The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-12-03
BY SARAH D. HOBART.

over
Ross threw down his paper, straight
ened himself up, and bent pair OF
keen. black eyes aearchingly upon her.
on don't mean that, Kitty"
But ] do" answered the girl pas
sionately. II have never known so
unhappy atime as theselast six weeks.
Hmy ignorance is annoying to you
why do you seek my society? You
can find plenty OF girls who have had
better advantages. Am to blame
that my life must be spent in the
kitchen instead of the schoolroom
whore would like to be? I am doing
my duty; please father and the boys
and that is sufficient. You presume
too muchon our friendship, Mr.. Cham
berlain. when you take it upon your.
self to tutor and criticise me it that
contemptuous fashion. You are at
liberty to go where your fine sensibili-
ties will not receive such shoclls,o and
Kitty took up her egg beater and at
tackled the innocent yolks with an en-
ergy which threatened to demolish
them
you'll be sorry for this before the
week IS out, Kitty Payne, and when
you want me back isst remember that
you seat me away" The young man
rose to his feet, put on his hat and
oyercoat, and stalked down the path,
the personification of offended dignity.
Ktty's lip quivered as she saw the
tall form moving steadily along be-
tween the rows of leafess lilacs with
out one repentant backward glance.
Already her heart was longing for rec.
Onciliation, but pride forbade her to
recall him.
ssHe will come tomorrow" she said
with a sigh sHe will not fail to eat
his Thanksgiving dinner with us; it
wouldn't be Thanksgiving without
Ross, : She wiped away her tears and
turned again hopefully to her work.
1t has been q wearisome, trying day;
otltsidea gra,, mass OF clouds hung
gloomily over the bluffs, and the keen
winds sweeping across the prairie now
and then whitened the holiows with
sudden hurries OF snow. There had
been an extra amount Of work to do
in preparation Tor thanksgiving which
was always celebrated by the Payne
family in royal style, an innumerable
army Of uncles, aunts, and cousins re-
spending gladly to the annual sum
mons to the capacious homestead
Kitty had risen unrefreshed from dis
turbed and troubled sleep, and was
3 poorly prepared to encounter the tot
and yexation which lay before her.
1t began directly after breakfast
while she was rolling out the faky
crust for her pumpkin pies. Aunt
Sabrina, who had lately become q
member OF the family, was washln,
dishes ut the sink opposite giving
voice now and then to an ejaculation
which Kitty had learned to interpret
as the signal Of q coming storm. In
the few months during which her aunt
had been her companion the girl had
learned to dread her relatives shar1
tongue. and shrank from impartin
her condolences to her.
What's that Chamberlain fellow
hanging round here for all the timer"
she demanded sharply, sitting down
the milk pals with savage crash
81 hope you haven't got the idee into
your head that he means to marry
you, kitty?''
The girls face turned from crimson
to adeadly pallor. Was it not enough
to battle constantly against her own
doubts and misgivings without having
to endure her aunt's cruel thrusts?
She made no reply, but bent her head
q little lower over her work, as with
quick, deft fingers she filed the tins
for the oven
Aunt Sabrina's keen eyes were fixed
pitilessly upon her and she saw that
the shot had told.
Now, it's easy enough to see," she
went on, fourishing the dish cloth by
way of emphasis, chat he feels himself
a heap above you. He's always twit.
ting you with your countryfied ways
and with his being educated, which,
the land knows, you amt. Iattended
& select school myself when was q girl
and can tell q scholar as we'll as the
next one. But that dom tmake it that
you amt too good for him the best
day he ever saw, and here he is morn
ing. noon and night, all over the house
from garrett to cellar, helping himself
! to fried cakes and cookies in the pan
try, like one Of the family, and sitting
right down here in the kitchen to
bother, no matter how busy we are.
And the neighbors tell me it's been go
ing on so for the last five years! How
do you suppose it's going to end? You
can't look me in theface, Kitty Payne,
aud say hes ever asked you to have
him."
No, Kitty could not; and the faint,
sick feeling her aunt's words produced
paled her lips and drew dark circles
around her eyes. Fortunately the
entrance OF the young gentleman in
question spared her the humiliation
Of replying, but she knew the evil day
was only postponed. Aunt Sabrina
was not to be baffled when once start.
ed on q scent.
For the first time in her life her
heart was throbbing with indignation
against Ross, while he, laziiy lying
backsin the easy chair, was inwardly
wondering why it was that cllate he
could never have Kitty q moment to
himself. Ee was very certain that he
would not be satisfied with wife
whose highest ambition was to excel
in household duties even though she
were sweet and lovely as Kitty Payne.
He hoped if he ever made up his mind
to marry her, which, indeed, was ex-
tremely uncertain. he could teach her
to- dress a little moro like other peo-
pie. She was always neatly and taste
fully attired, but his critical eye de-
tected the absence OF certain effects
which denoted that the fashion maga-
zines wers infrequent visitants at
the Payne homestead. An elegant,