The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1888-06-01
CHAPTER XVI.

was told at the Sacramento depot
that the Golden State Hotel was on the
third block up the grade. In ascending
the hill, caught sight Of Brace and Lola
walking in advance IA hundred yards Of
so, yet 80 changed that it took the some
minutes to identify them.
Swinging along at a good four miles
an hour. and dragging the Kid nldrS by
the wrist, or letting her ttot on behind. l
should have ittognized the Judge i'm
mediateiy at a quarter of a mile off. But
walking at an old mans pace, with his
daughter leaning on his arm, he was not
easily recognizable,
But III Lola the change was atili great
er. She was no Longer d barefooted, a q
ged h.le savage, hut a young lady with
sorne pretension of elegance in her dress;
and thus altered, she looked q woman
rather than a child.
Her head was bent, she leaned for st1p-
port on her fathers arm. She walked
slowly. mud with an air of fatigue: and,
remembering the buovant elasticity Of
her gait, the reheiliaus independence of
hcr spirit, | asked myself with doubt if
this copid indeed be Lola.
l followed them into tho hotel: from,
the vestibuie l saw them enter a room
upon the first floor. ran up and stop
ped at the open door, Lola had seated
herself on Il couch, her face ,rsted on the
pillow, her eyes wrre closed.
IL WIS tto pretty little face [ knew SO
well, but oh, so changed! Her cheek
was no longer round; the russell bloom
had gone from her there was
a purple tint about her closed lids. and
the vermilion Of her lips was unnatural
ly bright. | was struck by the delicate
beauty OF her face, but il was a beauty
that filed ones heart with sorrow, like
the fading away Of o divine melody.
| entered the room poiselesslv, and
seated myself in a chair 10y her side. /
heard Brace rs ing about in the adjoin.
ing room. Sh> was unconscious of my
presence, and as l sat with my ewes
dwelling upon her beautiful face, my
thoughts wandered back to the old DAYS
at the Cape, when left my work from
time to time to see how ''the little 'un"
wa getting on, Is she lay exhausted with
sickness. The CLEAN OF the white teeth
between the parted lips, the curl of the
long lashes that swept her cheek, the
crisp little lock above her car-these were
all the same, yet with the unaeiinable
trait Of ~woulanhood, o different. The
bud had opened-only to die? had ask.
ed myself before if she would live. II
was doubtful then, but the hope was
fainter now.
she opened her eyes, and, seeing me.
sprung up with a cry of Joy, aud threw
her arms round my neck and kissed ma,
for she was. indeed. still a child at heart.
"Oh, it is true!' She cried, between her
KISSES" 81 was asleep, and i saw you come
to Inc, and" she stopped abruptly, and
drawing back, said in wonder, as she
looked in my face, "Why, you are cry
ing!'
Hearing her voice, Brace came in from
the next room.
Say, now, what did 1 tell you?" he
exclaimed. The Kids took it into her
silly little head as she wouldn't see o
TO more. sir"
"Slle will see a good deal of me, if ]
have my way said. holding ont my
hand to Brace.
His countenancc changed. he dragged
his chin tuft tiionghtfully for a minute,
then turning TO his daughter, he said:
Lola, my gel, we must have it out
now, straight off. Here's Gentleman
Thorne holdin' out his hand to me, and |
amt no right to take it till you let on
what's come Of the big diamond"
NO now-not now" she saids be-
seemingly; ga little whiie-a week-uc
more"
'No. my gel; faint to be put off like
it was q dose of physic. See hore-see
here. When we parted. Gentleman
Ihorne refused to give me his liand-for
Why, he knew w wasn't plnyin' square,
and. turning 10 me. he said. You knsw
we'd got the stone, didn't you. sir"
II SAW you hide the case" ! replied.
~"ConSeauentiy Won know uS,'I ret tie