The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-09-03
than the date of this conversation

]
Olives guardian was Seeking his ward
in her own boudoir, with gloom upon
his face and depression of soul which
| defed his analysis. He had a message
to convey and proposal to informally
submit which he had little doubt would
be accepted. Oswald Harbury, the
young owner of half Cleethorpe, had
asked permission to lay himself and his
fortune at Olives feet. He loved her.
he said; he would do his best to make
ller happy.
"And believe that he will. He has
a horne to offer you and is true-heart-
ed honorable gentleman. As your
guardian, Olive, 1 am bound to give
my sanction to so fair and promising a
suit. May bid Mr.. Harbury to come
and plead his own cause?"
He had spoken hoarsely and in q
queer, far-off kind OF voice that he
hardly recognized as his own. 1t was
surely singular and must testify to an
unsuspected weakness of character, that
the prospect of separation from the
ward originally received with so much
doubt and drea,l should thus make havoc
OF bis peace. He waited for the answer
in suspense that was positively har-
asslng. At last it came.
"No, you may not, "Oliye said, "un-
less, indeed, you wish to get rid of me
Ito serd me away. And not even then,
for L cannot consent to marry man
whom do not love-"
Send Olive away! Was not every
pulse in his body beating with fierce.
unbidden Joy at the verdict she had
given? The measure OF his recent ter
ror was the measure of his present re-
lief.
"That is fear which my ward-mv
wayward ward never need harbor,"
he said, with slow, broad smile; "she
has brought too much sunshine into my
lonely life for me to wish to lose her.
But change is inevitable some dav."
"Why?" u low voice murmured; and
again came the mysterious illumination
of Olives eyes.
Because, Olive-if for no other
reason-the years of my guardianship
| will soon be at an end" he answered
steadily, almost stcrnlv. He must face
| the future resolutely, as befitted teach
er OF his fellows.
And few seconds later his quick,
nervous step was echoing in the passage
| without
An early summer vacation in Swift
zerland-when the glorious Alpine
flora should be at its loveliest-had
been the cherished dream of years to
Bernard Ralston, and at last it was
realized. A woman's hand had guided
his steps thitherward Olive Power
had persuaded MIN to lay aside his work
and make playtime OF the sunny wealth
er.
"You can finish your book Oh VANITY
as Force in Human Affairs when YOU
return, and the critics will all say that
the last chapters are the brightest" she
said, pleadingly. And when she added
slight involuntary expression of her
own eagerness for the change. he sur
rendered. The trio-AIiss Ralston,
Bcrnard's sister and housekeeper. was
Olives chaperon-had now been from
England fortnight.
They had reached the Riffel and were
thus encamped under shadow of the
majestic (griln and uncouth. for varia-
tion of epithets) Matterhorn itself.
AAShS oiiNo NSuU lHbO CGSuuCleS. IO
watch the sunrise bathe the rugged,
furrowed sides with waves of liquid
light was an occupation of which she
never tired And then there was the
Corner Grat to visit, the Corner Gla-
cier to see.
AT the hotel there was pleasant COM
pany, including couple of young
Americans, who swept the ordinarily
reserved and cautious student forward
into participation in their own reck-
less adventures by the sheer force of
enthusiasm. The three went off one
afternoon on a quest for edelweiss.
The gloom was thickening in gorge and
pass and gray shadows were following
the crimson sunset glow on the huge
crests aloft before there was any sign
of a return. The ladies grew uneasy
Stories of accident and of awful peril
were staples of the conversational bill
of fare in the hotel salon and inevitably
eSertel their influence on nervous
minds. In this case the presentiment
of evil was but too surely justified.
Two of the venturesome explorers
returned weary and dishevelled, but
Bernard Ralaton was missing.
1--WE thought he was before u.s." ex-
planned Mark Croxfofd, the elder of
the brothers. "We drifted apart among
the boulders and iceridges of glacier
edge, and we locked for him to reioin
us at the lower end of the track. Not
meeting him we supposed he had hur-
ried away homeward."
A sudden chill had gone to many a
heart in the little group of listeners.
The thought of precipices and OF their
hidden and treacherous dangers was
in every ones mind. A search ex-
pedition was quickly organized and
started.
Il hear steps behind" said tbe guide,
halting on the first stage of the Jour-
ney and prominently displaying his
lamp.
"Why it is Miss Power!" cried Mark
Croxford in astonishment
1t was indeed Olive. With blanched
cheeks and agonized eyes and dauntless
resolution, she insisted on accompany
ing the seekers. 1t was at her request
thai Bernard Ralston had come to
Switzerland. If he perished would it
not in sense be. her fault? Better that
her own life should have been sacri-
feed! To persuade the girl to return
was useless-only loss of precious min
utes. With muttered growl of disap-
probation the guide was compelled to al
low her to proceed.
Hours were spent in vain pursuit.
Guide, is there any hope?" demand
ed a stalwart Cornishman, at last.
II fear, none!" he answered; aat the
bottom OF yonder chasm"--
His words were cut short. A cry,
half triumnhant half fearful sli,nnad |