The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-02-12

IN close proximity to a huge Latin
dictionary, while upon nv Ian. in a.
wrinkled condition, my sewing was
lying, with a needle hanging by a long
Line OF thread, nearly to the floor, as
II escaped luckily from a round of
monotonous hemming, which as vet
boosted but two stitches at its com
mencement.
Who can it be that wishes to see
me- l exclaimed, rising hastily and
calling after my little 6-year.old
brother. "Who is it, Charlie?"
Don't know; it's somebody. Moth
er says come down"
"Who a it be! An hour since /
had seen a gentleman with u heavily
bearded face come up the walk, but 1
was too busy with my dreams to
notice him very particularly. Still,
as | recalled his face and figure, and
his quick, %springing step, there seemed
something strangely familiar in them.
Who could it be? My heart beat rap
IDLY. Surely | had seen that face and
form before, and a namethat was sin
gularly dear to me trembled upon my
lips-"Frank Haynes!"
But | could not go down to meet
him. though was summoned q thou
sandtmes. l didnot wish to see him;
why should |? Therewas no occasion
for it. was not the foolish little girl
of ~ summers whom he had left five
years ago in short frocks and curls,
but a %full-grown woman instead. No,
| was not the same. | would not 90
down. Besides, q sudden headache
was nearly blindingme. Mother could
not ask it OF me when I was hardly
able to sit up. But what would he
think? Would he care? Would he
still remember tenderly the little Mrs.
Haynes OF five years ago?
Little! l repeated the word as I
stood before the long mirror, which
gave back to me an accurate picture
OF myself. A slender. passable form;
a dark, clear complexion; large, gray
eyes; a mouth whose redness seemed
to have robbed my cheeks of their
color; white teeth; a forehead broad,
but not high; large, heavy braids of
chestnut-brown hair, was the likeness
framed before my eyes. l turned
away with a sigh, and glanced downto
my hand. Upon the third finger OF the
left was a plain gold %circlet. The hot
blood rushed up into my cheeks as |
looked at it. Iwould wear it nolong.
err. He should never know that Ihad
worn it at all. Just then my brother
came again to the door of my room,
crying out a new message.
Mother says little Mrs. Haynes is
wanted downstairs"
II have a terrible headache, Charlie.
Please tell mother So" and Isank
down upon a chair close by the win
dow, and leaned my head upon achair
handle.
"Dear, dear! if they would butforget
me-" | murmured to myself, as the
hum OF their conversation came clear
ly to my ears. An hour passed away
and | heard the sound OF voices in the
hall, then steps in the walk below. /
did not glance eagerly from the win
dow, or peer carefully from the half
closed shutters, but clasped my hands
tightly over my eyes till the sound OF
footsteps died away in the distance,
then / crept s~tealthily downstairs and
stepped softly into the silent parlor,
where so lately he had been. l was
half across the before l noticed
that | was not alone, and then, before
Icould make a hasty retreat, a glad,
merry voice, rich with its golden music,
exclaimed: "My own dear little Mrs.
Haynes, as live! How happy am
to seeyou!' and a hand clasped mine
tightly, while a pair of bearded lips
were bent down to mine. l drew my
head back haughtily. was u little
child no longer. | would not accept,
even from him, the caresses that he
had bestowed upon me five years be-
fore.
"Ah, Mr.. Haynes" l said, bowling
in a dignified way, II am pleased to
see you
My mannerchilled at once his warm,
genial nature. Stepping backward
from me and releasing my hand he
said, with a curl OF his finely cut lips:
"Iour pardon, Miss Lester; / had
quite forgotten that youhad grown to
be such a fine LADY,"
| bowed him back u reply, flashing
a quick, impetuous glance upon him
as did SO. But there was no pleas
antry attempted on his part, and
when my mother entered the room a
few moments after and referred, laugh
ingly to our engagement, he answered
her IN a few evasive words, as though
the subject was not an agreeable one to
him.
Affairs had taken an unhappy turn,
but it was too late to remedy them,
and day after day passed away, leav-
ing Mr.. Haynes as cold ard distant as
he had been from the moment | first
repulsed him. / would have given
worlds to have recalled my unlucky
words; yet, since they were spoken, /
would not unbend a moment from my
calm, cool dignity. though 1 was as
miserable and wretched as I could be,
and knew that Mr.. Haynes shared my
Indebtedness.
All the time that l could spend in
my chamber without being absolutely
rude was passed there till my strange
unusual appearance was noticed by
my father and mother, and my mood
commented freely upon before our
guest.
"You appear so strange, Phebe,"
said my mother one morning. II
really do not knowhowto understand
you. I'm afraid that Mr.. Haynes
will think you are not pleased to see
him. Every chance that occurs you
resolutely avoid him, as though he
were the verlest monster, instead of a
dear friend. What is the matter?"
Nothing. The strangeness of my
appearance is but a reflection, l can
49, hni~ - s-- ha+ae owl 40.