The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1888-12-21
TIE LAST
TIE
IY THE AUTHOR OF "swEEraEARrs.''

aNow,r asked Herrnsone exultingly.
81 will take her. AS you say, the sight
will more than satisfy,her that he must be
given up. We Nugents, Miss Fox, are
people Of honor. We do not force men
into marrying our women; neither do
our women hunt men down. / have the
honor 10 wish you good morning and good
bye"
In his pain. he babe her alden in the
solemn fashion with which he was accus-
toned TO write such few official dispatches
as fall to the share of a subaltern of Ora
geons.
My %letterg' cried the beautiful woman
running after him in her fright.
Jasper however, thrust it Tesolutely IN
to his pocket.
81 intend to keep it" he said sternly.-
..No; do not look so alarmed, Miss Fox
We shall take no steps to prevent your
marriage with Lord Culverton. A mar
riage with you will bring about a surer
punishment than anything that we could
do"
'.Give it back to me!' she cried, trying
to detain him; but he shook her hand off
his own with Il gesture of absolute loath-
ing
"Let me go out of this accursed house,"
he exclaimed to q maid who had come in
to the hall-'it chokes mcw
He went back to the House, where
Dolly was all alone. for the Squire and the
Mistress had gone into York for the day,
and us yet the wedding guests had not
arrived.
He found his sister in the dining-room ;
and, as he entered, she looked up with
Il smile.
II thought something was the matter"
she said with an air of relief.
Something is the matter" replied JAS
per. $50 away, James; l wish to speak
to Miss Nugent.'
"There has beer no accident, sirY" asked
the man with trembling lips.
sOh. no-nothing of the kind! 1t is
merely a private affair of my own; moth
ing to trouble any of you.'
.aJasper. what is il I" asked Dolly as the
door closed behind the man.
II am almost afraid to tell you"
You must tell me. l am quite brave
lit is Culverton, l know! Is he deadq'
s'Worse than dead-false," cried Jasper
passionately, putting his arms round her.
'oh, my little darling sister, can you bear
it2 Can you listen whilst l tell you that
they have beon fooling both of us"
Chen they are marlied?" she said quite
calmly.
II dare say they will marry now that
we have found them out" answered JAS
per gloomily
Then he recounted to her the events of
the whole morning, ending by placing the
letter in her hands. He was touched to
see her utter cnlmness-not a tear dimmed
the lustre of the brilliant blue eyes, not q
trace of ~vousn was apparent in the
slim little hands which held the fatal note
only, rs she refolded it and replaced it
in its cover, a piteous little smile quigered
for an instant on her sweet lips, blanched
now to a deathly pallor.
"Just as he used to write to me" she
said softly.
"Then what will you dor he asked.
II will go with you tomorrow morn
suppose we must tell-the Others"
Il think it is better for you to see for
yourself before anything is said to the
Squire. He will fly into a rage, and want
to rush OF to Culverton Royal with a
h~orse-whip,"
TRY to prevent that Ja1per!" she said
implorinrly. at is bad enough without
the whole world knowing all about it,
And now l think l will go up stairs. I
don't want any more luncheon"
AT the dnpn he stopped her.
Little Eo y, cln you bear itT' he asked
anxiously.
~ must bar II; and. after all, we are
Nngents," SIR answered. at is not worse
for me than dn you. Oh, Jasper, did you
really love lsrl"
Love her. echoed .Jasper-'love her!
Oh, Heaven, how / did love her, and !
thought she lpyed meg'
"Neyei. n;ns,. we shall get over it" said
the girl. with q brave smile. 81 shall
show them both that / am brave. Idon't
intend to die, as poor aunt Dolly did; only
let us be brave"
II wish 1 were dead" cried Jasper reck-
lessly.