The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1896-06-20
M RS. BOB.
RY IoHN sTRANGE wINrER

husband OF u year and n half vas the
lover still. and a very charming and de-
lightful kind of lover, too. And yet
why, ! wonder is there always a YETI
yet, the little cloud which had troubled
Julia so much Mt the time of her marriage
had not vanished, although its character
had altered n good deal. She was not
jealous of Mrs. Bob now-oh, no, that
feeling had died out long ago. She had
always been fond of her, extremely fond
of her. and she had come to the conclusion
that she was not in any sense to be looked
upon as u rival. And yet, the cloud was
still there and from having the shape of
Mrs. Bob, 1t had grown and changed in
character until now 1t had no palpable
form at all, and was indeed nothing but
a blurred, shapeless presence, without
outlines. without color, a mere mist with
which Julia felt that she was powerless
to deal. 1t was all SO odd, too, SO i'm
palpable, that her very feelings about it
were indefinable. One day she would be
in the depths of despair, feeling plainly
though, without apparent cause, that
there was n part of Stephens life into
which she was never able to enter, into
which he did not intend that she ever
should enter. Why she should think this
she hardly knew-and yet she thought at
times that she did know. For sometimes
she would watch him sitting in an easy
chair with his pipe In his mouth buried
In thought. what are you thinking
about, Stovies" she had asked many a
time, asked it with her arm slipped coax
ingly about his neck and her cheek pressed
against his. And the answer was always
the samoa start, aud a careless-"Oh
well really, l can't say. l don't think l
was thinking about anything in particu-
lar"
you were not thinking about me
wishing you hadn't married mep" she gen
orally cried, and Stephens answer was al.
ways the same.
"Wishing I hadn't married you-my
darlingl" In such u tone of unutterable
reproach that instantly the cloud seemed
to melt away as If it was ashamed of it.
self, and Julia's face and heart grew all
sunshine again, and she seemed to love
Stephen more and more us the moments
went by.
Yet when n few hours had gone by that
loud was sure to come back again-per.
haps because Stephen stayed Mt his club a
little longer than usual or because he
would write n letter or two and put them
into his pocket, evidently with the inten.
ton OF posting them without having shown
them to her.
At last one day she plucked up all her
courage, and it was by no small effort
an assure you, and said boldly to her hus
band. "Stevie, what is that letter you have
been writingS".
Merely a business letter, dearest" he
answered.
"Yes-but on what business?' she ask
ed. her heart beating hard md fast ut he
hardness and persistence.
Obi nothing that would interest you
my darling" he returned, carelessly.
But, Stevie, it does interest me-"
There was n sound of tears in her voice
and indeed they were not very far from
her eyes-Stephen turned to her. why
my dearest" he cried. what are'you trou
bling abouti 1t is only a business letter
dear"
But, Stcvie." she cried piteously, sit il
your business that l most want to know
about. shouldn't mind about the rest
but you keep all your business from MI
and make me feel rs if l was n doll, q
plaything, . toy, and nothing else. Its
not right, Stevic, l an your wife and
have a right to know all your affairs.
ought to know-I ought to have nothing
kept back from me. 1t Is my right tt
know
He had started p%erceptibly at her word.
urging that being his wife she had II RICH
to know all his affairs. mud when she n
last stopped literally because she coulS no
trust herself to go OF further, he remained
silent, looking Us If some new difficult,
had presented itself before him which HI
did not quite know how to deal with. A,
last, however, he spoke.
you are quite right, sweetheart" HI
said, slowly and unwilllngly: SIT is you,
right to know everything that concern
me or that I am mixed up with. Every
thing affecting my heart you do know al
ready-I am yours absolutely and always
But about my business affairs, well, dur
ling, | tell you everything of which | an
free to speak to you. 1t is true that ther
is one matter on which l have been sill
ent, not because l wanted to keep it from
you, but simply because l have taken ar
oath never to disclose this affair to n lv
ing SOUL"
Even your wife?" she cried, reproach
fully.
Even my WIFE" no said, firmly
Though mind, juicy, If l had been mar
ried, or had even seen you when l wen
into this arrangement, Ishould never hav
tied myself, because l hate to have any
knowledge which l. cannot share witt
you. But 1 had never seen you then ant
although l feel differently now, l all
bound TO respect my word of honor"
And it is IL business matterY" she ask
ed, already somewhat Modified by the ex
PLANTATION aud the unmlstakable s%incerit
of his words.
"My dear child. 1t is a business secret
that is all" he answered. "You know ii
many businesses they have what Is Gu llet
q trade secret-in one it may be u particu
lar way of making varnish, in anothe
of making a medicine, or pill, or a ltq
uor. This il neither. but 1t Is imperativ
that 1t is treated as u secret and kept rs
secret"
Does Mamie know iti" Julia asked
half ashamed OF being ready to pin thiI
new suspicion on to the old grievance.
Bob knows 1t, and Bob is bound unde
exactly the same conditions as l am,
Stephen answered; well, ! called 1t a
oath just now, but" with n smile, "tha
was rather n strong way OF putting II
BIZ: the fact remains the same that 30
and l and NIL the others who are mixed u
In the undertaking have given our worl
Of honor not to divulge a word to any liv
ing being"
Julia did not speak for a few minutes
"But, Stevie," she said at last. In a burs
Of desperation, "can'tyou tell me anything
about it,"
The intense yearning in her voice touch
ed him. my dear little love, how l wis
l could make you a partner and tell yol
everything" he replied, "yet 1 cannot
But l can tell you this-it is u propcrt
that we have amongst us-and it is a gol
niue"
"a gold mine-and we shall be enol
mously rich some day."
"lf our hopes are realized-enorlnousl
rich"
And why is there IL secret about itY"
Because nobody suspects thnt TIE gol,
is there to begin with--if they did every
body would be after it and we should hav
no end of trouble"
And the secret is the whereabouts 9
the miner"
:Thatis just so-and the means Of worl
Ing it."
..