The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1890-01-17

had a mothers love to guard you-and
OH" Erica said with sudden passion,
clasping her hands over her face, II
cannot forget-would to Heaven l could
for one brief moment!-that on me is
laid the burden of striving to win { su
back to honor and duty"
Arnold did not speak. but stood In
perfect silence, half amused by the
passionate bitterness with which Erica
had uttered those words, yet half an
gered too.
"Why do you try?" he said, sulIenly.
at length; "it's no earthly use You've
told me often enough that I'm every.
thing that's bad. l can't help it if you
are so sensitive as to be wretched be
| play and bet, and so on, and be.
cause Your husband is too honorable to
allow his wife to know such a person.
Thousands of fellows do the same.
Erica: you don't know the world a bit,
and think everything dreadful
"Thousands.'' said the girl, clasping
the sterner words that sprang to her
lips, "luring themselves to ruin; they
only play and bet. And, Arnold, you
know well that my husband would not
turn from you if you remembered that
you bore an honored name.o
Il would not sue any man for his IA
vor," said Arnold, hanghtily. II steer
my course to please myself, not any
man living. For you. Erica" he Went
on more softly, II could try to be some
thing more different; but you say your
self / am weak, and if ever one wants
to get out of the set I'm in, there are a
hundred fellows to pull you back. I
won't trouble you much after these
races are yer. I'll go away abroad
again"
"Abroad or at home, Arnold" Erica
said, sadly, you are the same. I can
not Shut my eyes to a sorrow because it
is not actually at my doors. And you
always turn to me for help; how long
shall be able to give it to you? And
if Philip were to find out that | helped
YOU" she shivered un~coutrollably,
and Arnold said quickly:
"He must nOt-need not: you would
not break your oath, Erica?"
"lIave 10 fear" she answered, with a
quiet scorn that stnng him. II deem
my honor sacred, and l have sworn to
can do no more than that. lIark!n she
said, suddenly bending forward, striv-
ing to pierce the darkness. and sinking
her voice to a whisper; did you heal
nothing? n step? Go, Arnold; you
must not stay"
She put out her hand, laying it with
quick force on his arm; but he paused
yet a moment.
Say you forgive me. Erica" he said,
earnestly, with II of those flashes OF
better feeling that yelled to a certain
extent his real nature even from her,
Try and think of me less bitterly; try
and remember how [ love YOU. You
are the only friend | have, Erica"
But she did not heed him, still bend,
ing forward, looking up the beach; but
suddenly, with an almost frantic ges-
ture pushed him from her.
"Go-go. Oh, for Gods sake. leave
me-" she whispered with white lips. III
is he-Philip.a
"Why should 1 not meet him?n said
Arnold. flushing.
"Why?' She turned almost ~fercely
upon him. Because / dare not owI
you as Walters wild companion. dc
you comprehend now"
He turned quickly then with a low
"Good-night.'i and strobe away swiftly
through the darkness. and then, with N
her powers. the girl braced herself IL
l y L IilliP illii w S'l-IDtt III I.VND
| tlons he might ask.
i came down to her, and his frs
WOES sent q lightning thrill througi
every nerve; his tone had III ii Somc dis
pleasure. and his question was a!mos-
stern.
"Who was that talking to YOU. Erica
1t is late for you to be out on the beacl
alone"
1t was we'll that in the darkness II,
did not see the swift upward look o
despair. the ~clenching OF the smal
hands together. But she answere,
him. speaking carelessly:
There's nothing to be afraid of. NJ
one will hurt ne here. You have Lon
don notions, Philip
lyon are too Careless" he ansNcrc,
more quietly, and wrapping her shaw
round for she shivered in the nioh
wind, "and it is too cold for you TO b
out. if there We're no other reason
"Who vas with YOU
81 was talking to Nat Poynter," sh
answered in a low voice, crushing baci
Heaven knows what agony in her hear
as she uttered the lie-the first size la
ever uttered. And the first wa 10 tn
man who loved her, shall we 80 back
Philip: did not know it was so late
You are earlier than You expected /
be. are you not? And did yon meet Nj
Proct0r!"
He told her. as they went back ND Til
beach. of his visit to Milwood. who h
had met. and of some literary schem
that had been proposed to him, and til
girl walked by his side. hearing all i
said, but like one in a dream. and fec
ing all the While as though a dcnS
black mist had risen up between hc
and Philip, as though she had falle
suddenly from his sphere.
And she knew THAT her own wore
had done this, and that she had take
II more step in that failure of 10y
and duty" which she felt, with a dead
SILVER. he could scarcely forgive.
The housekeeper. who lad come t
her from her aunt's house. met her
the hail and took her shawl from her.
"A gentleman came tonight. MAJ
am" she said. land asked for you. ii
did not give a name, but said he was a
old friend"
An old friend" repeated Erica.
And the housekeeper added:
81 told him you had gone out on Il
beach. and then he went away
Thanks, Janet. 1t doesn't matte
Perhaps he'll call again.
And the girl entered the drawini
room, and began putting away son
music that was lying about, with a so
of suppressed impatience III her mann
which did not pass umoticed by Phil
st. John. and he glanced at her cover
In, and checked the sigh that could III
ease the weight at his heart. She cou
scarcely bear the gentle, tender kiss |
pressed on her brow when she came
saw s.rOOd-nioht.o she was tired 81