The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1892-06-18
Miss Prisci|Ia's Folly.
CHAPTER 1.

W
This from Mr.. Hornby was scathing CEN
sure, and as Miss Priscilla heard him her
sobs increased.
brokenly. If had known you would have
cared 80 much, should not have dared to
do it,
"As If my caring mattered!' he said to
himself with Respondent amazement. "Why,
you poor foolish creature. what can it mat
ter to me except for your sake? But to think
that you have beggared yoursef-literally,
actually beggared yourself, and at your age,
tooW
II am only little over 4O.'' Miss Priscilla
ventured with meek protest
"But 40 aud penniless and Incapable OF
anything!'
Miss Priscilla made family rebclIious
movement.
II mean to teach," she said, with wavcr-
ing confidence.
Teach! Why, yo,l are years behind the
time. Nowadays girls learn astronomy, and
chemistry and Greek, ma'am--G Greek! !"
Miss Priscilla sobbed again.
"And for young scapegracc who never
was worth his salt And all that money in
8 per cents, too! Oh, have no patience with
1t ALL"
Miss Priscilla rubbed her eyes, and looked
up at him pitlfully.
'Would you have had me let him go to
prisonY" she asked.
II would" Mr.. Hornby closed his mouth
deterninedly as he spoke. Sin this world
whose sins should bear the punishment"
'He was Letty's son." Miss Priscilla said,
"and Lefty was more to me than ever sister
Int 1,
Just that might fare sumptuously and live
at easc?'
"Of course you felt that" the rector ad-
was criminal, and rs such had right to
bear his own punishment"
Miss Priscilla rose to go.
''If the Deity you preach were as merclcss
as you are, it had been a sad thing for the
world" she said 81 told you his Sin, poor
boy, because wished to have nothing secret
from you, for the sake of your old friend-
Ship and you only taunt me with it, Oh,
you are very crueli''
He put out his hand to stop her.
"You must forgive me if have spoken
harshly," he said. II am only harsh because
l feel so much. What do you mean to do?
This is q hard world for women who are
pennileSs."
'vrhe Lord takes care of fools and chill
dren," Miss Priscilla answered with break
In her voice.
care you angry still:' IIc extended his
hand as he spoke. And Miss Priscilla took
1t, her heart softcnlng.
I'VE have been friends always, and l
should not like lis to quarrel now at the last," /"
she said.
AT the lastP" he echoed, looking at her
inquiringly.
"Of course must leave the village One
does not live as l have done hitherto, on
nothing"
Nothing! And is it as bad as that?"
II have couple of hundreds left and the
furniture" she answered, smiling at him
family.
You have not told me how it came about
the necessity for your sacrifice, mean,''
he said.
II do not know all the particulars, but 1
can guess" She shivered Slightly as she
spoke. "There was an eXtravagant youth,
and position of trust, and temptation and a
fall and ruin, unless miracle interposed y
And you wrought the miraclc!" Nh Horn
by said, with rather uncertain smile qutv-
erng about his lips.
II did all | could to save him from the con.
sequences of his deedn
And was the-the deficit for a large sum?'
For f3, eco. Had it been for much more,
should have been powcIless."
I'm your place, l should not have intcrfcr.
ed" Mr. Hornby said signing. ''The very
magnitude of the otfensc shows hardened
nature"
Miss Priscilla was weeping bitterly now.
1t is too late to think of that,' she said.
"Ihe thing is done and irrevocable. did
not tell you before, lest You should try to
hinder me. He has gone abroad to make a
fresh start and to do well, trust and be-
lleve. He was Lctty's son."
And you mean to teach?i looking at her
pitifully
ut is all can think of
But II is such hard life, and so difficult
to lind place in even, nowadays, without a
special training.
No matter; can only try my very best"
She held out her hand to him. "Good-byc,"
she said; don't fret about me; am more
hopeful than you are. l have good health
and al! my wits about me, and / am ready to
do my best at anything that offers"
She shook hands Witt him, the perturba-
tlon in his eyes meeting the striving smile in
hers, and then She went out, and down the
rectory lawn, and through the little gate that
led into the village street.
1t was beautiful sunshiny June day.
From hilltop to hilltop the light seemed
suspended i'll gosSamer webs, and the Slnm-
| oerous peace that stretched over land and
sea was too perfect for common sounds to
break. In Fairyiew village drOwsy quiet
was paramount, Even the roses growing in
.ront OF rustic porlicos, swayed their languid
| leads III the faint breeZes Somnolcntly A
few children busted with dust-pies in the
shadow of the houses smiled at Miss Pris-
| ;illa as she passed; few rustics lettering in
the thoroughfare touched their forclocks
with slow civiity.
| All the neighborhood knew Miss Priscilla,
md knowing her knew all her history She
| 1ad lived among them always. She was
Squire Compton's only surviving child and
'hc was rcpnted fabulously wealthy here,
where money was so rare. 1t did not matter
a.at Squire Compton had been held poor
Gough in his day. and that all he J,tft had
been divided equally between Priscilla and
Edward Glynn, his grandson. Miss Pris-
lila must be wealthy, Judged by her large
| oeneyolences. Or course money does acc,l-
nulate in the hands of women, and Miss
Priscilla was economical in her personal ex-
,enditure, and beside did not the way of
!fe of Mr. Edward Glynn prove how much
wealth must have fallen between them?
1t was not often that Mr.. Edward Glynn
had chosen to honor Fairview with his pres
sncc, but from the few occasions when it had
,een favored, it retained vivid memory of
lis elegant bearing, his costly equipments,
nd his general suggestiveness of luxury and
Ease. Fairview was quite proud that such a
distinguished gentleman owed his origin to
t, however remotely, though few of The
>ldest inhabitants did venture TO whisper
,mong themselves that Mr. Edward Glynn
7as very like his father, and that his father
lad been only curse to every one who had
yer trusted him. OF course they would not
lave said this to Miss Priscilla for the world,
md they only brcathed it to each other in
confidential moments, for Miss Priscilla was
tkind of little Providence in the neighbor-
hood, and word against aught belonging to
her was disloyalty
AS she passed down the still street that
calm June afternoon, one and another offer
I'd her friendly greeting; and, observation
being none too acute here, no one noticed
with what a fro,pp emilia che nnc,ynrnd E1a