The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1889-12-20

Importance. A slight shadow of dis
appointment stole across her brow, but
was instantly dissolved when their
eyes met, and as they gazed lovingly
upon each other she waited him an
Imaginary kiss by n system of free
masonry sacred only to themselves.
Then they parted. She tripped into
the grocery store, where the village
postmaster held Forth. A travel-stained
letter was handed her by an admirinr
pumpkin, whose features danced with
m%arionette vivacity, and, who with
gaucherie gallantry, cndeavored to
whisper some words of sly import, but
the impcrvious maiden merely ar
swered him in monosyllables, being alb
Stractedly occupied in the contempla-
ton of the letter. When she had
fathomed the author of the almost OBJ
liberated supcrscription, she turned sud-
denly to the cnraptured rustic, and,
bidding him Il consuming .tilank YOU"
lied precipitately from the store.
Marcy hurried home with the letter.
supposed to contain glad tidings. Her
face fairly glinted with the excrtion of
that mad rush, for the letter was from
her father.
"Oh, if Rupert only knew the truth
but no-pshaw! | am so childish.
Could his proud heart withstand such
Il shock?' She vas thus thinking
aloud rs she swung open the iutting
gate.
Ber.mother stood at the door with a
wistfu' eNpectant smile upon her vcncr-
able ~countenanee, and as she perceived
the letter which her daughter had dis.
played in approaching her heart leapcd
within her, thrilling every fiber witt.
gladness.
"It's from fatherN!, cried Marcy,
thrusting the envelope with palpitating
hands into those of her parent. The
latter %nervously opened it. 1t read
thus:
MY DARLING WIFE: Am ! mad or is it only
II dream! can linidiy pen you these lines. so
rapidly does my heart tlpinblc with jov. Tie
warden mas justto!d me that | am to he par
doncd. am d~clirioGs with bliss, aud the more
50 cciuse /, will he ut lornc on Christmas dny.
The long drcary night has passed. ard day
Nicais hpprily on. ] cam no6 write. l am overs
wlelnptl, inclU9!ulous. bcnumbeu fell Marcy
that THIS Christmas ut least shall not be duh
| one for her. May God protect you boil, until
band, John KIssEL.
JpN IL VuIiib, ipl tlItN collu
find no words to give utterance, so
sudden WAS the unexpected revelation.
1t was an inward riot of bliss, a
smotliered ecstasy of incredulity. AT
last it burst forth into a full jubilee of
felicity, and as they wept with JOY in
each others arms, they offered PRAYERS
of gratitude to the infinite.
God has at last answered nv
prayers" softly murmurcd the humble
parent, while the daughter. %clinSing to
her side, gazed into the flames, which
danced in unison with her tlutterinu
bosom.
That night as Rupert opened the door
of the kissel cottage he was somewhat
surprised at the UNUSUAL profuscncss OF
his sweetllearts greeting. She was all
smiles, all dimples, all engaging viva
city. Ii his heart had ever doubted
before, he had no need to doubt now.
Never had he seer her look ~lovelier.
Lets remain at home tonight"
she said, appealingly; Il have so many
things TO say to you" And before he
could give an answer she had her white
arms about his neck and had kissed him
tenderly.
AS if this endearment was proof
against a negative reply she babe him
sit up by the fire and warm himself
while she ran upstairs and put herself
in more p~resentable attire.
Before he could utter a word she had
gone, singing with girlish abandon a
snatch of the s'LrGuitana'' waltz.
Rupert marvelcd. To him she had
always been lightsomc, but never so
excessively so. He heard herlight step
in the room above. and fancicd he saw
her flushed face and pleasant eyes, an,
ticipating the pleasure her words would
convey to him when she returned. As
he was d%iscounting numerous rcvcla-
tons she was about to divulge, his eyes
wandered TO the mautel, upon which
the letter from the pardoned convict
had been left. Quick as lightning it
dashed across his mind thai tins was
the solution. There was some love
mystery in the letter. His curiosity
was piqucd, and he jumped hastily from
his seat. Had he scrutinizcd the faded
superscription he would have seer that
it was not addressed to her, but being,
struck with a shaft of the grecn-eyed
monster, which ranked in his heart, he
threw discretion to the winds and
tremblingly opened the tear-spattered
sheet.
He had read only a few lines when
he became painfully aware of his error,
but he had read enough to account for
tha jNpn,-, y. - tl,,. ,.,,t ,,.,,l...l