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

AtiiiAiiS oiiu llSileO, du IIfelf WIS enQ
what to do, while in the background
stood my angel in a ravishing bonnet,
half pouting, half smiling at the ex-
igencies OF the dilemma.
l saw my opportunity and seized
it.
"Can L." | said, bowling low, abe OF
service as an interpreter? OF course
you want to 90 to the review"
Wlgson here assured me they did.
"There is no chance of securing a
carriage" | continued, "but the walk
through the porte du Scharbeck is
pleasant and the distance not great.
If You will walk, l shall be proud to
conduct you there"
My coup was effective. The old peo-
pie. with a stare OF blank despond-
ency, as though the alternate was
crushing, gazed at the jostling crowd,
ana accepted me with much the sort
OF expression as if | had presented
them with a box OF pills to swallow.
We started. Icould not, however,
engineer u tete-a-tete with Maria, but
L got u chance to make myself solid
with mamma, into whose ears ! pour
ed the grateful incense of a hundred
batteries.
At last we reached q spot which
commanded agrand view ofthe process
SION, and | suggested that we should
remain there for a while and see it file
past.
1t was a beautiful sight. Little as
the "brave Beige distinguished him
self on the field of Waterloo, when the
Iron Duke unceremoniously ordered
his dragons to withdraw, he makes q
bristling show at a martial parade.
Infantry and artillery marched past
us.
Now comes afanfare oftrumpets, and
q glittering group OF horsemen appear.
It'll Gen Trentinck, who approaches
with the %king'stwo sons on either side
followed by his staff.
Every hat is off. Loud voices ring
on the air. Ladies wave their tlutter.
ing kerchiefs, and bright smiles greet
them on all sides.
Just as the cortege approaches us a
broken-down gun wagon cause a halt.
Can ] believe my eyes? There, rid
ing at the right of the eray-haired vet
eran, is the handsome young crown
prince, the Due de Drabant; and, as |
live, the same gallant cavalier is none
other than the impetuous stranger l
met at the cigar divan--the very gold
en- youth | had told he didn't move in
good society.
| caught his eye, and, with a blush,
bowed.
Then out cropped the gentle nature
0f fho y entN,, ~ 49, 80 49, ,.-l1..L
races OF Europe.
.'You here??" he said graciously, lean
ing forward in his saddle. Ihope you
will enjoy the review and carry agood
account Of us home"
1t was worth a years life to see the
faces OF the WILSON'S. Wonder, awe,
envy paralized them. Here was a
youngm mar they had hesitatedt to know,
hand in glove with the heir to the
throne OF Belgium.
"Gour Highness," | stammered, ~
am sure your troops will acquit them
selves with credit"
1t was q stupid, inane remark, but
to tell the truth | was in nearly as big
u fuster as my Brummagem friend.
"Have you the entree to the grand
oCS1iiOs lllc L 1lllCO COHlluuGu.
mo, sir"
He beckoned to an a~ide-de-camp
whispered some instruction, and then,
with a pleasant nod passed IN.
do not believe the WILSON'S knew
whether they were walking on their
heads or their heels, as we followed
the dismounted officer to that holy OF
holes, the long, spacious gallery re-
served for persons about the court and
distinguished visitors.
Harlequin touches with his magic
wand and all is changed. This pretty
piece OF princely condescension had
metamorphosed a vagrant nobody
into a hero. Those WILSON'S literally
groveled. They crineed, wriggled and
squirmed in the ecstacy of their adj
miration.
LIDO not know but that even Maria's
superb beauty paled in the shadow OF
their vulgar serviiity; but, if SO, the
spell was only lifted for a moment.
The more | saw OF the the
less | liked her. So even under the
charm OF my infatuation, / could not
but appreciate the afiliction of a
mother-in-law who called a horse sa
'orse," and who looked downfromh her
gilded heights on the profession OF lit
erature as a forlorn refuge for the des-
titute.
But Maria was charming.
What if her papa did eat with his
knife, and mistake his dinner napkin
forapocketh handkerchief? Wouldnot
the ''rolling forties" of the Atlantic
sage between us ifIcould only win that
dainty damsel for my bride?
Afterthe eclat of the review day OPP
portunities to press my suit were as
plentiful rs sheaves in harvest time.
Carriage parties were gotten up solely
in my honor. Dainty missives on
tinted paper with a florid crest i'm
printed thereon, reached me almost
daily, which informed me that "Mr.
and Mrs. Grofin Wigson present their
compliments to Mr.. Scribbler, and we
shall be glad to receive you IN our
apartments this evening""
One thing was soon apparent. They
we're hungering alter society, athirst
for blue blood. and they looked on me
as nj especially detailed by Provi-
dence to break down the barriers and
lead them into the Elysian fields of
fashionable life.
Never a day passed at the table d.
hote that my prospective mother-in-
law forgot to send the color mantling
to my temples by inquiring in a loud
voice, 80 that all around might hear,
after my dear friend, "is 'ighness."
Twice she introduced me to travel
ing plutocrates, sui Generis, and each
time added in a stage whisper, "a
friend of the crown prince. Very har.
i%stocratic, though he does come from
those 'orrid states"
At last the golden moment came.
One dewy eve, in the delicious twi-
light, l was permitted to escort the
far Maria to q Nesper service at the