The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1892-05-13
that Miss Monteith and his sweet nurse are
one is full upon him; but he refrains from
| making his thoughts known II, this old gos-

that Miss Monteith and his sweet nurse are
owe is full upon him; but he refralns from
making his thoughts known to this old gos-
sip.
why can't she say where She was, eh?"
says Sir Harry, iii Il distinctly aggrieved
tone; this deadly silence is very injurious
to her, eh?"
'sW'hy should it be injurious to herF' asks
Sir Rawdon, fiercely.
He turns upon the old baronet with open
wrath in his dark eyes. 1t is insuiferable to
hear her name banded thus from lip to lip.
Aud yct-Hcr name? Whose name? Ii he
lets this madness overpower him, what will
the end be? What has that naughty beauty
over there to do with his gentle nurseP See
ing Sir Harry's look OF amazement, he
hastens TO change his tone.
''She looks too proud to be u subject for
calumny,o he says confusedly, almost apollo
getically.
But the old scandal-monger has found him
slow, and III nowise kindred spirit, so he
hobbies away from him to where Lady Dal-
ruth is standing. Dare, too wearily disturb
ed in mind to find amusement in his present
surroundings, follows his movements with
idle uninterested eyes, but presently is at
traeted by something he hears him say to his
hostess. 'e
Left him at the point of DEATH" said Sir
Harry unctuously, "as lie thought, but twas
nothing Of the kind. Gordon recovered al
most Immediately. One of the Gordons of
Clayne, you know. Fellow who upset him
was cousin, and thought to come in fer the
property, dye see."
zone of the Gordons of Clayne," is Q
bosom friend of Sir Rawdon's so naturally
he pricks up his ears.
What did happen to him?" asked Lady
Dalruth, looking Interested
"Oh, mere trtle! Nothing vital, ut ali
events. One fellow told me it was IL broken
clavicle: another fractured humer,ls; but |
haven't the faintest idea what either means. -
"You should ask Evelynfora translation" +"
says Lady Dalruth, with merry laugh.
Miss Monteith, who had been listening 81
lently to the conversation, turns her eyes up
on her. Is there entreaty or simple indifer-
ence i'll her glance? Ii entreaty, it comes too
late; Lady Dalruth does not even see it.
Miss Monteith?" asked Sir Harry.
"Yes. Didn't you know She has studied
medicine, surgery, and all the rest of it?'
You terrify me- says Sir Harry, with
mock horror.
THAT is quite n correct feeling for the oc-
casion. She is really terribly learned. Aren't
you, Evelyn"
She smiles at the girl, as though in pleas
ant appreciation of Il jest that is known to
them alone But Miss Montcith's return
smile is forced and very faint.
Learned? no. But really hurc some
taste for that sort of thing" she says quiet
ly: and then turns away, as if anxious tc
terminate the conversation. In so doing. hel
eyes meet Dare's. There is a pause, i'll which
each regards the other withu strange anxiety
Then the blood slowly mounts to Miss Mon
teith's brow, until all her lovely face is dyed
Il warm crimson. Her breath comes quickly
she waverS; then, with Il last defiant, con
temptuous- glance, she moves away and sinks
into chair at the opposite end of the room
But to Dare there is no longer even 4
chance for doubt. Just so had she looked al
him when, in a moments passion, he had
called her Eva i'll the hospital and she
had coldly corrected him; Just so, no doubt
her large, scOrnfu, eyes had rested upon hin
during that last fateful hour, when he hat
half declared his love, and had lestated--
and been lost.
With n terrible sinking of the heart he tells
himself that he has sinned past forgiveness
in her eyes.
The next morning all the world is clat
with snow. Tho soft white heccy carpet is
covering the land far as the eye can see, ant
is lying heavily on branch and bough. Til,
| Christmas bells are Ginning merrly. A sof
gray mist is trembling between earth ant
| sky. Over all, the merry sun is shining gay
| ly. 1t is indeed an ideal Christmas morn.
| Luncheon has come and gone, and the,
are all standing before the glowing fire il
| the biliard-room discussing the costumes t,
be Worn at a fancy-,lress ball, to be given il
| the neighborhood some time in the cnsuins
| month.
'One gets SO tired of the art rags and th,
| past centuries gown" says Lady Dalrutl
! dejectedly. ''Oh, for something new, some
| tl!iHg bizd1Te, out of the common! I'm SURF
] don't know what is to be done about Evelyn
| She and are quite worn out trying to i'm
1 aginc n costume that all the world hasn'
| seen a hundred times before. The anXiei,
has robbed me Of my honest sleep for fort
night past, l have SO set my heart on maxim!
| her a success. But each of my ideas onl,
i seems more crude than the last Dear 81
| Rawdon, do suggest something
An uncomfortable impulse takes hold o
/ Dare. He glances at Miss Montcith, to fin,
she too is looking at him. that dreamy toucl
| of scorn that had offended him last nigh
now wide awake within lar large eyes.
| spurs him to his half-determned purpose.
'Why not try the dress of lospta
nulse?' he says to Lady Dalruth, pale bu
| smiling. Il don't recollect having ever seer
| it at ball before, and think the pretty lit
| tie cap and apron would suit Miss AIonteitl
| admirably"
'Sir Rawdon! What can you know abou
! hospital nurses?' says pretty girl from til,
| opposite side Of the health-rug, with al
amused laugh.
Didn't you know | was in hospital 70
many weelss-sumner hsfore last-when
smashed myself upy' returns Sir Rawdol
distinctly" don't think Shall ever forgo
the kindness ] received there; and at al
events know shall never, under any cir
cumstances, forget-my nurse.'
"All, gratitude is q charming virtue!" say
the pretty girl, with a second laugh. "Wu
| it her cap and apron you were thinking O
| jtist nowf"
ayes. They are indclibly imprinted upol
my BRAIN" Again he glanccs at Miss Mon
teith Ii she has grown little whittier it i
at least only perceptibe to a lovers eyes.
DO you know, the costume sounds well,
she says quite calmly. Let us think of it
| Mirabcl," turning to Lady DaIruth. ut i
the one thing you desire--out of tho com
mon"
/ Lady Dalruth's answer is little confused
| Miss Monteith looks full at Sir Rawdon, he
eyes dilate, and
20, what IL deal of scorn looks beautiful,
| In the contempt and anger of her lips
/ With a little passionate movement of thu
hand, unseen by all but him, she crosses til,
room with slow graceful step, and disappear
through the doorway.
1t takes Sir Rawdon but moment to in
vent some idle speech, that leaves him, too
free to quit the apartment without arousin!
| suspicion of the real motive of his departure
Finding himself in the hall, he comes to
standstil, and asks himself what it is hi
means to do. He cannot forget that las
| glance of hers, or the passionate anger con
tanned in it. He feels he would give half hi
possessions to be able honestly to hate her
but yet knows, by the sheer impossibility o
lis being able to do this that he lopes her.
As he stands irrcsolute, oncof the footmel
passes through the hall. Then and there
| sudden resolution comes to Sir Rawtlon H
will go to her, tell her all-lay bare his hear
| TO her, and, if 1t must be, hear from her owl
lips the mo" that will blast his life forever