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

uihl just Lncn Jutia, VINO WAS but
toning her gowa, walked to the dressing
tahlr, and without meaning to do so, look.
ea futl at herself. For n momentshe was
quite startled by lierself-she looked SO
bright, so like her younger sister who had
become Lady Staunten. and she had such
pretty color in her checks, such Il light
IN her eyes, sUch charming curves to her
ups and-aad really the hitherto despised
iiltie teapot-spout of a nose did not, to use
me phraseo!ogy of .Iu!ia's own thoughts,
look half bad.
fora moment She laughed like n pleased
enid, then she pressed her hands to her
flushed cheeks and her perpleNed eyes
ana asked herself alond, Heavens, can l
De dreaming or am ! going cracked, or
whaty@ IN then the gong sounded below
and she hastily finished her toilette and
hurried down the stairs.
Still. she could not get the Young man
out OF her head. Mrs. Trafford, rs was
natural, was full of the new people and
talked indeed about little or nothing else.
Everything SO nica and yet no show,
she said complacently: Indeed there was
no sign of ostentatiousncss excepting per-
haps the footman.A
And everybody would have powdered
footmen il they could afford it, remarked
Julia, dr!,y.
es, you are right, Jniia-at least, /
am sure l should" the little widow cried
Will, her ARREST laugh. '''llley must be
very rich" she added in 4 different tone.
"Wly:'
Because nobody who WAS not very
rich would have dreamed or setting IN
such an establishment Of servants as they
seem to have.
"Oh! l should think they were rich.'
said Julia, carelessly.
She thought far less about their money
I than she did about Stephen Howard, in
Fact, she did not give 4 thought Ia the
money at all except when Mrs. Trniforl
mentioned il; but she went to bed and
tossed feverishly about through all that
long, long night, haunted by a pair Of lazy
blue eyes and Il wonder whether he would
find his way TO st. Ewes on the morrow
or not.
And in tie morning she got mp feeling
like a limp rag and looling-well, SO that
when she saw herself in the glass, she
fuirly groaned.
Have you headache, demr?' Mrs. Traf-
ford asked the moment afterJulia entered
the m-orning-room.
Yes, l have rather y hcadac;ic," she
answered.
Poor child. I hope it won't be worse
as The day goes on" Mrs. TrafTorl said in
commissioning tones. Have II cup oftea,
dear, aud try to eat something. Nothing
will carry it away so soon"
Thus biddcn Julia sat down at the table
and after IL very respectable meal au-
nounced that she felt q good deal better.
Then" said Mrs. Traiforl, "keepyo ur-
self very quiet this morning and most
likely it will pass away. Ihavc one or two
little matters to see after, and | have to go
into the town, so yon will he quite undis-
turbed.o
She very soon went ont aud then Julia
tucked herself up on the comfortable
roony sofa in the morning room and tried
to make up for the i'll effects of her bad
night, not only tried but succeeded so
thoroughly that when Mrs. I'rairord re.
turned two hours later, She pecped into
the room and found her eldest flower fast
asleep.
1T was wonderful what that sleep did
for Julia. She felt quite like another be-
ing, and did full Justice To her lunch, for
Airs. Traffora remarked, There is nothing
like food for nervous exhaustion, which is
the proper name for hiatt the headaches
there are, my dear"
And then Julia went upstairs and dress
ed herself in 4 nice smart tailor gown of
dark green acknowledgement | believe
they call it-with some handsome gold
lace work about the collar and cuffs IF it,
and put on her outdoor Goa and hat.
bat, my dear child" exclaimed her
mother, when she made her appearance
in the drawing-.oom, "you are nerer going
outs''
"Oh, my head is all right now. mother,
denr," said Julia, going to the long glass
and pulling the edge OF the strip of gold,
beaded net which she wore for Il veil well
down over the tip of her little pert nose.
II am only going down TO Mason's to see
about my shoes. l shall be back before
tea-timc."
ooh, very we'll: I am not going ont
again." saiu Mrs. Tratford, i'll q casual
kind of tone.
1t was remarkable of this mother and
daughter that they never laid aside tho
mask which they babitually wore. II q
thing We're too -eStraragant for them tc
think OF; they never said SO. Ii some dc,
sire were unattainablc, they never said
as much; they always spoke, even to each
other, ms IL they did not care about it.
This afternoon the same thought was III
the heart of each, and the thought took
the form of Stephen Howard. When Mrs
Trafford exclaimed, My dear child, yor
are pcUef going out?" she meant to say
"Have you forgotten that Mr.. Howard /:
coming?" and when Julia replied that lel
head was better and that she should bt
back before tea-timc, she intended to con
Sey that she had not forgotten that they
were expecting Il certain visitor, but tina
she was going out on purpose tto be on
when he should arrive.
And sure enough, when Stephen How
ard knocked Mt the door Of No. Z st. Ewes
which he did about four O'Clock, he fount
only Mrs. Trnfford sitting alone ii. III,
bright and cosy drawing-room. a br,gh
fire burning IN the well-poiished CRATE
ana her deft little hands busy rs usua
with some crimson silk socks.
He cast q glance round the room as i
In search of omeone whom at first sight
he had not perceived. II am NIL alone
Mr.. Howard" said Mrs. Tratford, in hel
most friendly and htspitnble manner
Julia has gone out--did you como byway
of the High Street? Yes! All! 1wondel
you did not meet her"
NO, l never saw her. said he, and il
was evident both from his looks aud his
tone that he was disappointed.
All! She will be here presently" sait
Mrs. Trntford, with bland indulgence
much MS she might have donc IL julia
was the acknowledged beauty OF thetowr
and this one of Il score of her buckles.
adorers.
1t was an admirable manner. that par
ticalar manner, of Mrs. Trafford's, ant
she pointed to an exceedingly comfortabl,
chair not very far from her own.
sit down and tell me what YOU thinl
about Blankfampton," she said, cor, stay
do you mind ringing thu bell for IN,
nrstf"
Mr.. Howard rang the bell, and then sa,
down in the chair.
Il suppose you aro not III 4 great hur
ry?" she said, kindly.
"Oh, not Mt all.n he answered.
THAT is ali right. Oh! Cox ns til,
spruce parlor- maid appeared. 1--WE viii
have tea as soon as Miss Tratford come!
inn
"Yes, mn'am," said Cox.
"And now" said Mrs. TrafTord to he
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