The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1888-11-30
CHATTER II.

Ten years had passed away, and great
changes had come upon the Dcane Ella
folk. MADAM had long been gathered
to her rest. The Towers had been shut
up for five long years. Jasper had left
the old home for Elton, Sandhurst, and,
finally, the Army. Dolly was grown up
grown from n delicate dainty child to a
delicate dainty woman, and was perhaps
the least altered Of any one in the place.
There was the same lovely golden hair
though, instead of floating wildly over
her shoulders, il was braided away neat
ly at the back Of her small head, over the
white forehead however it strayed in the
old lovely confusion-her blue eyes were
just as clear, and even more intensely
blue. and she had still the same naive
%gentlencss which had been wont to dis
tinguish her long ago.
1t was August. The Squire, the Mis-
tress, and Dolly had returned to Deanc
Ella on the previous day, after a season
in town and a soiouln of II few weeks at
innocently broken inuumerable hearts,
and, to her fathers delight and satisfac-
ton, kept her own. And now they had
come home at last, and the Squire was
once more perfectly happy.
From early dawn he had been up and
about, positively revealing in the fresh
pure air. gloating over his short-horns
and his horses, and telling Dolly every
time he came near her that already she
looked ninety per cent. better for her re-
,storation to her native air.
with Jasper home tomorrow it will
seem like old times again" he said glee-
fully. I'VE only want Culverton to be
quite so. ] wonder when Culverton is
coming home"
"Perhaps, now hat the Countess is
dead. he will come at once" answered
Dolly. 81 wonder if he will know me. II
was only fifteen when he saw me last
"know you2 Of course he will.'' re-
turned the Squire. who that had once
seen you could ever forget you, 1 wonder?
Not Culverton, certainly. Poor lad! What
queer woman she was! Ii must have
been q happy release for him;' and then
he went oil again, this time for u walk
round the village.
Dolly sat where he had left her, looking
very graceful and lazy, with no movement
in the folds Of her white gown no restless
ness in the pose Of her milk-whitc hands,
thinking of her old play-fellow Culverton
and of his strange foreign mother, who al
ways hated England and Culvertoh Royal,
even though she drew her large income
therefIon; hitting the restrictions which
prevented her marrying again or taking
her son away from his native land until
he became of age and could look after his
own interests; hating that son most of all,
because lie was the son of his father,
whom she had never loved.
And now that she was dead, and Culver
ton could please himself, Dolly wondered
whether it would please him to find his
way back to Culverton Towers.
While she sat there in the brilliant Au-
gust sunshine, with the ugly, quaint
Queen Anne mansion behind her and the
fore her, a football sounded upon the gTav-
ell, and & voice said
lis that you, Dolly?"
She sprang up, for it was Culverton him
self, the subject of her thoughts-Culver-
ton changed from a slim boy of fifteen to a
finely built man, with IL dark melancholy
italian face, of which the only English
features were his gray eyes.
II was just thinking of you" said Dolly,
"Father was here a few minutes ago and
spoke Of you. He was wondering whether
you would come home now or not. Jasper
comes Tomorrow
.And how are the others7"A
'Oll. mother has gone for q drive with
Mrs. Car1rlthers, and father is probably
g~loating Oyer the short-horns; may be the
Berkshire pigs! Poor darling. we have
been away three months and only return.
ed yesterday. Consequently to-day he is
like u wild creature who has long been
pcnt up and suddenly set free"
.Gorne indoors" said Culverton, sud
denly. III is too hot out here :'.:and Dolly,
obedient ever. at once followed him.
When they reached the drawing-room
he walked quickly through into Mrs. M.
gents boudoir.
I'VE shall not be interrupted here" he
said calmly, and | want to talk to you
Do you know, Dolly, / have not seen you
for five yearsf"
Five ycars-such a long time" re.
marked Dolly, with the old naive air with
which she had been used to deliver the
most of her remarks.
q wanted so often to come, but the
Countess always kept me employed he
said rather YEARLY. "Howeyer, now that
/ have como, / don't intend to go away
again.
q am glad of that,' returned Dolly
simply s"it's awfully dull without Jasper,