The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-04-09
HER HUSBAND.

disc is Brussels-Les Bruxelles-with
its glory neutrality-suspicious.,
relieved by the flashing b~rilliancy of
it's gay boutiques; it's host ofwarriors
in dazzling uniforms; it's capoted
priests; it's round-armed Flemish
BONES beneath whose abbreviated
petticoats the little feet, shod in
wooden sabots, patter merry music
on the pavement.
This bijou Paris is a dream to me,
gloriied by the remembrance that
here | fell down metaphorically and
worshipped the sweetest ideal ofwom-
anhood a painters brain could picture
Maria Wigson.
l grant that Maria is not a roman
tic name; that Wigson does not sug-
gest poetic surroundings and blue
blooded refinement; but bless YOU,
that tall, graceful girl with the dreamy
brown eyes would have doubled-dis.
countedt the proudest princess il Christ-
endom.
sat opposite to her one fatal day
at the table d'hote OF the hotel de l.
Europe, and forthwith collapsed, with
out an effort to saw myself from my
fate.
Before the fish and soup were re-
moved, l felt the thrilling influence of
her presence; with the entrements I
reached q seventh heaven of adora-
ton; and when the tasse of black COT
fee with dash of cognac in it arrived
laid the last fragment of my shatter-
ed heart q willing captive to her love-
liness.
You may think that l possessed
rather a gushing, spooney tempera-
ment; but you eve knew Maria Wig
son, 50 l forgive the hasty insinua-
ton.
But | had for a time to confine nv
expression Of admiration to tender
glances, for my divinity was hedged
in by an insurmountable barrier in the
shape of a father and mother who
were without exception, the s~tiffest,
starchest specimens OF British snobo-
cracy it was ever my lot to meet.
More unmeetable than icebergs, they
crowned down every approach on my
part with an "'anghy haspect" that
disdained toscrape acquaintance with
a poor devil OF q wandering Yankee
journalist.
To no purpose I bribed the head
waiter to seat me next to my idol at
the dinner table. / could not find
pretense or screw up courage for a
word.
Now on the Montaigne de la Coeur,
the State street of Brussels, there is
OF was twenty years ago-a cigar
store, with an inner sanctum called a
3sSdivan, the admission to which was
only obtained by acknowledgements
OF club, where travellers met for Cos
sip. 1t was much affected by En-
giishmen, as all the London dailies
and alleged humorous journals were
on file.
One day I was just issuing from this
temple Of Nicotes, and ha9 just stop
ped to light my cigar at a torch held
BY q bronze image Of Cupid near the
door, when my head came in contact
with that OF a young man whom Ihad
not noticed, but who at the same mo.
ment bent forward with similar in
tent.
Iapologized.
tAh," he said, speaking with a slight
French accent. ut is nothing. Mon
sieur is All Englishman, l presumed"
mo" ] said with a smile.
Indeed. You speak the language
very we'll for a foreigner" he added,
obviously.
There is another land than Eng
land where that language is spoken.
In the States we think that"
"Oh, you r an Americana" he in
terruped. II am really glad to meet
you. A few years ago | was for a short
time in your land.
As we were talking we dritted up the
hill toward the peak.
He spoke with admiration concern
ing what he had seen in my country,
and / saw that he was a keen observ-
er. While generally complimentary,
his remarks were spiced with a run
ming criticism, which was often based
on erroneous Impressions, and under
whose asceticism / WINGED, especially
as he had an off-hand manner of OPP
posing my remonstrances witha shrug
OF the shoulders, which meant SO
much, but was unanswerable.
But when he came to decry my type
OF all human perfection, the American
girl, l fairly boiled over with indigna-
ton. He granted that they, my
countrywomen. were pretty, viva
cious. fascinating, but in the same
breath claimed that they we're artifi-
cial in manner, and unballasted with
the home loving virtue of the Euro
pean maiden.
q found them very charming" he
said, frankly, "but superficial and
with an undue appreciation of rank
and riches"
.siir." said Indignantly, we are a
democratic people. II there is one
more than another, it is the simplici-
IL Of our social institutions. Rank
has no esteem with us; and. as for
education, our girls enjoy the same
privile0es as our boys-the best that
modern thought al modern,ze."
His exasperating answer was q
shrug. / could have struck him; but,
after all. you q not very well knock
. man down for simply humping his
shoulders.
Pardon me, Monsieur" l said hot
~. TYou have never met the best
tyre ofths Americangirl. Democratic
- ~ are, . foreigner travelling through
orr country has little chance OF gain.
Ing N entree into our best families"
SHYou have q best. then? Nay, you
- wrong. movea in the highest
AoeaA circls."
ron taught yourself to believe.
Aot ~ only error you made"