The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1892-07-16

Herbert Dashford, in the Overland.
AUNT HULDAH'S PRESENT.
"Wait until you see my Christmas
present" exclaimed pretty Cecil Ray
to her two intimate girl friends, Maud
| Webster and Flora Vane. IL expect
well,I hardly know what, from fathers
aunt in New York. ] know she will
make me valuable present, because
she said when ] came away that
might expect to hear from her ut
Christmas.
as she very richp" asked Maud.
"Oh, yes, awfully so. Her husband
left 5000, 900 or 100000 when he died
twenty years ago,and she has not spent
half the income since"
ave will call tomorrow night. Cecil,
and see how you have fared," said
Flora.
"Do. The parcel will arrive to-
morrow afternoon, and if can control
my curiosity l will not open it until
you come" laughingly replied Cecil.
Cecil proved to be a true prophet,
for on the next afternoon an immense
packing box, addressed to Miss Cecil
Ray, was deposited at her door, and
she signed the express book with a hand
shaking with excitement.
What can it be?" cried her widowed
mother. 81 do hope it is something
worth while, for it seems as if we were
badly enough in need of everything
| necessary pr comfort n blp y
The cover was removed from the
box, and Cecil waited impaticntly for
her friends to arrive. At last they
came, and the small bundles, one after
another, were taken from the box in
which they had been carefully packed.
| Most gingerly these were opened, and
in speechless surprise Cecil laid the
contents of each upon the table, until
the box was cmptied.
Then the five pairs of eyes became
rlveted upon the collection, amid a
| silence that was louder than trumpet
tones.
Here's something you did not see. {"
said Tom in sepulchral voice. He
| had to speak that way or explode in
laughter, and he didn't want to hurt
his sisters feelings. Poor Cecil! This
was what the note he handed her said:
| My Dear Cecil: You remember l said once
that you might look for q, gift from mo Mt
Christmas. hope you will be pleased with
| what have sent you.
You know have many other relatives who
| look for gifts from me, SO yours cnnnot be 80
valuable as you deserve.
You remember saying to me once that you
| did not care for money, but would rather seek
your own fortune than to receive one from
| Sone one else
| Hoping You will enjoy these shells from
F, foreign lands, nll OF which were brought me
| hy my husband In his youth as much as
have, send them to you with this injunction:
Never part with them, but lot them descend to
your chiltren's children.
.n Give eddI my 10y love @ to your mother and brother
loving aunt, ' HULDAH JANE JONES. s.'f
so much for your independence"
from Tom.
what conceited little fool l was!
hadn't tried earning my own living
then. and did not know the felicity of
rising at 5 and working all day from Z
to 6 for the magnificent sum of IS a
week." sighed the little seamstrcss.
"What shall do with thenp'
On tho dinner-table were five dozen
of these common, speckled brown and
white and yellow and white shells
vcrybody's grandmother used to have
in the good old days wnen Salem and
New Bedford were seaport towns in
truth.
Give them to some museum" sug-
gested Flora.
"she can't give 'em away" said
Tom.
"There's room in the attic" said
Cora, trying to smile through tho
tears OF disappointment that filled her
eyes.
May | take them for few daysp"
asked Tom, and was ut once appointed
sole custodian of the useless things.
Next day cool little note of thanks
was sent Aunt Hnldah, who smiled odd
lv when she read it.
One of an extremely eccentric fam.
lily, she distanced the rest in queer ac
tions.
At the end of week, when Cecil re-
tired to her modest little chamber Mt
night, she was surprised to see quite n
pretty cabinet hanging on her wall and
containing the dcspised shells; tho
shelves We're encircled by fret-work in
nm original design by Tom, composed
OF various sea plants and animals, in
which appeared this legend:
Pride gocth before fall"
That's why the gig-saw has been
worked SO late the last few nights, it is
Tom, you rogue?" said Cecil next
morning, pinching his ear.
Yes thought such gems of ocean
should have an appropriate setting"
So, in making joke of their disap-
pointment its bitterness passed away.
Early in March Huldah Jane Jones
was gathered to her fathers and
mothers. No will was found, and az
no property beyond II few thousands
at sundry savings banks was found, it
was supposed she had given away the
bulk of it during her lifetime. as she
had often said was her intention.
The biting winds of her poverty
were tempered to that sRorn Iamu,
Cecil Ray, during the winter by the
attentions of q young professor of
natural history, who boarded in the
house opposite.
What did she care if her gloves were
old and thin when returning home
from lectures or prayer-meetings, if
her hands were closely prisoned in tho
ulster breast pocket OF Charles Ray
mond, while his tender words sent the
blood coursing warmly through her
veinsp
Neither did she care any longer that
their parlor was small and shabby;
that their best lamp gave but faint
light and the only comfortable seat in
the room WIS a large easy-chair drawn
up to the little CRATE fire. Love and
youth laugh at poverty, just as they
slways did and always will, thanks to
God!
One evening in the latter part of
December, despite Charles watchful
care. Cecil slipped on the icy sidewalk
and badly sprained her ankle.
She was carried to her room, which
she did not leave for three weeks.
One evening, during the absence of
Mrs. Ray on some errand for Cecil's
comfort, Charlie opened the subject Of
their early marriage.
why can't We be married quietly
in January, and 60 away for a little
I n