The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1892-09-03

few hours, thus preventing the elope-
ment, for the time being at least.
..And who knows but tho girl will
refuse to speak 10 him. after being dis
appointed oncep" he thought. mo
doubt she's little spitfire, like her
aunt
And as Uncle Geoffry had planned
it, SO it happened. \
"Hum! Wonder who'll be a-want-
ing key nextpn grumbled Dick Petit
grow, as he watched tho uncle and
nephew drive leisurely away down the
grassy road leading to the church.
"Sometlin' must be u-goin' on there. Il
reckin."
"My backs so lamo won't 90 in.''
declared MIR. Theobald carelessly.
But when his nephew had disap-
peared within tho portals of the church,
he made no bones Of jumping down
after him, quickly turning tho key in
the lock. aud climbing back to his seat
in the buggy again, with moro aluc-
rity than might have been expected,
considering his "lame back. -
Half an hour after MIR. Theobald bad
driven homcward over the grassy road
again, Dick Pcttigrcw, whose curiosity
had got tho better of his laziness, be-
took himself to the new church "to SEQ
what was going on, sure enough"
he was somewhat surprised to find
only smiling young couple, promen-
aiding the gloomy aisles OF the sanctu-
ary.
"Hello, Dick! You want to sweep
up or something, | suppose?" smiled
Ariel pleasantly.
And with Camilla leaning on his
arm, they coolly walked out of the
door and away.
The shadows of oventide were slowly
settling down around the grassy knolls
and why dells OF Locust Hill.
The COWS came homo with painting
sides and dripping dew laps, gently
tinkling their bells and chewing their
cuds, as they slowly .'wendcd their
weary way in homeward direction"
loo late for this clopemcnt to-day"
thought Miss Jacintha complacently,
rs she pushed open the ponderous
ehurch-door. and ran plump into the
arms of q rathe. stout, elderly gcntlo-
man. with bald spot on the top of his
head.
Observation-Disclosures" pulled tho
! gentleman, who was no other than Mr..
Geoffr5 Theobald himself.
"Where-where is my nieccp" de-
manded Miss Jacintha, nearly fainting
with surprise and alarm.
How the deuce do you suppose l
know where your niece isp Where is
my nephew, sayp
But l shut her up here" groaned
Miss Caramel desperately. "and she's
gone!'
.shut her upp" sputtered Uncle
Gcotfry. why, l shut him up to keep
him away from her, and"
Then it all came out.
"And of course they're married by
this time," sobbed Miss Jacintha, wip-
sing her eyes.
Choleric rs he was, Uncle Geoflry
could not stand the sight of q woman s
tears.
"Don't-don't cry" he begged.
Whereupon Miss Jacintha only cried
the more.
Mr.. Theobald grew desperate.
'If you hadn't refused mo twenty
years ago, you wouldn't object to their
bSthS 1AtlIlCd, uc oCClulCu DillcFiSs
But was sorry for it, and wrote
for you to come back again, but you
wouldn't" murmured Miss Jacintha be-
hind her handkerchief.
ut amt too late now," suggested
Uncle Geotfry artfully. ''Why can't
we clope rs we'll us the youngsters,
Jacintha?n
And after little more persuasion,
the tears were displaced by smiles.
Next day y comfortabl-looking mid
dle-aged couple werc ushered into the
/ parlor OF the parsonage by tho min
ister's wife hersolf.
TOO late, Uncle Geoffry-too late,
Aunt Jacintha!' cried Ariel Thcobald,
coming gaily forward, with Camilla
clinging to his arm. Tho knots al
ready tied"
"It is, hcyp" responded Uncle
Gcoffry good-humoredly. Suppose
we make u double knot of 1t then?'
And before Ariel or Camilla had re-
covered from their surprise, Uncle
Geoffry and Aunt Jacntha had Joined
hands before the minister, and the
marriage service was already being
| pronounced.
!