The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-09-17

have him take her out to California. 1
hope Its true that he has bought back
the old homestead. Well, we'll,
wouldn't / like to be little mouse in
the sittiny-room wall about this timer"
Could he have had his wish, q most
astoundca little mouse would the
worthy man have epersonated.
"Yon are the most morbidly con-
scisntious person, Roxy, that know
OF" Mr.: Kirby was saying, with a
irown that scored his forhead with hor-
izontal wrinkles like the staffin written
music. '.If I could only convince you
that " was your duty to be my wife, /
should stand some chance OF getting
you; but unluckily for me, you've
cherished this notion that you ought
to keep house for your brother till
you
Brother needs me-" murmured Miss
Roxanna, tears swelling in her eyes OF
'tbahy blue"
And don't / need you? Haven't I
some rights? During your stricken
sisters illness consented to waive
these, but now she is gone, and Iwant
Don't, Joel, DON'T"
II tell you do, and can't help it."
cried Mr.. Kirby, with grim humor.
when ! couldn't move you by letter,
1resolved I'd come and speak for my
self. You used to say you loved me,
Roxy. Can't you
you know plenty OF other ladies,
Joe, younger and more pleasing, falt-
cred Miss Roxanna, nervously smooth
ing the pale gild othair that framed her
temples in Gothic arch.
''They are nothing to me-" replied
the gentleman, curtly, almost as Il he
esteemed the fact matter OF regret.
Assured OF the favor OF more than
one pretty girl OF his acquaintance,
was it not a little hard that the full
current OF his being must needs set to-
ward this unresponsive woman of
thirty? II had ever been thus with
Joel Kirby from his preverse child.
hood, when, If he wanted cake no
human power could induce him to nib
BILE gingerbread.
mo, Roxy. there's only one woman
in the world for me" he continued, in
q softer tone. "Your brother is OF
different temperament. Has it never
occurred to you that he may marry
second timer"
Brother marry Oh, no, indeed,
he II never marry-never!" cried Miss
Roxanna, rooted and grounded in the
belief that her brothers heart was en-
tombed with the dead Climena. "No,
he could not take q second vile, Joel,
aud you see he has only me. Icouldn't
be SO cruel as to leave him"
To all Mr.. Kirby g subsequent plead
ings she made this same reply, but it
soothed his chatting spirit not little
that she made it with faltering and
that she parted from him with tears.
AS the sound OF his rapid wheels
died III the distance, she hastily dried
her eyes and hurried into the kitchen
to see about the belated supper. Mr..
Perrin still gloating over castles in
Spain, looked up with the roguish
purpose OF greeting her as "Mrs. Kir-
by," but dismayed at her troubled
conntenance, remarked that "the
days were getting shorter"-a fact
that she had observed before.
He felt as if he had received blow.
For him there was, there could be,
but one interpretation OF his sisters
unwonted emotion. She loved Kirby,
and Kirby no longer cared for her.
Poor girl, she had dreamed that a
mans affections are like granite
boulders, Incapable OF change, and
she was awakening with a shock.
Hepless Roxanna' She too had her
trials. Keenly sympathetic, the mag
1flhimols brother, concealed his own
disappointment as best he could, and
|1avished upon his sorrowful sister an
excess of tenderness.
You have the knack of spelling me
for other folks cooking, little woman,
that's the truth" said he at tea time,
ostentatiously heaping his plate with
cream toast. Chow should l ever get
along without your"
'That'll make her feel that appre-
ciate her, if Joel DOESN'T" he mused,
benevolently; while she, on her side
OF the table was thinking: "It's Just
MS / suspected; it would kill brother
to lose me-"
"Oh, YOU'D manage somehow. May
be you'd marry" she ventured timid-
lily, almost hearing the fluttering Of
the lost Climena's wings.
"Pohl poh! sister, nothing seems
less likely" answered her brother, il.
a voice SO sad that Miss Roxanna
chided herself for having opened his
| wound afresh. But she had done it
for Joel's sake. She owed to Joel to
make sure that there could be no
misunderstanding.
The October days with their noon
day patches OF sunshine and their
heavy borders OF twilight came and
went. In spasm of hope that the
charming widow might yet consent to
share the domestic sceptre with his
sister, Mr.. Perrin made a second pro.
posal, only to receive second decid-
ed, though hattering, refusal. hfr.
Kirby repeated his call upon Roxan-
ma, and departed cursine fate, and by
no means loving Mr.. Perrin, whom he
supposed perfectly acquainted with
the relations between himself and Rox.
anna. Overtaking Mr.. Perrin one day
walking home from the post Office, Mr..
Kirby with inward reluctance asked
him to ride. With equal reluctance
Mr.. Perrin accepted the invitation, re-
hecting: ssIf amt civil, he'll take it
that Pm mad because he doesn't re-
new uAS OIleI 10 IsOAAAIld, anu won .
humor him."
Heavy frost last night" growled
Mr.. Kirby.
"Very," asserted the other, con-
scious Of an inward chill. "Winter is
upon US. Shall you spend it in
Maine?''
"My plane are uncertain snarled
Mr.. Kirby; adding, mentally: Thanks
to you, SIR
"Of course you can choose your own
climate. There's the advantage Of
having plenty OF money, and no fam
ily ties,''