The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1889-11-22
A Winter uiglt;
Found in a snow-Driit.

Found in a Snow.Drift,
mo; what would be the useY He esteems
Mr.. Middleton highly, and believes me to
be q capricious girl. He would be the first
to advise marriage with a man so well able
to manage my affairs; but l won't marry
against my will, l would rather kill myself.
Fancy being tied for life to Q man you hate
and despise, a sanity villain who never
kicked anyone with his hoof but his wife,
who pocketed his birthstone abroad and
never showed his saintship at home. Be-
sideS, / am afraid of him, his silent a
nskes my very heart quake; and then he
can be so cruel, torture one in q way that
others could not understand. Oh, l hate
him-I hate him awfullyI'
Qorothy's little hands c%lenched, and she
set her pretty teeth Mciously.
We'll, l declare you are a vixen-the
mar who marries you will catch a Tartar,
and no mistake" said Pierce, laughingly,
and kissing the Fuckers out Of her pretty
forehead. There's the dinner-bell; come
my queen, l must confess to being most
ropantically hungry"
Dorothy's hand shook as he took it in his,
and her lips quivered.
my darling" said Pierce, don't look so
troubled; surely lhave not seemed unkind?'
Eyes, you have, very. I d%on'tbelieve you
werein earnest when you asked me. I'll go
away. ldon't want to be a trouble to any
one, unless it be Mr.. Middleton
Forgetful of dinner, Pierce sat down and
drew her towards him, saying:
Hush, child youmust not talk like that;
you know 1t Is not true. Hove you to dis
traction, and as to not wanting to marry
you, don't II know by Jupiter l do. But
don't tell me / don't love you and long to
marry you. My scruples are those that hon
or and integrity dictate.
Because a man loves madly, he must not
act madly. l must consider your Interest,
dear; mine are centred in you. While YOU
were in my sight o poor wanderer-a penni-
less girl, dependent upon your own exer-
tons for your daily bread, l threw discre-
ton to the wind. I wanted you for my wife,
to benefit not only myself but you.
Nov, l know if l take advantage of your
inexperience, your gratitude, and girlish
fondness, l may wrong you %irrevocably in
the future.
u am so much older than you, dear; and,
forgive me If l say SO much more in love-
mo, you are not; if you loved me MS | do
You, you would think only Of the happiness
of being always together"
Il dare not think Of that, Dorothy, lest l
forget all else. Child, child, you are so
beautiful-so w%inning-a man may be ex.
cused If he forgets all else the world con-
tains.
Il promise to protect you against your
Guardian I will mt plva n ~, T., J,;,>
dear, and l will consult my lawyer to-mor-
row, and find out if marriage, under such
circumstances, can be legal"
ut must be if we are both free and agree
to take each other"
She laid her hot cheek against his coax.
ingly, and, carried away from prudence by
passion, he said, as he pressed her close to
his heart:
Suppose we risk it and get married on
the sly in London%"
DO, do, Pierce; then no one dare part us,
for those whom God hath Joined together,
let no man put asunder.' And, OBJ, l should
be so very much obliged to youl'
Fancy such q beautiful girl as you talk
ing about feeling obliged in such n matter"
well, l wish you would feel obliged, too,
and so settle the matter, Sir S%:onyhcart."
III wrong and ruth, sorrow and shame,
could turn a heart to stone, my name should
be Stonyleart. Some day / will tell you all
l have endured; now you have trouble
enough without feeling panied on my ac-
count. Say you love me. Dorothy"
Very so.emnly she assured him of her un-
dying love, while their lips fingered over q
o caress.
Byron says a kiss's strength may be reck.
oned by its length, If SO, that was o ire
m~endousiy strong kiss of theirs.
CHATTER vi.
"When you come back, papa, you will
bring me a set of tea-things, won't you?'
Eyes, pet, l will, because you have been
30 good about the circus"
Ally was perched upon her fathers knee,
Dorothy stood beside him, and looking ur
at her ne said:
Dora darling, you must keep to the nurs.
cry while l am away. Admit no one, and
never let Ally. out of your sight. 1 have
reason to ask this, l will explain when l re-
turn. All you have to do is to trust me and
be happy. l will write directly 4 reach
town, and If anything happens of impor.
lance, wire to the Wanderers Club, Pail
Mall.'
Little Ally slipped away after a favorite
doll, and Drift sat looking up at his master
with his faithful brown eyes.
Dear old chap" said Pierce, patting his
head; he shall have a silver collar for find
ing me such a treasure in the snow. Dora,
you look sad, what is the matterP'
Dorothy's head dropped, and the unbid
den tears fell fast, as she said w~retchedly;
'Oh, l do wish you were not going away,
have a presentlment that something will
happen while you are gone. My heart sinks
like lead, and oh, 1t does seem SO hard tc
partl l only feel safe by your side"
Sweet little absurdity, what can harm
you here, If you do as l wlsh?"
Pierce put his arm round her waist and
drew her close, resting his dark head on hel
breast.
She pushed the hair from his forehead
with nervous fingers, and pressed her quiv
ering lips upon it, while he continued:
Il will return as soon as possible. Is Il
likely anything could tempt me from youi
And when I come back I hope it will BIO tt
claim my wife,"
Suppose Horace Middleton discovers IN,
hid~tng-place and asserts his authority, mus
Ireturn to my wretched b%ondage?"
"No-a thousand times no! 1 have writ
ten a letter, that in case of an emergency
You must give him. l know he is a mason
II better still, a knight templar; he dars
Auy WioACs, VI WlOLS YOU.
by the code Of honor among us 1 shall
appeal to him as a brother-mason to leave
you In my charge till l can see him, and tel
him if he dlsregards this l shall expose his
plots against the orphan Of a brother-maso1
at Grand Lodge.
There is something beyond idle form
you will find, dearest, in freemasonry, if The
power is tested. lido not fear that it will
fail; unless he would have his evil deeds
blazoned to the world, he dare not disre.
gard my wishes. Why, I don't know thai
we could not make you a ward in Chancery.'
"Oh, don't do that! 1 have heard thai
whatever Chancery gets hold Of 1T never
gives up again.
Mr.. Penfold smiled.
''Chancery would be without appreciation
If 1t could let you go after once having had
the happiness of holding you in bondage
Ally came back crying. She had broken
her dolls leg, and nothing would do but
that 1t should be sci and properly splinted-
q matchbox and some tape serving fol
surgical purposes.
Peace being restored, Mr.. Penfold took 9