The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-04-16
HER CRAFTSMANSHIP.

'"' "'iShVlui Place saturday 10 return
to Il musty old city quarters, and re-
sumo the thread of our most humdrum
existence. ], to work like a slave all
day and spend my evenings in a lonely
room. You, to lie on the hearth at my
feet; to keep your landlady's cat at "a
distance, and guard my few poor treas
ures. Ell, Prince?"
And patting his companion, a large
Newfoundland known to local fame as
the ''Black Prince" who looked up ut
him with an affectionate and intelligent
expression in his large soft eyes, as if
he understood every word, (and many
would have maintained that he did)
Fred Castle threw himself on the grass
at the foot of large maple and breath
cd q languid sigh of relief. This was a
recumbent statue of Incidence. A well
built young man. of average height. or
d%inarily noticeable by a certain fine
carriage OF his well-proportioned head,
and a decidedly i%ndividualizcd manner.
A genial face, neither classic nor strik-
ingly handsome, but we'll moulded, the
only inharmonious feature was the
mouth, the full lips of which were
drawn from their originally soft lines,
and hardened by an expression half con
temptuous-half cynical. Aside from
this his face was pleasing and his man
ner most engaging.
During his w weeks stay ut that
popular western summer resort, Ghost
Lake. he had grown to be a general
favorite with all the guests of the prin-
cipal hotel, until no picnic. no moon
light boat ride or sercnadc, no parlor
entertainment was considered complete
without him. He convcrscd well on in
Vulnerable subjects; he was well read;
no sang fairly, and played the guitar
with some skill; he possessed a quiet
vein of humor and a knack of %invcnting
amuscmcnts; could sketch some and
row like a sailor. Besides this combi-
nation of attractions there was a certain
nonchalancc and an easy grace about
him that took well. He had spent his
vacation very pleasantly for an ordinary
clerk. and nothing had happened to
mar his enjoyment. Perhaps an I'M
pleasant memory had crept in and
frightened the sunbcams away for a
moment and he had banished it with
that characteristic Indifference so Pc
culiar to him, as he had banished the
vision of the two most ordinary wall
flowers sojourning there, strenuously
e%ndeavoring to land him in the matri-
monial net.
Really, quite a pretty picture-so
very, very romantic. An Endymion at
Ghost Lake!' There was a historical
giggle and two shadows fell across him.
Startled, Castle looked up. Horrors!
There stood the Misses Nevins, the
identical persistent angling wall flow
ers, looking down upon him with Ian
gushing eyes.
Thanks, ladies'" he said. But l
am more fortunate than Endymion of
old, in that have two Dianas to smile
upon me-"
sob, you flatter." they giggled in
chorus, you horrid men are so terri
bly, insincere."
Not at all. You wrong us-we are
models of sincerity. May l ask you
where you are going9"
1--WE are off for a boat ride. g Will
you accompany us?' said the elder Of
she two, al angular maiden of thirty
summers.
Would be delighted. l assure YOU;
but the fact is, l have been roaming
about all day and am completely fag-
ged out. You will excuse me?n
Certainly, but We are SO sorry
"What strange, constituencies be-
ings some women are" he murmurcd.
his eyes following them as they walked
toward the boat-house. Either fish
ing for a husband as a cold-blooded
lsaak Walton angles for a fine trout
Of breaking mems hearts with the sub
lime Indifference with which the inquis-
tto1s of old broke herctics on the wheel
or the rack, entirely unmindful of the
suflcrings of their victims"
''Hello, Castle" cried a young man,
hurrying up, ''bayc you seen Ned Ever
ton go bv?"
mo. Is he hereps' drawled Castle.
lazily, as he drew Il cigar from his
pocket and lit it. .'Whcn did he Gomez"
This morning. with Elwood and his
folks. thought every one knew they
were here. Elwood has turned the
house upside down with his fun"
mo, l have been away since break
fast. Took a lunch with me and roam
ed all over creation. Don't know any
thing new don't care to-too tired"
Laughing heartily at Fred's superla-
tive Incidence, the other hurried away.
"Thc deuce!" muttcred Castle, re-
tlectivcly chewing his cigar, and gazing
atasmall cloud just rising above the hor-
lion. They hcre,a and that fellow Ever
ton with them. But, l gave them credit
for better senseb 1t is some of the old
lady's work, I'll wager. The veriest fool
who pays her a compliment or praises
one of her hobbies, Immediately be-
comes a paragon in her sight, is dub
bed friend, and together thcy rule the
family, wrong you when call you
friend, if that is the worlds standard of
friendship. This is AZ additional rea-
son why we should return Saturday,
and laughing a lit,le, he arose to his
feet and leaned against the trunk of The
maple.