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

Miss Lily Frink awoke with vague
sense that something important had
happened. What was it? She looked
about the room at the crimson Canton
flannel curtains, the corner bracket
with its lambrsquin of macrame lace,
and its Chinese vase, from which
dropped three peacocks feathers; at the
dressing case covered with litter OF
ribbons and flowers pertaining to her
toilette of the previous evening. Flow
ers-oh, yes, the flowers recalled it.
She was engaged.
Tat may seem o strange event to
have been effaced from a young 1adys
mind by anights sleep, but then, it was
not an entirely new event to Miss Lily.
She had been engaged before. several
times, indeed, but for some reasons her
engagements seemed singularly lacking
in the quality of permanency.
She satup in bed, the,thick, sleep-ruf-
fed braids of her brown hair falling
over her shoulders, her uncurled bangs
jutting wildly out above her forehead
and leaning forward far enough to bring
her face within range of the mirror.
How do you do, Mrs. Ned Proctor?"
she said, smiling to the white robed i'm
age which smiled dimly back to her
through the folds of the mosquito net.
Then she threw herself back upon the
pillow again, her hands clasped beneath
her head, and gave herself up to remin-
iscence.
Miss Lily was rather a plump,
piquant little person; with smooth,
fair complexion, trife freckled in q
strong light, and clear china blue eyes
which, totally destitute of expression at
times, twinkled pleasantly when she
laughed.
Just now they twinkled very pleas
antly, indeed, and complacent smile
curved her full red lips.
Ned Proctor!" she said in q tone of
mingled triumph and surprise, "the
girls will never believe it. I wonder
how he feels about it this morning 2"
Here she drew one of her plump han dis
from beneath her head and looked at a
ring on the first finger. It was not the
regulation solitaire which is the usual
visible signand token of the pre-mat-
1imonialcontract, but heavy ring with
black onyx setting, on the face of
which a monogram was outlined in tiny
diamonds.
II wonder how feel labout it myself"
she continued, rehectively twisting the
rather loosely fitting ring on her finger.
II must get ND and tell mamma"
Mrs. Frink was neither plump nor
piquant, though the general resem-
blance between herself and her daughter
rendered probable the conjecture Chat
she might have been both in youth, and
while circumstances had been such as
to lift her above those small crampings
and pecuniary worries SO unfayorahle
to the preservation Of attractive attri-
butes; but the attrition of lowered for
tunes had induced a physical leanness
and Il mental sharpness fatal to femin-
inc charms. Her thin, pointed face,
shriveled like an untimely peach, wore
constant look of repressed complaint,
her small pale eyes had an incisive
gleam, and her voice plaintive ca
dence eloquent of woe.
She was in the breakfast room, hov-
ering about the table with that de-
pressed air of minute attention to the
family comfort which she perpetually
wore, when Lille entered and, coming
up behind her put her arms about the
scarlet that draped the spare shoulders,
and held the onyx ring close before her
eyes Mrs. Frink took hold of the hand
and pushing it farther away looked at
tentively at the ring.
"Well," she asked, "What does that
mean ?"
DO you recognize it."
Its like that ring / have noticed on
Ned Proctor's finger"
1t is the ring you've noticed on Ned
Proctors finger" returned Lily, releas-
ing her hnnd.
"Oh!" said her mother coldly, 'you
are going to far, think
But it's serious" said Lille, laugh
ing delightedly.
Serious! what do you mean ?"
Were engaged"
"Lily?" Mrs. Frink's tone was ex-H
pressive of despair rather than surprise.
We'll, why not ?" asked Lily, pout.
ing detiantly and twisting the ring
about
Mrs. Frink emitted slight groan.
and went on with her occupation of
Strengthening and rearranging the
knives and forks and spoons. &
II don't see why you look like that.
said Lily, little discomftted. "He's
as nice as can be, and he must have
money, you know, Or he couldn't live as
he does"
"He hasn't a cent" said her mother
tartly, "I've told you so dozen times. ?
"Bnt I'm sure you're mistaken. He
subscribes to everything, he belongs to
the most expensive club, lie always hires
the best horses and carriage in the