The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1892-08-06
,IWLXI love AND PRIDE.

Cecil and were sitting in the big
chair by the fire in the warm, dimly
lighted library. Just after dinner he
brought me here to tell him story.
Cecil was spoiled child. We all rec
ognized that fact, but as we had con-
spired to spoil him we could not blame
him for insisting upon the privileges
we had unwisely accorded. Thus it
came about that l was spending my
evening here while the others amused
themselves in the distant parlor.
"What shall it be?' asked, prepared
to thrill my small hcarer with some
wondrous tale.
"Anything," he said, drawing my
arm about him. "You know SO many,
Dorothy"
"Anything". was very vague, but
after hard thinking some impulse
prompted me to tell hin, the story of
Baldur, Baldur the god. was not
sure that he would like it, bus he did.
The little face grew flushed and earn
est; he leaned forward, his eyes eager
and shining rs told Of the great deeds
of the god and every ones love for
him. And when | came to Loki, de-
scrlbing his treachcry and cunning,
the scorn and anger on Cecil's face al
most made me laugh. ! finished with
the grand funeral ship sailing out over
the waters while the warriors mourned
on the shore and he sank back with u
deep sigh.
@Don't you like my story?" asked,
as he did not speak,
"Oh, yes, it is the best of them ALL"
Suddenly, afteranothcr silence. "Doro-
thy, are there any such men now?"
| "No, dear. but there are good ones
STILL" | answered dreamily, thinking
of some lives knew, not godlike, but
SO truly noble in the face Of bitter cir
cumstances.
He was very quiet after that, nest
ling costly in my arms with his eyes
on the fire, the little head full of
thought.
Dorothy" he said at last, isn't DR..
Harcourt noble and brave?"
felt the color flash to my face.
~ don't know, Cecil. l thought SO
once, but lately he has not acted very
bravely."
"Why not, Dorothy?"
"Oh, / can't tell exactly-he is fight
ing chimera and is allowing it to
master him."
| spoke drcamily and to myself
rather than to the child. AT that mo-
ment before he could ask any more
questions, tho door-bell rang. | heard
my sister Helen's voice, then the clos
ing OF the parlor door and all was still
again; but moment later there came
a tap at the library door and DR.. Har,
court opened it and came in. The
light was too dim FOR him to see US till
l laughed and said:
Good evening"
"What are you doing here in the
dark?" he asked, coming over to the
fire. "Has she been telling you ghost
stories, Cecil?"
mo, scornfully, "I don't like ghost
stories; Dorothy never tells them"
al have been leading him through
old mythologics gravely sweet" ex.
planned as DR.. Harcourt sat down op-
posite us.
Dreaming, as usual" he laughed.
II wonder if you will ever come down
to practical life, Dorothys"
| Cecil lost his support then. for |
drew myself upright; ii was not pleas.
ant to be called dreamer, especially
when l fancied myself growing Sc
sternly practical.
"Havc | made another blundcrp"
smiling at my angry face. "You must
pardon my prosaic view of things. u
| Then his tone changing suddenly,
Helen tells me you have been out to-
day."
"Yes."
But here Cecil interrupted; slipping
down by my side he went over to the
doctors chair and climbed on his knee
| Something sent my thoughts back tc
the time three years ago, when ! had
had an art craze, and this friend had
patiently shown me all the treasures
accessible to the public in the city.
| We did not live in the grand house
then, but in small one on an old.
fashioned street. There were five OF
us Bran1ons. Jack, Nan, Helen, Ceci
and l, Dorothy, a large family to sup
port on the very modest income moth.
er derived from the property papa left
her. Jack had been expected to fol.
low papa's footsteps and study for the
ministry, but the life was not suited tc
his pushing, energetic nature. Pooi
Jack! He had hard struggle tc
bring mamma around to his way o.
thinking, but by and by she was forced
to yield and allow him to abandon the
Idea of professional career alto,
gether.
He had great scheme for making
his fortune in the West, but it required
capital, and we had very little OF that
Nevertheless, Jack would not give
up; the idea was good one, and soon
er or later he could make it work, he
declared.
| The two other girls, Nan and Helen
had their own congenial tastes and
pursuits, and dorothy had my
separate life. read and studied
dreamed and planned, as every CIR
will do, laughed at generally by prac.
tical Jack and the girls, but always
helped and encouraged by jacks frienc
Philip Harcourt.
| 1t was strange that such n strong
friendship should have grown UP be
tween us two. for Philip was mucl
older than !, practical, sensible man
and was only Dorothy, the dreamer
as they called me rneer mixture O
sanse and nonspnsn childish i,nnul