The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-05-21
UNDER THE MOON.
BY CHARLES f. WHITNEY.

- eoo'A "he Soii W |
ashake of the sad impressions this men,
Dry creates, but without avail. For
half an hour have watched those two
s%chooners come slowly into view from
out the purple darkness of the distance
and ghost-like go sailing by until now
they arc mere patches of haze far off to
the westward, 1t may be the wave
voices as the water FLASHES against the
piles of the wharf, or the faint thrum-
ming OF that guitar IN one of the fisher
mems cabins in-shore that has so vivid
ly reawakened this sad recollection.
That night, too, a ripping sea made
derisive music amongst the wharf tim
bers and somebody was playing a guitar
in the distance.
We had been boys together, had
graduated from the university in the
same class, and separated only when he
went to France to study medicine. This
was our first meeting for many years
and had been brought about by a letter
asking some advice in a commercial
matter, and inviting me to dine with
him at the lake.
l knew the crime he had committed,
though absence from the city had pre-
vented me from learning the details of
the sad affair. | knew also that he had
been acquitted upon a well substanti-
ated plea of insanity, to which his
moody temperament, his strong ahcc-
tons and bitter antipathics lent an air
of probability in the minds of those who
knew him us ITdid.
l did not ask his confession that
night. No! | remember, he it was
who said he had something to tell me,
and rs the night was pleasant we could
walk out to the end of the wharf, where
we would be alone. We had finished a
dinner at Boudro's, one of these rare
gastronomic compositions the cooks of
those days knew so well how to pre-
pare, and | can even now sniff the fla
'vor of those Bouquet de Aroma cigars.
They seemed 10 be better than those of
to-day. He had been even boistcrous
IN his mlrth during the rcpast. some
thing remarkable for him. and had
talked SO volublv that had | not known
he had partakcn of but little wine, j
might have thought his spirits were en-
hvencd by the choice vintagcS.
Then we walked out and sat down
here-l believe this is the very spot.
The moon was up then about where ii
is now and by its light | noticed thai
a remarkable change had come ovel
his countenance. The genial smile hac
disappeared and llis eyes had lost theil
merry twinkle. Whether it was til,
moonlight or my imagination | coal,
never tell. but his face assumed a blood
less pallor that was most unearthly, an,
his voice became deep and husky.
He looked i%nouiringly about to Sc,
that no one was near and sat on tn,
edge Of the wharf, his feet hanging eve
the water. Before commencing h
played nervouslvswith his watch charm
could see in the moonlight it was a.
amethyst heart. I also noticed that h
had united his cravat and unbuttonc
his collar in order to breathe more free
". 1t was an amber silk cravat an
its ends tlnttcred restlessly in the wind
II am telling you this" said he. ''bt
cause | can not live without telling
to somebody. | know | can trust yor
and ii will relieve me of a burden tn:
is killing me to, confess all. | kno,
that no judicial action can be take
now, but it will be a satisfaction t
know that TO one person at least ! hay
told the whole truth, not saving mysc
in the slightest degree. You undc
stand that
He knocked the ashes from his Gig
and they dropped into the lake.
when | returned from France, AZ
began the practioo of medicine her
you know | vas very well of. NJ
mothers place CT Bayou Lafourcl
which she had left E,c had Melted me
handsome sum during my absence, Al
sugar then brought good prices. "
never extravaganza as you know, ar
never INDUCED in strong drink. MOI
of our family ever aid. But that iN
nothing to do with what I have to sa
To tell you the truth, the nearer | a
proach the subject the more timid b
come. Please keep nc from wanderil
away from it. Hold me down to
Understand? Light aaother cigar!
'.Well,.I began practice and devot
ell my time to my sS,idics. By son
peculiar affinity l became enamored
the symptology of diseases.
drifted thai way naturally, and | ga
to the nerves and brain every spa
moment. i had no thnllght then VIII
this would dead me TO. Understan
My friendships were few-perhaps t
few. A mar with a limited acquail
ance is apt TO become retrospective a
given to Analysing his oV"n sentimel
and Impressions too much
Returned has big black eyes in
direction of a passing SSH, and W
silcnt.(or nearly a minute. L could
from the motion of the muscles of
neck that he wac endeavoring to sw
low. To use an old expression, 81
heart hal come up in his threat
IL met and loved Natalie .Lato'
neau;' another long silence He
another cigar. AS he tried to go
his lin trembled and he clinehed
hands as if ia great pmin.
MY God, how I I'D her, bat
will rot talk of that Understand