The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1890-04-04
LIZ OF THE PINES,

The wind howled disnally among the
Canadian pines, making them eroan
and bend their stately heads, as II they
whispered ominously; the sky was
heavy. drenehing rain was falling
dreart!y.
I stood at the open door of the rudo,
tumble-down shanty which Ll.@'.Liz
OF the Pines" 1 called hcr-had APP
pointed AS our place of rendezvous;
ard as I watched tho threatening as
poet Of the night, my mind caught
something of its gloom.
And that was quite unnecessary, !
was unsettled, md dissatisfied, and
miserable enough without any such OK:
ternM ihhuehct. Here had Med
Gray, a bachelor Of leisure. and cdu-
cation. and wealth, n man of thirty,
who ought to have been superior 10
such noiscnsc-here had 1 come, steal
Ing through the lonely pine woods long
after l was supposed to DO asleee; is
keep an extremely risky appointment
with IN Ignorant, half-wild beautiful
creature, who bore among her relatives
and familiar associates tho elegant ap-
pellation of ''Backwoods Liz"
AS l waited-and particularly rs /
speculated upon the possibility of hor
making n still moro cgregious fool Of
The by not coming at ALL alternately
cursed the feminine whim and love OF
power which had induced her to sum-
NOR me hithcr, and my OWE mad, fool
lsh i%ufatuatioh for her beauty which
had compelled me, as it were, to obey.
Her beauty! While waiting for her
living. breathing presence to gladden.
my bodily eyes l conjurcd before my
mental vision q fair picture of her
matchlcss charms. Matchlcssf Yes.
Nature unaided had done her best, and
Liz was altogether beautiful.
l despair of describing her. The
slight, 1.-the, graceful, exquisitely
rounded figure, whose every movement
and attitude was full Of Unconscious
and uhstudied grace. The darkly brill
liant and expressive face, sun-kisscd
to softest rose or vivid crimson on the
lips and cheeks; the largo grey eyes,
with their long cbon laashess; and tho
wealth of splendid hair-thcse were
but physical charms. knew that the
fair casket held y worthy gcm,-,ha,
the ignorant girl, who could not read
nor write, possessed 4 mind OF more
than common intelligence, and q pure
and lovely soul.
And l was in love with hcr-really
love-with n serious passion that was
more than half made up of pain, and
which l experienced for tho first timo
In my life. 1t was Il strange madncss,
alternately / yielded to 1t Of struggled
against 1t, &ell knowing that only mis-
cry could como of it all tho time.
She had told me that. She was SIM
pie and straightforward as truth itself,
and knew nothing Of doublc-dcaling.
What use is love between you and
mep" she said, sorrowfully. II am
no mate for such as you."
Personally she might have mated
with a king. Surely King Cophctua's
beggar-maid was never fairer. But
she had Observation-Disclosures r%uffians of
the coarsest mould. Could ally my
self-my family-with them?
And if you could and would. you
should not" she said, rcsolutely.
"You must go-for my sake and your
own-go, and forget me!'
And had promised to comply
mans love is SO much more selfish than
woman's. Although in my anxiety
and pain I scarcely realised the humii-
hitting fact, | know now that 1t was less
of her interest of happiness I thought
than of my own.
had left England some three months
before this present stormy night, on n
hunting expedition in the wilGs of Can
ada. An enthusiast in the snort, no
woman, until l met "L;z of the Pines"
had ever proved q rival to my CUR.
But 1t was different now,
l started ns tho sound of her. light,
swift footsteps fell upon my car at
last; and as / drew her into the for
saken hut, and touched her for n mom-
ent as took the dripping cloak from
her head and shoulders, my pulses
thrilled with n sweet, llalf-delirious
Joy. and the heretofore gloomy, desc
latc place seemed changed to an earth
ly heaven,
Sho was trembling, and very pale.
She had kept mo at q terrible distance
always. this backwoods beauty. who
now summoned me to a rendezvous ut
night; but when | saw her shaking so
that she seemed likely to fall, / sud-
denly threw my arms around her.
What was my surprise when, instead
OF gravely repnlsing me, she chung al
most convulsively to me for an in
slant. and burst into n passion of tears.
For n moment only. Almost immed-
lately she had recovered her sclf-con-
troll, and drew n little away from mo,
though not quite out Of my arms, look
| inr mn aarun,f1v ip}n =, f,Dn
Eve come at the risk of my lifc."
she whispered, ITO warn you that
yours Is in danger"
We wero standing in the doorway Of
the hut. The rain had ceased. and the
wind had lullcd, and a pale sickfy
moon stole out timidly. BY its faint
light l could sec the sweet, pale face,
and the gray eyes. full of love and fear,
uplifted to my own. Suddenly, and
before she knew, l stopped and kissed
her-for the first time. She sprang
away with u faint, low cry; but l flung
pride and prudence to the winds at the
touch of those velvet lips.
Heaven bless the danger that
brings you to my side!' l cried. ooh,
Liz-sweet Liz!-I love you!n
She stood at q little distance, watch
ing me with startled eyes, rs if uncer-
tain whether to stay or fly. Her indie
cision was very brief. however.
Il know" she said, putting up her
hand with n %deprecating gesture, as if
to keep inc Off know you do. And
l. too-no. don't touch me. plcase-it
l didn't care for you more than all the
world. should l be here tonight"
Oh. Liz! but it was hard to hear You
say those words and yet stand quiet
and obey.
My cousin came homo to-day" she
went on, hurriedly; "the man | have
told you Of. What do l know if hes
my cousin or not? What do l know
Whose child l am? But that's no mat.
ter. All of you-gentlc and simple
call me a beauty; and JIM swcars that
I shall be his wife"
Aquick shuddcr ran visibly through
all her frame rs she spoke those words;
and l uttered y cry of race
he's heard of you," she added,
quickly. Fathers been telling him
sou fancied me, and they sat this even
ing drinking and plottiuo topcther. anG