The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1893-02-11
EDITH lYLE'S REVENGE,

lUilH llllO lltlHuL,
"Tom Randall, if you marry Edith
Lyle you will make the biggest mis-
take of your life"
"But, Harry, old man, J love her."
replied Tom, "and although | have
never had sufficient courage te ask
her to be my wife up to the present,
yet l made up my mind last evening
that would ask her at the first oppor=
tunity she gave me-"
tom, don't do it, she won't make
you happy" said Harry Chalmers, ear
nestly.
"Why not, Harry?" asked Tom, II
know she isn't beautiful aud rich, hue
she is quiet and nice, besides abe has
character and she is the only woman
that l nave mot this far whom | have
ever thought l cared for"
"Well. Tom, in the first place she is
a New England schoolma'am and
prudish in her ideas; besides she il
rigid in her orthodox notions us any
old puritan ever was, she objects to II
mans smoking n good cigar and tho
idea Of smoking a pipe would simply
hcrrify her-and YOU know you are
never half so cnntont as when YOU
have one or the other in your mouth,
"BesideH, Tom. there is her mother,
q confirmed invalid, afflicted with
some disease that Is CAST a%ggravating
enough to make her a constant care
and yet allow her to live along until
she. dies of old age"
"But Harry, ! like the Girl, and for
her sake Nigh. lee willing to rive up
some comforts, and rs for her mother
I can't believe she is as bad as YOU
picture her; besides l think / could
endure the old lady somehow and |
believe if a man loves 81 woman he
ought to be willing to put up with a
great deal for her sake.
III remember" continued Tom, "my
own mother" his voice was a little
shaky and d tear trembled in his eye
at the recollection; elf she were living
to-day and the woman l wanted to
marry objected to me on her account
l should hardly consider her worthy
to become my wife"
tom" said Harry. placing his hand
with friendly affection upon Toms
shoulder, 1--WE were chums together at
school and college. | am older than
you are and have been through the
mill: Trust me; don't marry Edith
Lyle; she doesn't care much for you.
You arc young and good.looking, be-
sides you nave u nice little sun in the
bank and most any girl would con-
slider you a catch"
Harry, you don't think Edith Lyle
is that kind of a woman do youfn
cried Tom, white and trembling.
"Why not, TomP" answered Harry.
Il heard her signing only this morn
ing because she could not dress as
nicely rs some of tho girls here do, and
besides" he continued, when a man
is ~tine-looking and likely to rise in the
world most any poor girl would be
willing to accept him."
That was all the slight girlish figure,
Just inside the window, heard, and
then the two men passed ott of hear
ing.
Edith Lyle pressed her little hands
over her heart as if to still its beating
and almost moaned aloud in her an
guish,
ooh, that ! could tell him that it is
false, every word false; that l love
him, yes, above all else in the world,
and that would be willingness, glad
to marry him without a dollar in
the world" was the cry that surged
up from her heart.
But cannot tell him-no, | can
not. He has never asked for my love
and he would despise me for Offering
1t to him. No, can only suffer aud
bear the pain; he must never know
She wrung her hands aud glided
softly across the parlor and up the
wide staircase to her own room, and
finging herself upon the bed she be-
gan to sob as though her heart would
break.
Edith Lyle was in truth a New Eng
land schoolma;am and had left the lit
tie country village and had come here
to this quiet, seashore town to spend
the short summer vacation away from
care and toll.
While here she had met Tom Ran
dall-met him and had done the most
natural thing in the world for n girl to
do-had fallen in love with him, yes,
without even asking his permission. {
A week before his friend had Joined
him, and lie, seeing ut once how Tom
felt, had sought for an opportunity to
v LA tlltl llutIl was IOt VIC AlIl
for him to marry.
That opportunity had come Mt last,
when Edith had been almost All TN.
willing listener.
And now she knew that it was toe
'ata-that he would never ask her the
question that had trembled on his lips
for q week past; knew that he would
m o,pauson1 aorry vv;tb hin, oil thr
love aud affection that she would evel
have for any man
When she came down to a late
breakfast next morning, thinking she
would be able to sip u cup of coffee
alone, she was surprised to see Harry
Chalmers sitting by the open window
on thu vcranda outside the dining
room, a telegr&M in his hand and i
thoughtful look on his face.
He rose as She advanced into Tho
room and stepping lightly across the
low sill said: Il have waited to sc,
you, Miss Lyle. l have 81 message fol
you" He paused, then added quickly
"My friend Tom wished me to Civ,
you his regards and regrets that liz
could not . you and say good-b,
himself, but lie received II Telegram
late last night calling him home or
important business aud was Obliged t,
leave OH an early train"
"Indecd!" she replied; Il am sorr,
not to have said good-by to Mr.. Ran
dali, for before lie returns shall prob
ably have To 30 home and spend thu
rest Of my vacation with mamma"
ooh. he will not come back this sen
son" said Chalmcrs,t then aldcdanick
ly, "bnt surely, Miss Lyle, you are no
going home SO soon?'
There was SO much interest in hi
voice that she looked up quickly. an,
instantly lowered her eyes again
$50" she thought, "tilis is your mo
tive. am not the woman for Ton
Randall to marry, but am evidcntl..
the one whom you would like to win.
Then. while the %half-formed purpos
stole into her heart, sll,at she woul,
Nake'this a suffer all that he hs'