The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1896-03-14
M IRIS. BOB.

gtng her 20 help me to get yoa marrtcr
ana then we should have our hoUs, 10
ourselves"
She laughed as she spoke and Mrs,
Iraftord Joined in the laugh us il it was
the newest and most original joke in the
world.
MI. Howard, however, did not seem to
see any Joke mt all but turned his blue
eyes upon his sister very eravely. There
IS inaly a true word spoken in Jest, my
dear, hesaid gnietiy, '.and as you have
invoked Mrs. I'ratford's good Offices, /
hope ynn gave me a respectable character,
apart from the fact of my being n nuisance
to you and Bob
1.-The best of characters, Mr.. Howard. +,
said Mrs. Trafford, smiling.
The little woman got up then md do.
clared that they really must be going
they had stayed quite an unconscionaLie
time, had made. in fact, quite. a Visitation.
and although they had promised them
selves TO make mt least half a dozen calls
that afternoon they would not be able 10
make more than one now.
lit is delightful for us that you have
rot managed to 80 to all the othe.s,n said
Mrs. Markham.
we persuade you to leave the
other one assa?s suggested her husband.
"No-reailv, we ought TO 90 now" said
Mrs. TraiFord, gaily. bat if you go in
to the Parish on Sunday, won'tyo % come
and see lis when yon leave? We are al,
always ut home on Sundays f.om five to
seven-do Gomez
On, yes! with pleasure,'' said Mrs.
Markham. and as II she meant it.
They said goodbye then and Mr.. How
ard went out to the door with him, which
ther reached just as IL carriage drew rp
at the steps. There was n very smart lady
inside il, 4 lady beautifully dressed and
fair TO look upon, who waved a dainty
hand to Mrs. Trafford aud expressed uch
pleasure at seeing her. ''How unfortu-
nate that should be just coming as yop
are going" she cried.
Dear Lady I~.ucifer,' y said Mrs. Trafford
tcnderly, lit is y p%its-but really we have
made such y visitation that
oh! Mrs. Tratford, do go back again:
my sister will be enchanted" put in Mr..
Howard.
But Mrs. TratTorl was irm--judicious
little woman! mo, no, Mr.. Howard; l
won't begin by paying your sister such Il
poor compliment us that. No. ] really
must so now. If yor come in 10 the Par
istl gu Sunday, do come in and have a cup
of tea" she added, to Lady Lucifer.
Yes, will-thnnks,n Lady Lucifer an
swefed. II shall have some people with
me, but You Won't mind, [ know
Il shall be charmed,n said Mrs. Traf-
ford.
Lady Tucifer betook herself aud her
smart garments into the house then aud
MIR. Howard handed the ladies into their
fly.
You will come in on Sunday. them"
said Mrs. Tratford rs he shut the door.
Stephen Howard leaned his arms on the
side of the cab aud looked coolly at Mrs.
lra1iord with his lazy blue eyes. ITS u
long time to Sunday. Mrs. Trafford,'' lie
remarked.
Mrs. Trairord laughed and Julia turned
scarlet, Howard's iazf blue eyes turned
TO her face for Il moment. then turned
back to Mrs. Trafforlis again.
ut is only four days" She answered,
but il you like TO come before that, why
do so. We shall be very glad to see YOU
VII yon:' he asked, with a shade
more cagerncss in his tone md II shade
less iaziness i'll his eyes. "May I come to
morrow?o
Again he stole n glance at Julia. Julia
looked the other way.
"Yes, you may come to-morrow?n said
Mrs. T"afford with her own little indul.
gent air.
THANK you'll WILL" said Mr.. Howard
gratefully.
lie stepped back from the side of the
cab then and made Il sign to the driver 10
go on-and he stood bare headed on the
steps with the afternoon sun playing
people among his thick golden curls-a
truly personable young man, with charm
ing
"What a handsome fellow, Julia,'' said
Mrs. Trafford.
Yes" sud Julia. who was in too much
of u tumult mentally to be able to talk
much.
Charming manners, too,' Mrs. Traf,
ford went on.
yes" said Julia.
but these new countries are rapid,
very rapid" said Mrs. Trafford, thought
fully.
Yes" said Julia, finding her voice at
last. But I daresay it is all manner and
probably he is saying just the same &c
Lady 11uciIef now"
1T seemed to Inc he was n little cavalier
to Lady Lucifer.'' said her mother, quiet
ly. And / think she noticed it, too"
'sThcn she will try I'LL the harder to
bring him to her feet thatshe may make
him suffer for i" remarked Julia, rather
acidly.
"Oh, that is very likely" said Mrs
Trafford; these young married women
who marry men so much older than them,
selves seem rs if their greed for ndmira
ton is never satisfied. 1t is u pitiable
thing to live for"
But pleasant enough when you can get
it" laughed Julia. Her mother gave vent
to her feelings by a little sigh. 1t was /
very small and feeble sigh, smothercd ri
its birth and Struggled away under the
disguise of Il yawn. Oh! If only Julil
We're not $3.50 inclined to be tart, to take
a caustic view of every side OF life, Mrs
Tratford felt sure that with IL little tact
and management this handsome anu
agreeable young man might be brought
into the fold of matrinony and her ankle
ty about her one remaining flower would
be at an end and she would be free, gay
little widow woman that she was, to hie
herself to London-town and take n deal
wee little tlat-perhaps an Gntrcsol in Vic
toria Strcet-and make n delightful ecu
fireplace for her three dear children Il
meet at and lock upon as home. If only
Julia's sharp tongue did not spoil every,
thing!
.nArrEE 1y.-STEPHEN HowARD'S PAST.
! do not hesitate to say that Julia Traf
ford had never passed such IL night as the
one which followed her first visit to Mrs
Bob Markham, in nil her life. She coule
not get Stephen Howard's lazy blue eye!
and soft voice with its sweet Australian
accents out OF her head. She was i'm
pressed with the idea That he was more
than ordinarily attracted by her and vel
she could not believe it.
She had no very great opinion OF her
sell, and a very small and contemptuou!
One Of her looks. and being very shrewt
aud sensible--l1kc her mother-she coult
not believe that things really were us thej
seemed. And yet, try MS she would, sht
could not shut her eyes Or her senses tc
the truth that this Stephen Howard had
fingered beside her until his brotherin,
law had come and turned him OUT, thai
lie had detained them Mt the doc inst as
long rs they would stop in spite of the at
fractions Of the beautiful lady I4ncifer,