The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1889-10-25
crushed, as even the strongest and
bravest men will be for the moment I'M

tki tsAA co6hp w 49, Al 'hSii q LIN
AYE" he answered, quite unnamed
AYE. you are very kind. | think it
would do me good ii l could speak to
some one-Cassia, will you Gomez"
He rose slowly. and held out his hand
to me. To mel! That proof of his con-
fidence, his tenderness, his friendship.
| have yer after remembered, and
thought, with thankful heart, that,
though not made to give him happiness,
| have sometimes done him alittle good
when he was in trouble.
We walked together from the room.
| heard q low sob behind us, but had TO
power to stay; besides Il momentaly
pang mattered little to the child-her
sobs would be husl,ed ere long.
Standing behind the chair where lie
sat, l heard the story of Mr.. Sutiicr-
lands observation-disclosures n2iti.-
err strange mol rare i'll the mercantile
world. In one brief word. he was
ruined; that is. so far as a mar is rl-
ined who has enough left to pay all his
creditors, and start in the world afresh
as a penniless honest man. He told me
this-an everyday story: nay, it had
been my own fatler's-told it me with
great composure, and l listened with
the same. l was acquainted with al!
these kind of business matters of old.
1t was very strange, but felt no grief,
no pity for his losses. | only felt, on
my own account, a burning, avaTicious
thirst for gold; Il, frantic envy-a mad
longing to have for a single day, a single
hour, wealth in millions.
Yes, it must be so,n said he, when,
after talking to me Il little more, l SAY
the hard muscles of his face relax, and
he grew patient, ready to bear his
troubles like a man-like Andrew
Sutherland. "Ycs, / must give up
this house and all my pleasant life here;
but l can do it since l shall be alone.h
And then he added in a low tone: 81
am glad, Cassia, very glad of two
things: my mothers safe settlement.
and the winding-up last month of all
my affairs with-Miss LIE Poer."
when" said l, after pause-"when
do you intend to tell Zillah what has
happened" felt feverishly anxious
that she shoald know all, and that 1
Tell Zillah? Aye" he repeated,
tell her at once-tell her at once.''
And then he sunk back into his chair,
muttering something about ''its signify
ing little now"
Ileft him, and with my heart nerved,
as it were. to anything, went back to
the room where Zillah was. Her eyes
met me with Il bitter, fierce, jealous
look-jealous of me, the foolish child!
until | told her what had happened to
our friend. Then she wept, but only
for a moment, until a light broke upon
her.
what does it signify?" cried she,
echoing,. curiously enough, his own
what | like: l will give my guardian all
my money. Go back and tell him so!'
l hesitated.
~"Go-quick, quick!-all | have in the
world is not too good for him. Every.
thing belonging to me is his, and
Here she stopped, and catching my
fixed looked, became covered with con
fusion. Still the generous heart did
not waver. "And when he has my for.
tune. you and | will go and live togeth.
er, and be go~vernesses."
| felt the girl was in earnest mol
wished to deceive me; and though l lei
her deceive herself a little longer, it was
with joy-aye, with JOY, that in the
heart l clasped to mine was such un'
selfishness-such true nobility, not un'
worthy ven of the bliss it was about
to win.
/ went once more through the hall
the long, cool, silent, hall, which l trot
so dizzily, daring not p~ause-into MI
Sntherland's presence.
"Well!" said he, looking up.
told-in what words l cannot nov
remember; but soiemnly, faithfully, a:
if | were answering my account before
heaven-the truth, and the Who'll,
truth.
He listened. pressing his hands upo1
excuse his going.
II ought to thank her, you know. II
must not be-not by amy means; still !
ought to go and tank her-the-dear-
child"
His voice ceased, '1roken by emotion.
grasped it. and said, SOP
At the parlor-door hc topped, appar.
emily for me to precede him in enter.
ing there; but, as if AZ ldentally, ]
passed on and let him enter alone
Whether he knew it or lat, / knew
clear as light what would h., zen the1
and there.
The door shut,-the two being with.
in, and l without.
In IN hour L came back toward the
house.
| had been wandering somewhere,
think under the firwood. 1t was broat
noon, but l felt very cold; it was al
ways cold under those trees. l had NJ
way to pass but near the parlor win
dow; and the same insane attraction
made me look up as l went by.
Trey were standing-they two-clost
together, as lovers stand. His arm
folded her round; his face, all radiant
yet trembling with tenderness, wa!
pressed upon hers-Oh, my God!
am half inclined to blot out the las
sentence, as, growing older, one feel
the more how rarely and how solemn,
the Holy Name ought to be mingled
with any mere burst of human emotion
But think the All-merciful One woul,
pardon it then. OF course no reade
will marvel at my showing emotion
over the union of these my two deares
objects on earth.
From that union 1 can now truly so,
1 have derived the greatest comfort O
my life. They were married quickly
as l urged; Mr.. Sutherland settling hi
wife's whole property upon herself
This was the only balm his manly prid
could know, and no greater proof coul,
he give of his passionate love for her
than that he humbled himself to MARI
, an heiress. As to what the worl,
thought, no n could ever suspect tn
shadow OF mercenary feeling in An
drew Sutherland. All was as it SHOULD
be-and so best.
. After Zillah's marriage, Itook stu
alton abroad. Mr.. Sutherland was yer
angry wher he knew: but | told him
longed for the soft Italian air, and coul
! not live an idle life on any account. S
= they let m go, knowing, as he smiling
ly said, THAT Cassia could be obstinat
when she chose-that her will, like he
heart, was as firm as a rock" All me
| When | came back, it was to a calm
, contented and cheerful middle age: t
. the home of a dear brother and sister
, to the love of a new generation; to
life filled with peace of heart an,
t~hankfulness toward God; to-
, IIey-day! writing is this moment be
come quite impossible; for there peep
in a face at my bedroom door, and
, while l live, not for worlds shall m
young folks know that Aunt Cassia i
an authoress. Therefore goodbye, pen
And now come in, my namesakc, m
darling. my fair-haired Cassia, with he
mothers smile and her fathers eye
and brow-I may kiss both now. Al
God in heaven bless thee, my dear, dea
child!
Shaky Fill, two and a half miles fro