The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1888-11-16
AN AUTUMN 1DYL.

! IoSAA hhs NV NhS AZ
mel. Far off in the distance the glanc-
ing OF the white caps revealed II stiff
breeze; up the slope of the yellow, crink-
ly sands in front, the foamy surges crept
with a soft sound; and Alice Aylmer
stopped a moment at the door of the old
ruined lighthouse to talk with David
Neill, the boatman.
"Another artist?n said she. "At Pol
reyan? Oh, why can't they keep awayPh
81 suppose, miss" said David, with
a shrcwd shrug OF the shoulders, rs he
went on caulking the seams of his bat
tered old boat, 'they think its n slightly
place. I've many II time wishcdl could
paint myself. when Eve been out on the
bay, of y moony night. Or betwixt day
and dawn. when the sky was all pinky
red, and the mornin' star a-shinin' like
Il lamp wei the old lighthouse top. But
l hadn't never no talent that way" he
added with Il sigh.
us it II famous artist?H Alice asked
wistfu!ly.
Old David shook his head.
There you have me, ag'in," said he.
81 dunno much ABBOTT them things. His
name is Esteriicld, and he amt bad
looking"
OH said Alice. 1.-The husband of
that cross invalid at the 'Polrevan
Arms pity hint she added with II
sigh.
So she went OIL up the winding stone
stairway 10 the little lantern-chamber,
which she had transformed into an i'm
promptu studio.
Alice Aylmer loved art with Il genuine
love, and she put all her soul into the
glowing little pictures that she sketcned
on the concil-shells and bits of floating
spar and stones washed into perfect
ovals by tie restless cbb and flow of the
tide.
Each of them was IL little gem in its
way, and rs they were sold, one by one,
to the fine ladies and languid invalids
at the hotel, it gave Alice Il secret pang
to part with every n
But it was her bread-winner, that
delicate taste OF hers in color. pcrspcc-
tive and line. Fnrmcr Aylmcr was old
and feeble, and it pleased Alice 10 think
that she was helping the kind grand
father who had been all the parent that
she had ever known.
Up to this time she had had no rival
in this special line OF art, and she was Il
little amazed when old David announced
the appearance Of This new artist on the
field OF action.
'.Bnt if he has an invalid wife 10 sup
port, l can't so much blame him. she
thought. Poor fellow! Everyone has
trials in this world, so far rs ! can sect
When she came out of tha lighthouse
ut noon. she saw II yoaur mat sitting
or the keel of navil Naiils upturnai
boat, and talking with this sturdy toilel
of the sea.
'lIero's the gentleman l was teliin'
yc bout, Miss Alice said David, with
q simp-c ceremony naturalization. mir
Es,criield. this is our Miss Alice
Mi. Es:eriicld took OF his broad-brim
med nat and bowed con~rteously.
~ am told that Your family owns The
picturesque old mlin.H said he, inclin.
ing his head towards the lighthouse.
Yes" said Alice.
II should like to rent it for n studio
Il already use it as Il s.udio," said
Alice. stiiily.
Indeed! Then" said he, you nre
the young lady who paints those little
conch-shells and smooth stonas. They
are very pretty indeed
Alice bowed with conscious pride.
Chat room up there would be q
glorious studio" said Mr.. Esterlicld.
longingly. Couldn't you give me easel
room there: l think the sight OF the
sea and the sound OF the breakers would
inspire me.''
Il have no more space than l myscl.
need TO occupy" said Alice, more frig,
idly than before.
Was it not bad enough for this pat
ronizing artist TO come here at all
poaching so TO spcak-on her manor.
but he must even want TO crowd her on
of her solitary tower OF REFUGEE: This
was certainly the height OF prcsump
ton!
But after awhile A softer seutimen.
stirred in her bosom.
Perhaps the Young ma was poor anC
fricndlcSs. struggling To make his "a,
in the world; and that invalid wife o
his. who could not stir without crntches
and who was universally reported TO be
very uncertain in tempcr-was not thai
trial enough for anybody?
Alice was sorry that she had spoken
so sharply.
When She came back across the gus
teiilg sands, where the low tide hat
Left lis deposit of teatlerv seaweed an,
Acknowledgment shells, Mr.. Estcr!iclt
sat sketching by the old boat.
~ have changed my mind" sale
Alice, walking up to him. ''Thcrc i.
space for your easel, rs we'll rs mine, il
tie iartern-room."
May we share the studio togethcr?'
SAID the young man. joyfully. THANK.
"a thousand times! and | will try tc
take up as little room us possible"
So there were two artists now in the
round com of the lighthouse.
Alice grew to like her fellow-artist
and she treated him with asoft, graciou.
dignity that becaslc her well.
Everybody seems to admire you
pictures so much" said she. with a sigh
II wish I-could paint as you do"
Its all in practice" said Mr.. Ester
field, intent on bringing out the scarle
touches in a cluster of autumn leaves il
Ills foreground.
How nice it wonld be-" said Alice
"if Mrs. Esteriield could come here ant
look ut your work
Don't mention such a thing. prav,'
said the artist, laughing. dive The
greatest respect for her. of course, anc
consideration, and all that sort of thing
but between ourselves. Miss Alice, we're
y great deal peaceful here withou
her than with her. She cant hell
scolding and f%retting and finding fault
he added apologet;cally. as Alice looked
r~eproachfully at him. ats her nature
suppose"
Poor fellow" thought Alice. "Bu
he ought not to speak so OF his wife!"
she began to wonder what sort of g
person Mrs. Estcriield was us to looks
Was she pretty? Was she young?
Yet Alice was too proud to ask qucs
tons of anybody, and she was delighted
when there camc IN order for a puintcC
~conch-slell from u French lady at the
hotel, who desired it for II souvenir.
II will take it there myself" she
thought, "and Isi.all see Mr.. Esterfield's
wife. And tien-lhen l think | had
better accept Cousin Prideaux's offer te
Plymouth to teach her little girls"
For Alice had just begun to be con
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