; t
id, church wardens carrying their staff
,r, office, and last, but not least, the DO
and girls from the industrial schoo
yet ali form a sight which once seen is
ill er iorgotton.
We There were many fair and pref
faces; many "bonnie girls as t
Ter Lancashire people say. i'll that lc
de line of Sunday scholars; but nonefs
aw er or BONNER than Esther Talbot.
al most every time she raised her c,
nd she encountered some glance OF
ar. miration, and, as that was what