The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1893-02-18

- - ho0e y
spells, with the sun still slanting yon-
der on the icy lake under his VIM
dows; vet, for all that, n misty face,
with faint, Elusive features, did seem
to gaze at him out of the glass. With
a laugh ut himself he drew q letter,
worn by the number Df times it had
been pulled out of its envelope during
the last few days.
The envelope bore the post, mark of
this far north town of Plattsburg. The
letter said: "1f not to this John Smith.
give to some other Of the names:
Il couldn'., stay te meet you, Johnny. I
know you will understand what Is meant when
| you find am not there to meet yon with the
others. 1 ~inclose tho little ring; we have both
outgrown 1t since that day you took 1t on
your you, mi Anger gent to n put .l u on on mi min m. After xIS a., awh bile
now ] am going home. ! am Just writing this
on my way that IT may greet you on your ar
YOU ytSat arg free. But don't forget pI slr,s Y i snail in al.
ways be glad to see my Cousin Johnny, and
that am. as ! used to be long ago, just your
ahectonate Little Amy.
A curious letter ard a curious in
closure; a tiny ring with a mere spark
of a diamond in 1t. John Smith, ESQ,
New York Hotel, Broadway, N. Y.,n
was the address.
1t had been delivered to the wrong
John Smith just as he was leaving the
New York Hotel for a run up the Hud-
son. In the hurry of departure he
had overlooked it, and afterward,
though sure he was the wrong John
Smith. he had not known what to do
with it.
The small, empty circle had a pa
thetic air to him. Perhaps the girl
was just putting a brave face on the
matter, as slighted girls will when
their lovers weary of them. Big,
broad-shouldered Jack felt he should
like to take the poor little things part
and punch the head of faitllless john
ny.
twas that feeling which had brought
him OH to Plattsbnrgh from his cara
less, sightseeing stay in New York.
He had said to Himself that he might
as we'll see something of winter, now
that he was East. his idea Of the yule
season being the green one of the Cali
fornia coast. There was really moth
ing to keep him back from following
up the very slender clue the postmark
of that letter held out to him.
Up the Hudson, on to Albany, thence
across to the rocky verge of Lake
Champlain; under a clear and spark.
ling winter sunhine, it was a charm
ing journey, even without the hope OF
adventure at the end of it. And now,
here was Jack at Plattsburg. at Fou.
auet's Hotel, which had beckoned hin
over from the railroad station. AID
here the mirror in his room. over.
looking tho lake had given him its
message.
"a. v. E." The A. might stand TO,
Amy. The diamond spark in the rims
might have cut those initials here!
1t was the very slenderest clue. Blu
Jack presently found himself following
it up. Amy had stopped in Platts-
burg on her way home, she wrote,
Surely, nowhere in Plattsbnrg could
she better stop than at Bouquets.
A moment later and Jack was turn
ing over the hotel register. He hat
not far to look before he found the en-
try, Miss A. V. Elliot, Cedarcliff.
Then he made good search to find i
there were no other A. V. E., on thi
point, satisfying himself, he asket
where one might find the village 0
Cedarclif.
There was no village, only a country
house. The Ccdarclif folks alwayl
stopped here from the trains till sen
for. Yes, If the gentleman wanted
sleigh he could have one. with a drive
who knew the way round by Cumber
land Head.
So, presently, Jack was speeding GU
through the broad streets overarche,
with elms, leatless. but sheathed il
~icicles, and flashing in n million jew
: eled points in the evening sunshine
: The great white lake flashed too, tn,
sleighbells clashed with q merry pea
of marriage bells, and Jack foun,
himself in the Cetarcliff parlor befor,
he had at all decided what he was t.
say.
. Was Miss Elliot at home? and whicl
Miss Elliot? Miss Veren;. was ut home
. would she do. sir, for the others wer
all out this afternoon.
The small maid who let him in wen
| away with the reluctant assuranc
from Jack that Miss Verena would do
!. And then Jack si.ellccted that Vereni
was the second letter in the magi
mirror. The first might stand TO
Amy. But. then. just rs well it nigh
alclhAO SALito W oISNlI OdSh ldS
heard that one might find Abby il
abundance among these Yankee girls
Well, P%lattsburgg was not quito in Vel
mont, so perhaps it was not Abby.
1t certainly was not Abby! Whe,
this dainty little creature, in som
. p~ale-gray ileecy drapery, like a sof
evening cloud. came lightly in. JAG
stood up with his lowest how.
"Miss Amy Elliot, ! believer"
| sYes.o
.And / nm John Smith"
I .Oh!" Her hand went out to him i
4 eager greeting. "Johnny! 1t ism
| possible!p Anil then. more slowly
| Not is not possible"
Jack was bowinS over her h6nd.&
u don't think Pm johnny. Imish
be. al course; only l never was; bu
pardon me. but a letter i had n
right to has fallen into my hands-an
didn't know what to do with it
Thought ! ought to lind you and +.
turnsit.
Without 4 word she took the IN
! sea:ed easelopa he put int her hant