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

blue air; the glad song ofthe birds; the
tangled beauty OF the hedgerows; the
sweet simple wild flowers; the white,
ileecy, fantastically-shaped clouds
that tloated slowly along the ''blue
ETHEREAL sky" and the companionship
OF her happy young friends, who had
made her the belle and queen OF their
little circle,-all caused her to forget
everything but the enjoyment which
this day OF days had SO long promis-
ed.
1t was about nine O'Clock when the
slant companion all day left Esther
at her fathers door. She would not
allow him to knock for her,
but bade him a hurried goodnight.
Now that the pleasure and excitement
of the day We're over, a strange trem-
bling and ioreboding seized Ter. Every
word and look OF her mothers flash
ed through her mind. There seemed
to be a hush about the house, and
she stood a few seconds half-afraid to
lift the knocker.
Maggie answered her low, timid
knock. The child's face was swollen
and tear-stained, and Esther turned
sick with apprehension as she follow
ed her to the sitting.room. She paus-
ed just inside the door, taking in every
detail of the scene before her. On
each side of the broad, comfortable
sofa lay one OF the children, still in
their holiday clothes. She saw they
had cried themselves to sleep. Mag
gle had sat down in a low chair, and
was sobbing as if her heart would
break.
Mr.. Newton, her uncle. was at the
table, his head buried in his hands;
his wife sat in Mrs. Talbot's rocking
chair, the little f~our-year-old Rosie
asleep in her lap. She looked up at
Esther, who stood with wide-opened
eyes and blanched cheeks, not daring
to ask the meaning of what she saw,
and there was nc pity i'll her look nor
III the low, bitter tone in which she
said,-
"Youungrateful, heartlessgirl! How
could you 90 away this morning when
you knew your mother was su~tfering?'
"Hush, hush, wife!!" said uncle New.
ton, in a hoarse whisper. Don't re,
proach her now. Her punishment
will be great enough. She has awhole
lifetime to repent OF it,"
i, Then Esther knew that her mother
vas deadl
Far on in the night, when all the
! others had briefly forgotten their sor
row in sleep, Esther knelt by the bee
on which her mother lay so white anc
still. She did not sob nor cry, but hel
heart was ready to burst with its ter
, rible weight of remors and grief.
off | could only live this day ovel
again! If | could only hear you say
e you forgave me! Omother! mother!'
e Mr.. Talbot had entered the room
and in the dim light would scarcely
+ have seen Esther had he not heart
> those words. Laying his hand upol
her head, in a voice tremulous will
T grief, he said, "Youl mother did forgiy
you, Esther; and left you her dyin
v blessing. She desired to live until yo,
;, came home, that she might see yo'
G once more, but you were long in com
ing, dear. There there! My poo
child, you must not give way like this
s / did not mean to r%eproach you"
8 From that day Esther has been
d changed girl. She didlovehermothel
but it was - sad thing that only he
e mothers death could make her rea
Y ize it. And now every Whit-Monda
II is consecrated to her memory. Wit
the children, the mothers grave isvis
V tied and fragrant flowers laid upon il
but flowers on the grave cast no FRI
lie GRANGE backward over the years tina
So are gone. And with bowed head, i
IL her heart she cries, so mother! mott
lie er! would had brought to you, viii
d you lived, all that my hearth now Offer
n you OF love and gratitude"
ID And yet, at hat grave there alway
m comes a feeling OF rest andpeaceto h
ly repentant. sorrowing heart. And 81
lie goes forth once more to her home-d,
S. ties, earnestly striving to be all 81
should be to the loved hes now d
"a pendent upon her.