The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1896-04-25

self IN BlankhamptOn, q thoroughly skill
full tactician. l know that she put all tine
Mrs. Doughtys and Antrobuses aud all
the rest Of the Blankhampton matrons
to utter and complete shame-to use the
language Of the turf, she romped clean
away from them.
CHAP X.-''wE WANT TO E MARRIED."
Left to themselves in the drawing room,
Stephen Howard and Julia drew nearer to
the fire.
~ was SO surprised to see you" said
Julia, putting her foot on the fender and
resting her arm on the edge Of the low
mantel-shelf. Il did not expect to see
you for a week Mt least. III fact, il you
had not turned up again for u fortnight,
l should not have been much surprised"
lie drew a trifle nearer to her. do you
know why I didn't go?" he asked.
"Why, how should l know" she de-
manded.
"Tll tell you. IL couldn't go until l
had spoken to you," he burst out.
Julia grew coquettish. Spoken to me,
Mr.. Howard" she said. 'But about
what.'
The assumption Of coquetry gave him
courage aud he took hold of her hand.
Don't you know what about?" he asked.
"Oh! my dear-my dear-my little love"
he whispered, and then he caught her to
him, and they had come to understand
one another, and Mrs. Trafford had Sc
cured another good match, had indeed
wrcsted the prize from the Blankhampton
matrons before they had even realized that
there was a new prize In the field.
tsAn1 rnrt,o nptta cr,ra5 ~ !, ,rr,,1, sad
Julia. after a little time, "that you really
like me-"
Yes. Pm quite sure" said he, holding
her vet more closely to him.
and you don't think you will change
your mind?'
II am sure l shall never do that" he re-
piled. you are much more likely to want
to change yours"
II don't think So" Julia said, grayely.
Then there was silence again for mo
ment.
"What will your mother says" lie said,
presently.
"She will be delighted, y answered julia.
"She likes You Immensely"
And your sister, Lady Stauntoni lam
q little afraid OF Lady Stanton" he said,
looking Mt her donbtfully.
Afraid of my sister," Julia echoed.
"Why, my sister is a darlingl Afraid of
Laaric-well, that is funny"
But she is-is-a great lady, and-and
she might not think me good enough for
you. She might think it most objection
| able to have a savage for Il %brother-in-
law he urged.
''Yes. she is, but it is not very likely"
Julia said, with n laugh.
"You won't want to keep me waiting
longs" he said, after another pause.
''No-but l must have time to gee my
things ready" she answered.
mo, don't" he snid, II will buy youany
quantity of things, as you call them. after
we are married"
"You will have to see what mother has
to say about that she returned.
'"Then let US go and find her andtell her
at once and see what she says about it."
he cried, eagerly.
So Julia and he went down to find Mrs.
! Trafford and impart the news to her.
kiss me before we co." he said fondly,
as they reached the door.
And Julia kissed him and he kissed
Julia a great many times before he opened
it.
IT think mother went down into the
morning-room," Julia said, ms they de.
scendcd the stairs. "Tes, she is iu there,
l believe"
Mrs. Trafford was in the morning-room
lin fact. she was so deeply cngrossed iu
the magazine that she had fallen asleep
by the comfortable fire md when Julia
with u good deal OF noise opened the door,
she jumped to her feet and the magazine
went to the ground with a crash, knock.
Ing against the tire-irons OH its way
With great presence Of mind, she pushed
1t out OF sight with her foot aud put IL,
her hand TO see il her hair and its trim
ming of dainty lace felt all right.
"Inve you written Your letter, der 2
asked Julia.
Mrs. Tratford was herself ngain III I
moment. Yes, l had just ilnished," she
replied; II was on the point OF coming up
stairs to you"
"And we have come down to look fol
you,' said Julia. with pretty shyncss, '.be
cause-well, because"
Because we have something to tel
you.' chimed in Stephen Howard.
Yes said Mrs. T.afforl, waiting fo1
one or other OF them to go on, though sh,
saw very plainly what was coming.
well, the fact is. Mrs. Traftord.' said
Stephen Howard, b~luntly--'the fact is, W,
want to get married"
eyes, mother dear" echoed Julia, wv,
want TO get married"
lido not know how it was, but at thi.
point the ludicrous aspect Of the situation
presented itself to Mrs. Trnfford and sh,
immediately went off into guy fits OF Iii,
widest laughter The lovers, for u mo
ment, looked MS If they We're half inclined
to be offended, then they, too, began I,
laugh. aud the three laughed one sgains
the other Till the tears actually etood IN
Mrs. Trafford's eyes. She was the first tt
recover herself.
"Oh! my dcars," she cried, drying hel
eyes with a cobwebby bit of cambria
forgive me, l beg of you. It Is cruel Of
me to laugh at you, for | am 30 GLAD, *
! glad at what you tell me. But indeed thu
! way In which yon announced it was tot
funny-'We want to get married'-0hl Il