The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1892-11-26
rosc to his feet. when she looked

harold Battlsco,ube avoided Marion's
home as if its inmates had got the
plague, Tired Of going TO balls, when
her fayorite partner was mover there,
Marion Dcarsley turned her thoughts
TO more serious things, and being ex-
ccedingly unhappy herself, for the first
timo in her life, began othink of those
who had never known what happiness
was.
One lovely day in June. when the
Park was crowded with fashionable
throngs, and flowers in balcony and
square were striving to fill the misty
air with their fragrance, Marion Bears
ley knocked at the door of q miserable
looking house in n squalid street, and
asked if it were true that n little girl,
named Lotto Smith, was living there,
and very i'll.
Walk in, num-" said a haggard-
looking woman with tired eyes; .'she's
getting past everything but grooming
and coughing, and that she do pretty
nigh all the day"
A few minutes later, Marion was
bending over u miserable pallet-bed,
on which n shrunkcn form was lying,
and feeding the thirsty lips with spoon.
fuls of orange-jelly.
The child's wislful eyes looked up
into The pretty face, which had grown
so pale and sad during tho last few
months, and whispered hoarscly:
"Me goin' to take little tar with
me-"
"What does she say9' looking round
at the mother.
BLESS her hearth wiping her eyes
| with the corner of her apron: ..she's q
adyin', and she's glad to go; and she's
/ got snmmat under her pillow which
she always says she must take with
her. A penny thing, l fancy, sho must
ha' got from n of the chil'en. Show
it to the lady, dear"
Lottie put her hand under the old
sack of straw which did duty for n
pillow, and brought forth her treasure
with glistening eyes.
MY ring!' exclaimed Marion, drop
ping tho spoon in her agitation.
Your ring, ma'amp My goodness,
Lottie. think of you stealing the lady's
ring!'
"shc did not steal it, she found it in
tho road" said Marion kindly, as she
saw large tears rolling one after the
other down the wasted cheeks.
My 'icklo 'tar!" with q plaintive
moan.
"ske thought it was one of tho stars,
and she was goin' 10 take it back"
''Oh, Lotto dear. the stars never
ONE down to us; we may go to them.
but they will never come to u.s." said
Marion sadly. This is nothing but a
bit of gold and n jewel. nothing to do
with heaven. | dropped it out of tho
window ono day, and l wanted so
much to get it back. Will you let mo
have it, and I'll send you something so
nice instead"
''Ycsi me thought it was 'tar--no
care now" the dark eyes glistcning
throngh-their tcars-tho tears of n lost
illusion.
Day after day Marion brought sun
shine and happiness to that miserable
home. Mrs. Smith was supplied with
constant necdlework, and daintics Of
every description found their way to
the sick child. Tho falling star had
brought u blessing with it. and neglect
ell health revived under tender care.
!, Softly tinted roses came back to Lot
ties cheeks, but Marion grew winter
40 Nuo StiEllAGl AoStuCCu. IL MIS-
against her pride to write to Harold
Battiscombe, and tell him that the ring
! was found, but how would he ever lind
il out unless she did?
Laura Dickson came to call, and said
that Mr.. Batliscombe was one of the
incest fellows she had ever seen. Now
fancy what he did last winter. l met
him with some lovely roses in his hand.
and without thinking, l said how I
wished l had some like them to wear
that night. rs l was in slight mourning
and could not Wear 4 color. guessed
where they anne from, for lie said he
could not give them aWay-not that 1
should have taken them, my dear. But
Just after dinner l received u lovely
bunch from Covcnt Garden. Now
wasn't that nice of him?"
VERY NICE murmured Marion,
feeling that her heart would break,
for it was on account OF the story Sir
Felix had told her about those roses
that she had flung her ring out of the
window in q sudden passion. Oh, what
n fool she had been!
Sir Felix came the next day and
made her an offer. which she declined
with thanks, and the baronet went
away in the worst of tempers.
That evening Mr.. and Mrs. Mackcn-
zic took Marion to the opera. BY her
side there was u stall which remained
empty till the end of the first act, when
u gentleman made his way to it, and
sat down without looking round. Her
heart stood still, for one glance out of
the corner of her eye told her that it
was Harold. They exchanged bows as
if they had been distant acquaintance
and formal remarks on the weather
were stopped by the rising of the cur
tain. The opera was nearly over, and
the coveted opportunity was slipping
away. If she let him go, perhaps they
might never meet again.
Suddenly she began to inhibition her
long glove, and she felt that Harold's
eyes were Immediately fixed upon her.
'Why are you taking of your glover"
asked Mrs. Mackenzie in surprise; we
are just going"
81 know know" said Marian hur-
riedly, rs she tugged away at q refrac-
tory thumb.
Come along, or we shall lose the
carriage"
AoScs 1hsteuluS uct ciOafh
round her neck, and let tho glove fall
as if by accident.
Harold stopped to pick it up, and
she stretched out her left hand to take
it from him. His eyes travelled from
the radiant diamond to her agitated
face.
MAY l come tomorrow he ~whis-
pered.
She gave him q nod and q smile,
and quickly followed her friends, whilst
he came after her and put her in the
carriage. feeling as if he were in q
dream.
But why did you ever do it?'' look
ing down with puzzled eyes Mt her
blushing face.
Because Sir Felix told mo that you
had given my roses to Laura Dickson!''
'It vas false! But tho idea of being
Jealous of Door plain Laura!'
lou were Jealous OF Sir Felix, in
spite of his ugly rod beard"
But | thought you liked him."