The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1896-03-07

lootman, for he was u p of delight.
1ul manners, just m1rmuring . reply ard
bending his head u little, then getting
gently ont of the room with a sort of glide
obi without doubt, admirable AS the good
Cox was. Mrs. Tratford would have thor
onghly enjoyed the luxury OF Il really
weil-trained footnnn.
In two minutes Mr.. Markham came
in. Bob" said his wife. this is Mrs.
Trafford, to whom Colonel Coles gave us
q letter of introduction, aud Miss Traf-
ford
Mr.. Markham Went across the room to
Mrs. Trafford, and held out his hand.
Pm a plain Colonial, Mrs. Trafford,' he
said, but il l am anything l am hearty.
And l am glad to see %you-real glad. 1t
is exceedingly kind OF you TO come and see
us before we had timeto present our letter
OF introduction. But perhaps the Colonel
wrote to you?"
No" shid Mrs. Trafford, with quite her
own little airy laugh, 1--WE came because
we heard that you We're charming people,
and because we always like to be on good
terms with onr neighbours
II am very proud to bid You welcome
here" said Mr.. Markham, "although 1t is
not my own house. I shall be more happy
WIN ! Ctli NelGOUle YOU mere. ~ ~
He had quite a delightfully."- old-fashion.
ed air of chivalrons courtesy, and Mrs.
Trafford was greatly pleased with him.
LIE waited on her most. attentyely, and
putshe sugar In her ten with ~ much care
as he might have done If she a been a
queen, talking hard all the time.
yes. am Il Colonist," he remarked.
that is not an Australian, YOU know.
1 Nh my yvifo ya ~, ., .l -
brother-in-law. Australians think them
selves much greater swells than mere
Colonists-at least my wife does, Iknow.n
Mrs. Markham laughed. "How silly you
are. Bob" she said, good-naturedly.
Where is Stephent / thought 7 saw him
with you just now"
5 you did, my dear. He is coming in
a minute. Yes, here he is"
In another momen Mrs. Markham's
brother, the "Stephen'' of whom she had
spoken, came in.
Let me introduce my brother, Mr..
Howard" said Mrs. Markham.
Mr.. Howard went aud shook hands with
Mrs. Tratford, and then with her da,iah-
ter. 'Stevie,f said Mrs. Markham, Miss
Tratford has no tea"
oh! Pm so awfully sorry not to have
noticed it before" he said. In the real
Australian voice. slow aud pleasant. SIS
that for Miss Trafford. Mamiey. as his
sister poured ont another cup OF tea.
Yes" said the lady, aud then Stephen
Howard carried it carefully across to
Jnlia, and then went back for the cream
and the sugar and the cake-dish, a pretty
affair with three compartments In which
were respectively bread u butter, cake
and tine purple grapes.
My sister always has fruit with every
meal" he said. II believe it isn't the
right thing in Englaud-bnt we, YOU
know, are savagcs and NAV indulge our
whims."
Very delightful whims," said Julia.
helping herself to grapes and bread and
butter.
Mr.. Howard fetched his own cup and
sat down close beside her. How good of
you to say that he said. 80 many peo-
pie dislike everything that is not quite
customary and make no pretence of hid
ing their dislike"
"Only ~disagreeable people, said Julia,
stirring her ten. ~ assure yon, Mr.. How
ard, there are plenty of pleasant people in
England-in Blankhampton for that mat
ter. By-the-by, have you made any ac-
quaintances here yet!'
Yes, a few. Mr.. and Miss De Lisle
were here yesterday"
"Oh, yesN" JuliaSs tone was a little
frozen, for but three days before Nina De
Lisle had protested herself very doubtful
ii her mother meant to call upon the new
corners or not. meant to have the first
chance" ran Julia's tn oughts, us she
looked at the handsome young man be-
side her.
you live in the town, Miss Tratford,"
he said, looking up quickly SO that their
eyes met.
YES" she answered-thcn suddenly
asked, "How did you know that we lived
In the town."
Because | saw you in a shop the other
day and l asked who you We're"
Jnlia's eyes fell and her color rose.
Really" she murmured, then laughed Il
little. ~''Yes-and--"
And the people told me where you
lived and-aud-'' he broke off short Shere
and stretched II his hand for the three
sided dish. Have some more grapes,
Miss Trafford, " he said, in quite Il differ
ent voice.
Now, Miss Trafford was u young lady
who was singularly ike her astute mother
III several respects, one of which was that
under very few circumstances did she
forget the advantage OF keeping an eye to
the main chance. In this instance she
helped herself to grapes and then looked
up at him again. "What were you going
to say, and why didn't you say itf' she
demanded.
NJ Stephen Howard looked a little
confused. "Oh,n he said at last, not
looking at her, but combining his atten-
ton to the fruit on his plate-"Oh, be-
cause yon would think me such an ass"
An ass-well, SO l might,'' said she,
cootly. But then l might think you a
much greater one II you leave me in the
dark, you know
"Welln-still he hesitated a little--"I
went round to have a look ut your house."
Julia stared athim in unqualified amaze
ment. You went to have u look at u
house. Mr.. Howard? But why?'
Because ! wanted to see what kind Of
a house YOU lived in,'' he said, with a
charming doggedness as II, having begun
a confession he meant to 90 through with
it aud was not to be laughed out of the
position which he had taken up.
And Julia sat aud looked at him with
all her wondering amaHsment plainly de.
picted in her eyes and GA her lank face
then somehow the fire in his handsome
blue eyes communicated itself to her
and she turned n sudden rich crimson
color which spread ali over her face and
for the moment maze her look really
pretty.
"Whatan extraordinary idea," she muir
INJURED, confusedly.
Eyes. know 1t was an awful piece OF
impertinence," said ne, coaxingly, but
don't be angry ut it, Miss Trafford. Pm
only a savage, o know"
IA very well educated savage" she re.
Joined, especially in the art of fiattery."
81 did not mean 1t for flattery,'' he said,
quietly.
An electric thrill shot through Julia's
not very susceptible heart. and us at that
moment he had to get up iu answe to q
summons from his sister. she had an op-
por unity of looking at him more closely.
1t was all SO very unusual and extraordin-
airy that she was too astonishel almost to
think. what did it mean, What could
it mean? Here WAS this handsome young
man looking into her eyes the very first
time they had ever met, making her feel
as she had neyar known whnt III wus In