The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-04-30

sh>Ss -r
He led me slowly upstairs into his
W room, and we stood together be-
fore n fine painting"
SIS Nellie Jones as beautiful! as
that"
'.she is very different-and she is
not as beautiful"
mo, no; lew women are as hand
some as Bernice was. The tempta-
ton was great, if that was an excuse.
She was u tisherman's daughter, Her
father lived on neofthesmal islands
in the Delta OF the Mississippi. She
was a splendid, passionate creature,
and with all her faults she loved me
as few, II any, men deserveto be loved.
Under the range trees surrounding
their little cane E.t ] spent a whole
summer, defying heat and fever, and
%snpremely happy if Bernice was by my
side.
Her father was sensible man; he
positively refused his consent to our
marriage. Hesaidh his daughter suited
him and their wild life well enough, but
that she would make me wretched and
be wretched herself also. He warned
me that she WAS passionate, jealous,
and revengeful, and fit for no gentle
man to marry. But ! thought differ
ent. She had a native sense OF what
was graceful ard proper, and | was
sure that ii she was fashionably dress
ed and placed in u fashionable world,
she would instinctively adapt herself
to it's ways and habits.
"At length her father and I cane to
open dissension; and he told me, with
/ ! - ,-,I, -. -...z -. -. -. - ~
must leave the house, and speak to
Berniee no more. Bernice and ! had
anticipated this order, and were pre-
pared Tor an escape together. In the
afternoon, while he was sleeping, we
took a boat for New Orleans.
"As soon as we landed | looked for
@ clergyman to marry us. We called
on several. Some made excuses, and
some were from home; but at last, as
we rode through a small street, | saw
a church door open and Il ministeren IN
tering, / went boldly up to him and
told him had run away with thelady
and offered him q large fee to be mar
ried without delay.
"Heagreed very politely. T~hecongre.
CATION were coming in, and many peo-
| pie We're present. We took no notice
OF any one,went to the altar, and were
made man and wife. The service was
the Episcopal service, and our mar
uage certificate WAS signed by Geolgc
Z. Williams, Officiating clergyman.
"I'or some time we We're very happy.
bought her fashionable clothing and
rich Jewels, and we Travelled about
from place to place, Eernice's great
beauty everywhere attracting atten-
ton and remark. at length, being in
New York, I thought | would pay a
short visit to my native village, and
exhibit my beautiful bride to my old
friends.
"lt vas there our troubles began. ]
knew most of the village girls from
childhood, and they came with all the
frankness and kindness OF sisters to
see me. Many OF them called me
John, rs they had always done, and
there vas scarcely a respectable famr
ly in the village that did not give an
entertainment iii our honor. In no.
tells Bernlee had played her part very
fairly. She had little TO do but dress
we'll andlook handsome. and this she
accomplished almost naturally. But
in the familiarity Of household visit
higher deficiencies were elaringly APP
parent. Even her splendid beauty suf-
fered somewhat when in contrast with
the fair splrituelle faces OF the North,
and she lelt this dimlyt and resented
it.
every girl I spoke to became an OBJ
ject of Jealous hatred to her, ard after
one or two outrageous public out
bursts of temper | was compelled to
suddenly leave my trends, without
warning and without farewell. But
considered that l had knowingly &C
cepted Berniee with her faults. and |
did not reproach her Perhaps II
had it might have bees less irritating
to the proud, passionate creature.
But generally sat silent during her
outbursts OF temper, or else vent
quietly about my business, untia she
flung herself at my feet IN an agony OF
reproach and self-upbraiding.
These scenes, once begun, occurred
so frequently that l determined tofur,
nish u house, and see is the charge o.
it would interest and amuse her.
bought a lovely place sarroundadwi
gardens, and had it perfectly apEsoint,
ed. Then l took her there, and gave
it to her as her w unconditional
She was greatly pleased, andfor many
weeks | vas very happy.
"But it did not last. Will; it ssGult
aot. I~prosperea in business, keeamt
we'll known, and was often asked tc
take part inpublic disalers and affairs
At first my wife saaa nothing, and
imagined she had quite conquered hel
jealousy of me. Would you bellev,
that she was only watching nae, ant
that she was making ofmy most limo
cent courtesies dreadful wrong?
proposed to take her with me, bu'
this she would not accept. She hat
discovered her social faults, and wa
too proud to attempt to correct them
She had been good enough to marry,
she told me, and she was Just asgoc'
then as when we were married
"And this was true, WillsI acknowl
edged that, though l was getting tired
Two years OF constant pickering sour
the truest love. l left her to her ow,
[ ways, and went hithcr and thither a
l wished. Sometimes we had recor
citations. and a week or two's perfec
happiness, and then some t%rifiing ii
cident would arose her anger an
anu ior aiiolHel Meeh u y"
e we were virtually separated.
t "Still / loved her, loved her pa
D sionately and truly, and | neve
9 wronged her even in thought. Iha
never then seen any woman halt S
beautiful, and have never seen an
t since to be compared with her. Eve
her wild, ungovernable nature touche
mine as no gentler woman's has ev.
y done, and though there were evil an
cross e%len,entsin our destiny, noneti
less Bernice was my destiny-the onl
woman on earth for me.