The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-10-15
COUNTY, DAKOTA,

me VINO lives ana DreatheS and an
swers to my name. am so desolate
and oppressed despairing! Ihave
thefeeling, sometimes, that am under
spell, that my faculties are paralyz-
ing and that | shall lose my mind in
this dull, void living. Only when your
letters come / am alive. feel that
you love me, and l live and feel and
am exquisitely happy and miserable,
both together.
My husbands long as I perform
my daily duties he is contented. He
knows nothing ofmy feelings. Hecon-
siders me machine for his comfort.
Sometimes l loathe him. Usually l
am Indifferent to him.
"But, tonight it seems almost as ii
| dared escape to you. Freedom, love,
happiness-may they still be mine?
Before long will grant you an inter
view. l will promise you nothing
more than that now. Percy, my only
love, God bless and keep you until we
meet.
Zone word more. Pray becautious.
If my husband should discover this
correspondence I cannot answer for
the consequences. Though he has new
er lll-treated me know him 10 be a
hard man. Let me hear from you
soon. Yours"
The name was illegible, for the sheet
was much discolored and blotted by
the rain. But it was Lucie's fine, del
icate chirography, and l felt as if a
thunder-bolt had broken around me.
After moment blank wonderment
and strange, bewildering pain, I put
the sheet in my pocket and quietly
continued my way. Such q flood OF
emotion was stirred within that l
summoned superficial calmness from
| an instinct of self-preservation
was conscious of one predominant
| feeling as went to the city-hatred
against my wife for her duplicity. ]
must have looked wretchedly when
too much excited to notice it.
knowles" he exclaimed, "there was
terrible fire in Philadelphia last
night, and our branch house is burned
to the ground. Here is a dispatch IRON
Weiss. He wants you to come on I'M
mediately."
In two hours I was on my way to
Philadelphia.
There was much to do to restore ou1
interests, and lent myself to the work
with all my energies. 1t was the best
thing that could have happened tc
me. 1t gave me no more time to think
OF Lucie.
| l wrote her once, telling her very
briefly that should not be at home
for month. 1t was six weeks before
again arrived at Daphne Dell. The
maid was washing the hall.
| "How do you do, Dorcas? How il
Mrs. Knowles?"
Every comfortable. I think she i!
sleeping now, sir"
| Somewhat bewildered by this repl,
went into the sitting~room. No sigl
OF Lucie or of her work. mounted
to the chamber and quietly opened
the door,
The room was darkened Lucie wa
sitting up in bed nursing the infant
| Sweetly and calmly she extended he
hand to me. went to her-I put m,
arms about her-I kissed her. Icoult
not help it, for felt that the child up
on her bosom was my own. Th
nurse came in, took the infant from
| her, and bade her lie down to rest.
! She was very weak. cannot ex
press my contending feelings as
watched her fragile face upon the pill
low.
| Slowly she gainea strength. 1t wa
midsummer before she was about th
house again. The little one had beel
4 prematurely born, but it throve, an,
the mothers health was finally re
stored.
was rejoiced at this. I shoult
have been perfectly happy but for th
letter. The memory Of it was like al
ugly devil that Knocked me.
One day as Lucie sat tending he
child in low chair by the window
laid the sheet before her. had fixe,
my eyes upon her face, and saw slol
surprise dawn upon it.
"Where did you find this, Will?
lost it months ago"
} 'Under the orchard wall. Wha
does it mean, LucieY'
"Well," q slight blush, syou hav
found me out. It's leaf from stor,
l was writing.
'tAnd Percy"
"Was the hero. The sheet mus
have blown out the window that rain
; night last spring. You see, dea,
, didn't like to tell you, becaus
I thought you wouldn't like t
have literary wife, but l had bee
accustomed to writing stories some
, times, and when l knew baby wa
coming thought Iwould earn themo
, ey myself for the embroidered fannt
and cambria dresses. l knew yo
| needed every cent in your business.
had to rewrite this letter for my re
: nance" she continued, land. didn'
get it quite the same" examining til
sheet.
looked at her sweet face for me-
! ment and then fell down on my knee
7 beside her. | confessed all. Slo
e amazement dawned in her count
: nance. At length her soft eyes file
1 with tears. She drew my face dow
7 to her bosom where the little baby wa
l slumbering.
"Another lover?" she murmuret
: "Why, Will, nobody but you ever 10,
t cd me in all my life!"
t Then, again, knew that she we
: once more my Lucie!
i How to Eat 'POssum.
!, Bimeby yer comes homefum de day