The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1890-11-14
The Widows Ledger.

Inc WIDOW Logger.
Mrs. Ailenby did not always take a
rebuke SO patiently, but there was moth
ing to be done with DR.. Hyde. She
could overawe most people with the
majesty Of her presence, and the Inn
pressiveness of her double chin. She
was o large woman, with a thick, rich
contralto voice, which she cultivated to
its lowest pitch; altogether rather a for
midable person, excepted to a man like
DR.. Hyde.
He had found out her weakness long
since. Mrs. Allenby was rather inclin-
ed to be q bully in u lady-like, well-bred
way. For what some timid humorist
has called the gentler sex is not without
its representatives of that undesirable
thing, but she was at heart a coward,
and she had an innate consciousness
that he knew it, and that he was a man
not to be trifled with. Under his imper-
turbable good temper, that would rise
to the surface when least expected, and
a single word or glance would pierce
through her panoply of flesh and selfish
arrogance, when he was in that mood.
To the world in general Mrs. Allenby
was a very majestic and impressive wo-
man, to DR.. Hyde she was a physiologi-
cal study. He told her once that she
was a living wonder.
"Do you see,n he said, with the slow
ness that was only saved from being a
drawl by the deliberate purpose with
which he always spoke, ''such an
amount of adipose matter is not COM
patible with such a very healthy state
Of the digestive organs; that must be
due to yonr singularly tranquil and
p~hilosophic temperament. 1t is very
fortunate you possess that tcmpera.
ment. 1t is fortunate. teo, that you dc
not take stimulant. Stimulant induces
irritability and excitement. Irritable
ty or excitement would be fatal to you
You have an exceptionally fine consti'
tuition, but your mental organization is
extremely delicate. That is where the
danger lies.n
Without quite seeing the connection
between an exceptionally fine constitu-
ton and an extremely delicate mental
organization, Mrs. Allenby felt flatter.
ed. 1t was something also to be tolG
that she did not take stimulant, and
was not irritable. 1t was indirectly q
permit to take as much as she had beer
in the habit of taking, and the larges1
item in her wine merchants bill wa.
for spirits.
II only knew the people as l saw
them" she said, land / may be wrong
/ saw them with him quite by accident
and you are aware, George, how bitter
ly he disappointed me-"
"Well. yes; but he pleased himself
and, unhappily, it seems as if a man is
sure to disappoint somebody when hi
does that"
"You are really very provoking whe1
you like, George, but l want to ask vol
. question. You know that just befor,
poor Arthur died he was writing a let
ter-a long letter; was it ever finished
or sent?'
ut was never finished-and neve,
sentl' said George, gravely. "Maryl'
"Mary!" Mrs. Allenby repeated.
"Oh, yes, l always call her Mary;
Arthur told me to-! / was his chosen
brother, and he left her to his brothe,
when he confided her to me. The poo,
girl put 1t away with her most sacred
mementoes, and l do not suppose it viii
ever see the light again"
II never could find out about thatlet
ter" said Mrs. Allenby. 81 saw it sew
eral times, but he never got far with il
at a sitting. I often wondered whether
1t was intended for his Uncle Michael
ION that point I can set your mint
at rest" said George. "It was intended
for his Uncle Michael. Arthur was no,
q good correspondent; it was a fault 70,
which he often reproached himself.
do not think more than one exchange
of letters passed between his uncle ant
himself from the time he married till
he died; he had not heard of his Uncl,
Michael for more than two years."
"Do you know" asked Mrs. Allenby
keenly interested, "where he was thenY'
"At Barbados"
"AndI heard of him from Jamaic;
quite a year ago. He talked then O
coming home. He told me not to ex
pect to hear from him frequently, and
not to be surprised atany moment if w,
saw him; and 1 should not, for he i.
very eccentric-immensely rich, though
That is why 1 should like to have Ar
thurs boy here, butnever with that girl
that woman, never!n