The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1890-09-12

That a man of Carriston's rank, breeding
II refinement should meet his fate within
the walls of a lonely farmhouse, beyond the
Irossachs, seems incredible. One would
scarcely expect to find among such humble
surroundings a wife suitable to a man of his
stamp. And yet when saw the woman whn
had o him l neither wondered at the con-
quest nor did | blame HIM for weakness.
made the great discovery on the morning
after my arrival. Eager to taste tie fresh
ness OF the morning air, | rose betimes and
went for a short stroll. l returned. and
whilst standing at the door of the house, was
positively startled by the beauty of a girl
who passed me and entered, as if she We're q
regular inhabitant of the place. Not a rosy
Scotch lassie, such as one would expect TO
ind Indigenous to the soil; but a slim, grace
ful gnl, with delicate classical features. A
girl with a mass of knotted light hair, vet
With the apparent anomaly, dark eyes, eye
iaSlieS, and eyebrows-a combination which,
to my mind, makes a style OF beauty rare,
irresistible, and dangerous above all others.
The features which Tiled the exquisite oval
OF her face were refined and faultleSS. Her
complexion was pale, but its palior in mo way
suggested anything save perfect health. To
cut my enthusiastic description short, | may
at once say it has never been my good for
tune to cast my eyes on a lovelier creature
than this young girl.
Although her dress was OF the plainest and
simplest description, no one could have mis-
taken her for a servant; and much as | adj
mire the bonny, healthy Scotch country las
sic, l felt sure that mountain air had never
reared a being of this ethcreally beautiful
type. As she passed ME | raised my hat in
stinctively. She gracefully bent her golden
head, and babe me a quiet but unembarrassed
good-morning. My eyes followed her until
she vanished at the end of the dark passage
which led to the back of the house.
Even during the brief glimpse l enjoyed of
this fair unknown a strange idea occurred to
me. There was a remarkable likeness be-
tween her delicate features and those, scarce
ly less delicate, of Carriston. This reseni-
blance may have added to the interest the
girls appearance awoke in my mind. Any
way l entered our sitting-room and, G prey
to curiosity and, perhaps, hunger, awaited
with much Impotence the appearance of
Carriston-and breakfast.
The forner arrived first. Generally speak
ing he was afoot long before l was, but this
morning we had reversed the usual order of
things. As soon as ! saw him | cried
"Cariston. tell me at once who is the love
ly girl l met outside. An angel with dark
eyes and golden hair. Is she staying here
like ourselreS?!'
A look of pleasure flashed into his cyas-a
look which pretty well told me everything.
Nevertheless he answered as care!eSsly as if
such lovely young women were as common
to the mountain side as rocks and brambles.
II expect you mean Miss Rowan; a niece
of our worthy landlady. She lives with
her."
eShe cannot be Scotch with such a face and
eyes,
'lialf and half. Her father was called All
Englishman: but was, / believe, of French
extraction. They say the name was origi-
nally Rohan."
Carriston seemed 10 have made close in.
guirics as to Miss Rowan's parentagc.
But what brings her hereW | asked.
"She has nowhere else to go. Rowan was
an artist. He married a sister of our hostess,
and bore her away from her native land.
Some years ago she died, leaving this one
daughter. Last year the father died. pcnni.
less, they tell ne, so the girl has since then
lived with her only relative, her aunt"
well" | said, las You seem to know al
about her, You can introduce me by and by
"With the greatest pleasure, if Miss Rowan
permits said Carriston. | was glad to heal
Him give the conditional promise with a:
much respect to the lady's wishes rs if she
had been a duchess.
Then, with the liberty a close friend MAJ
take, ! drew toward me a portfolio, full, ]
presumed. of sketches Of surrounding scenery
10 my surprise GARRISON jumped up hastily
and snatched it from me. "Thcy are too bat
to look at, he said. As ] struggled to re-
gain possession, srndry strings broke, and, Il
and behold! the floor was Uttered, not will
delincations of rock, lake, aud torrent, bu'
with images of the young girl | had seen .
few minutes before. Full face. profile, three
quarter face, five, even scven-cighth face, al
were tliere-each study perfectly executed
by Carriston's clever pencil. | threw myself
into a chair and laughed aloud, whilst thu
young man, blushing and disconnected
quickly hnddled the portraits between thu
covers, just as a genuine Scotch lassie bore il
the plentiful and, to Inc, very welcome break
fast.
GARRISON did favor me with his company
curing the whole of that day. but, in spite o
my having come to Scotland to enjoy his so
cicty, that day, from ~easily-guesseG reasons
was the only one in which | had u~ndisputec
possession of my friend.
or course / bantcred him a great deal OF
, the portfolio episode. He took it in goot
part, attempting little or no defense. Indeed
before night he had told me with all a boy's
fcrvor how he had loved Madeline Rowan a
first sight, how in the short space of timt
which had elapsed since that meeting he hat
wooed her aud won her; how good and beau
+ titul she was; how he w%olshiped her: how
happy he felt; how, when l went south, Ii,
should accompany Inc, and, after making al
necessary arrangements, return at once AM
bear his bride away.
lcould only listen to him, and congratulate.
him. 1t was not my place to act the elder
and advise him either for or against the maj
rage. Carriston had only himself 10 please
and If he made rash step only himself tt
blame for the consequences. And VIII,
should l have dissuaded?-l, who in tw,
days envied the boys good fortune.
saw a great deal of Madeline Rowan
How strange and out-of-place her name ant
face seemed amid our surroundings. If a
first somewhat shy and retiring, she soon, j
only for Carriston's sake, consented to lool