The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1892-12-03
MISS vERvA|NS MISTAKE.

March in the mountains! Frcshets
roaring down the ravincs, great thick.
cts of pines tossing their green crcsts
to and fro in the rush of the tempestu-
Gus wind, nov shining off on the pla-
teams and pink clusters of trailing ar
butus breaking out into bloom in
southern hooks and sheltered places,
where last winters dead leaves had
not yet drifted away. And Lucy YER
vain, standing in her russell walking
dress on the porch of the little noun
tain inn, wondered if the famous Ber-
ncse Alps were grandcr than these
Catskill heights.
Lucy Ncrvain was small and slight
and brown-skinned, but she had large.
wistful eyes Of SO dark n hazel that
they seemed to melt into the black
around the iris, and there were quick
roses ready TO deepen in her cheeks if
any M spoke to her. She wa pretty,
in her way, like a wild flower or a
little brown-winged bird; and she
looked round with n troubled air, as
the sound of an excited feminine voice
tloatcd out from the II un%pretcntious
little "bcst parlor" of the inn.
Its outrageous" said Miss Clara
Fervain.
Pm very sorry, ma'am," said Nh.
Mkt, who kept the house.
"Uncndurable!" declared Miss Yer
vain.
ut does happen sometimes. ma'am,
when the streamsi is high. at the spring
OF the year. the landlord pleaded.
You see, there amt no bridge can
stand the freshats, if"
And we have got to stay here in
this horrid hole of n place until your
tnmblc-down bridge is mendcd2'
"Idon't see any other way for you,
ma'am," said Mr.. Mkt, mcekly.
"It's the most provoking thing |
ever knew in my life," said Miss Yer
vain.
She stalked about the room like a
second Lady Macbeth as she spoke.
For Clara was us unlike her blushing,
shrinking little sister as the tall poppy
is to the humble corn-ilower. She was
handsome and stately. and wore long
trains to her dresses and bangles on
her wrists, and used perfume on her
handkerchiefs and did" her hair after
Ehe latest faSlloi-plateS.
ut amt my fault, ma'anr," said the
landlord, driven to the very confines
of despair. Il can't stop the frcshet,
nor yet | can't build q new bridge"
CLARA, dear, don't allow yourself to
be so annoyed" soothed Lucy, coming
like a noiseless gray shadow into the
room. ave shall only be detained a
a day after all. and l am sure it Is
very pleasant here"
Il am not accustomed to delays"
said Miss Vcrvain. loftily.
Il know, dear, but"
sand if | am compelled to remain in
such a place as this" added Clara,
glancing surcrciliously around her, II
must really insist upon privacy"
"Eh9' said Mr.. Mkt.
Chat old person in the s%nuff-colored
coat" said Miss Fcrvain, with a royal
motion of her head to an old gentle
man in a wig and %spectacles, who was
reading the paper at a distant win
dow. ~ dare say he will do very well
iii your kitchen or bar-roonl. and !
prefer this apartment to myself"
ooh, Clara" pleaded Lucy, crimson
ing to the very roots of her hair.
The landlord looked puzzled, but
the old man folded his newspaper. re-
turned his spectacles to their case and
rose slowly to his feet.
Certainly. miss said he; Certain
ly. If I'm intruding, I'll 70 TO tho
kitchen. There's always room for ME
Ethere. Eth, Mkt"
And he trudged with alacrity out OF
the room, followed by mine host.
I'm afraid you've hurt his feelings,
Clara" said Lucy, ~piteously..
who cares for his %fcclings2" said
Miss Vervain. shifting at her scent bot
ties. mine are much more to the
purpose. And don't choose to asso-
ciate with every country farmer IN the
Catskills."
"Clara, dear!!"
"Well?o
ave are only a book-kccpcr's daugh.
ters ourselves"
@As if that signified," said Miss
Ve,vain, scornfully. ave + going
to our aristocratic relations, aren't
wco"
But perhaps they won't care to keer
usor
arhat is neither here nor there" said
Miss Vervain. "But you had
any proper pride, Lucy"
Little Lucy Vervain was still pond,
ering, with puzzled brow, over the dis
tinction between proper pride anG
pride that was not proper, when the
landlords wife, a buxom dame ir
madder-red calico and n frilled white
apron, came to ummon the guests t.
dinner.
We've only a roast fowl with bread
sauce and n little cranberry jelly" sale
Mrs. Mkt. "but it amt often as folk.
stops here owe o meal, and l hope, la
dies. as you'I kindly pardon any short
comings."
But Miss veryain stopped short or
the very threshold Of the dining-room
II should prefer a table to myself,
said she, lsaughtily.
"Ma'am!" said Mkt.