The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1888-11-02
A LOVE TIFF.

that sort of thing than lilly Fogg gener-
ously lavished on Ethan Nash, he must
have been an unnatural and ~exacting
fellow.
For some days they had been very
careful not to speak to one another.
No two people ever tried SO hard to
be entirely indifferent each to the
other.
AT last it got to be SO bad that Ethan
bad stayed away from lilly for two or
three weeks. How he managed to do it
was a mystery, and always will be; it
can be explained only Oh principles Of
contraries. and sulks, and oddities.
1t was getting to be rather unpleas.
amt, considered in all points of view.
There was poor lilly almost dying from
the treatment, though she never would
have entered q complaint of any sort in
the car of any living soul; her eye wa
beginning to lose a little Of its usual
brightness-Icould see itplainly enough
and tho red roses on her cheeks werS
fading rather fast.
: There happened to be another young
miss in the village, who had been teach.
ing tho district school during the SUM.
mer. and had finally concluded that IL
would be the p%leasantest thing she
could doto stay through tho winter, too,
and visit around. just at this particular
Time she was staying ut Squire Judkin's
house. Her name was Lucy Doane.
Lucy Dosne WIS Just the smar;est
girl, in her own estimation, l think I
ever knew. Having been selected to in
struct the younger portion of the chill
dren the past summer in needleworh
and alb, alb, and being considered com.
potent to keep the smallest ones from
rolling off the benches, while asleep,
upon the floor. she somehow reasoned
herself into the complacent idea that
there was no lady in the place who
could beat her in conversation, correct
grammar, or, indeed, any of tho accom-
plishments that were going.
She wore glasses with silver bows,
mitts on her hands, and always kept
her work-bag on her left arm. A per-
feet picture of q 'school-marm'' in all
the PERSONS parts and qualities.
At this particular time there was =
deep fall of snow on the ground, and
the sleighlng was glorious. Bells and
bellies made the old country roads mer-
~. far and e There were parties
without number to the n%elghboring
towns. making up merry dances in
every old tayern-haI, where the screech
OF the fiddle had ever %rcsounded.
Well, to make the story as short as
possible, Ethan received Il very neatly
written note one afternoon from Lucy
Doane. written in her characteristic
style of precision and tirmness, all cor
rectiy phrased and spelled. saying that
she would be very happy to accept his
polite invitation to 90 to the next ball
over at Upheld, and would hold herself
IN readiness accordingly.
Whats all thise' exclaimed Ethan
when he had fairly read the note
through. AA
lie was puzzled and COMPOUNDED.
Il never invited Lucy Doanc to go to
the Upheld ball in my life! Why, what
does she mean? I'm sure l don't know
how to proceed in such Il easel"
Which was all perfectly true. Ethan
Nash was in a regular quandary.
So he came right over to consult with
me about it. Why he selected me out
of all the rest of his numerous %acquain-
tances in the village, | never knew, and
probably never shall, but he came and
laid the matter plainly before me, aud
says he:
Snow, John. l want your advice"
You shall have it. with all my
heart" says /.
I'm in a regular fix" said he. you
see, the way of it is this: Here I've got a
letter from Lucy Doane," producing il
from his pocket, and holding it out at
arm's-length, and she says in that let.
ter that she is very happy to accept my
kind invitation TO go TO the sleighing
party up 10 Upheld, when the fact is
never asked her to 90 with me in my
life" tS
1could not help smiling.
Rather awkward,"l suggested, ;,
me- what I'd better do about it." s
..Do?n
Eyes, what would you do? You see, l
must do something"
'Oh, certainly; that letter must be
answered somehow
"lhen what would You say TO it.
How would you try to get out OF it,
John
I'D up and thank her for accepting"
saidl land then I'd secure anice sleigh
against the time came around and carry
her.'' :
"Yon would! The Old Harry must be
in you."
ION the contrary, / assure you it's
just the best thing you can possibly do.
Just take my advice for once and sec
what will come of it,"
He hung down his head, put the note
in his pocket, and suffered himself TO
think of it.
There wasno chance OF escape. He
saw for himself, thanks to his native
c-ommon-scnse, hat the best way to
silence that battery was to walk straight
up to il.
Which he did, and sent back his mes.
sage of thanks to Lucy for deigning to
comply with his request.
The afternoon OF the sleigh-ride was
cold and biting us You would care to
read about. Even Mt noon the sun had
not set ! single icicle to running at the
caves, and the sno in the road-track
was as smooth and polished as mar
bic.
Eve got my Sleigh" said Ethan to
me, in Il rather confidential manner.
''it's Ben Bali cutter. he didn't want
to use it himself. Jake's going with a
two-horse establishment. But mind you
Il had to pay for i'll"
When the twilight advanced-what
little there was of it at that time of the
year, saw Ethan Nash driving up
pell-mell with Tom Nickinson's fiery lit
tie mare. the cutter digging her heels
like u sledgo after q reindeer. Ethan
had as much as he could do to manage
her.
Subsequent to that slight glimpse OF
Ethan, buzzing by my window us he
did, l caught no other until l stood in
the little ballroom, having ushered in
Gas l tbougl.t) q very handsome young
lady in n fancy dress with "fixings''
to correspond, and taken y modest, il
not decidedly timid survey OF the floor.
There was Ethan in full feather. He
was dressed with all his might" and
couldn't have spared y single item of
his inventory without damaging his eff
fectiveness decidedly. 1fact, he meant
to be killing.
Near where he stood sat Lucy Doane,
simpering and whimpering behind her