The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1888-12-14

.Thsn you needn't worry yourself about
that laughed Culverton. "You don't
want to marry Jasper - well as me-, do
you7"
aNo, no; of course notw-laughing At
herself then.
ooh, mother" said Jasper an hour later,
when they were at lunch, "do you know
that the Villa is taken7"
ayes, DEAR she returned placidly.
"And you have been at home all this
time, without having calledf" he asked in
crcdulously.
"Yes,"-with more placidity than be-
fore.
swell, I told them you would call to-
morrow" he said decidedly.
"Yes; you had better call tomorrow, my
dear" put in the ~Squire-"on hospitable
thoughts intent as was usual with him.
~ don't know at ALL" said the Mistress,
closing her lips very tightly, and sitting
quite upright. 81 don't know that / shall
call at all"
"But why7" asked Jasper impatiently.
will they think if you do notp
"Anything they choose answered Mrs.
Nugent with indifference.
out why SAouiA yoA Aoet
my dear Jasper, who are these peo-
ple7"
"Oh, I don't know-ladies certainlyi"--
though as he spoke a remembrance Of
Mrs. Cave-Fox almost made him doubt
his own words, "Mrs. Carruthers says
they were very great friends of the Count
ess!s
At this information Mrs. Nugent looked
blankly at nothing, and Jasper appealed
to Culverton for confederation of his as
~sertion.
swell, / do not really know who they
are" replied Culverton. my mother
pickedthem up Mt a French watering place
-Tronville, l believe it was-and, after
her impulsive Italian way, took to them.
l know nothing more of them"
Sand / even heard of any Cave
Foxes" interposed the Mistress calmly
II don't believe any such family exists"
"After all, does it matterT asked JAS
per impatiently. "You know, mother, it
is not as if we were afraid of losing caste
every one knows us"
"Exactly," she answered; "therefore l
am IL if they had mentioned to any one
of Il set that they were coming to reside
at Deane Ella they would have brought
letters of Introduction to us. You see,
Jasper" she ended with great innocence,
"every one knows us"
"Jasper beaten at that point, tried an
other.
"Well, and If they are Of no family
only simple gentlewomen, is that n rea-
son why you should refuse to know
them9"
Certainly not, Jasper. I look at the
matter from q purely point
of view. These people whom Lady Cul-
ver'ton picked up at a foreign watering
place, but knew nothing of, have chosen
to take a little house within three miles OF
Culvertont Towers-their friend LADY
Culverton being dead. Surely you can
draw your own inference from such a pro-
ceeding as that! l confess mine is not q
very flattering one"
"What, you don't mean that they have
come here to look after Culvertonr.. ex-
claimed the Squire, who had been quite
in the dark during the whole Of the con-
v%ersation, though he was quite sure the
Mistress was right. as she always was.-
"And they are just too late! What a
joker
II don't believe it" burst out Jasper.
"Oh, you may be rightw remarked his
mother placidly. "But to say the least Of
it, it looks odd that they should fix upon
Deane Ella, does 1t not2"
"And you won't callr
81 think not, dear. They are not the
kind of people that l should want Dolly
to associate with, more especially when
she will soon have so large a visiting list
as the Countess of Culverton. What dc
you think, Bertie"
II quite agree with you" he answered
decidedly. II do not wish Dolly to know
them. ! saw a good deal more of them
than liked in my mothers time; but then
you know. Mrs Nugent, she was Il for.
eigner and very imp~ulsive,e~and so she
v cared at all who people really
WERE"
perhaps, if you saw so very much o.
them," remarked Jasper glumly. "that is
the reason why you don't want Dolly tc
know them; they might compare notes
| you know"
you are talking like an idiot, my dear
Jasper said Culverton coolly, fixing his
steady gaze on his future brother-in-law
shut be good enough 10 keep those senti-
ments, for the future to yourself"
do you not think" observed the Mis-
tress, looking ut no n in particular, and
speaking very sweetly, that we may as
Well tilk Oh something else
AT this the Squire went off in n fit Of
laughter. 1t came to n sudden termina.
ton, however; for Dolly broke into n pas
slonate flood of tears and rushed out OF
the room. Her distress made Culverton
lose his temper and his manners ut the
same time.
"Confonnd you" he said savagely, as he
threw down his napkin and followed his
little tfancec.
Mrs. Nugent put aside hers with more
81 .iateness.
"Really. Jasper" she said sharply, as
she rose, 81 have not patience with YOU
Then she too rustled away in the wake
of the lovers, leaving her son. in blank
amazement.
"Are they all gone mad7" he asked his
father.
"There is something we don't UNDER
stand answered the esquire. 81 only hope
Cnlverton is not playing fast and loose
with my little girl. 1t was rather a risk
sanctioning the engagement at ALL
1t was Culverton who returned first
and very black and angry he looked.
lis Dolly coming back I" asked the
Squire anxiously.
''Presently," lie answered.
IL think | ought to have SOM explana-
ton of all this" said the Squire, putting
on his magisterial air.
"of course" replied Culyerton prompt
ly. THE case is this, Squire. These peo-
pie We're friends Of my mother-or rather
it pleased her to p~atronise them. Miss
Fox is a beautiful woman who would like
to be the Countess of Cnlverton-in fact
she made up her mind three years ago to
be the Countess of Culverton, leaving my
opinions out of the question. Now l wish
to marry Dolly, for l have been III love
with her always, and 1 would not marry
Miss Fox if my very life depended upon
it. That is the whole story; and as for
myself, l should never think of these
people q second time; but unfortunately,
Dolly is SO strongly impressed with the
idea that Miss Fox can and will marry
me, whether I will or no, that the mere
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