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

M RS. 30 B.
BY JOHN STRANGE WINTER.
For another moment there was silence
~again-then he laughed rather awkward
ly. "Oh to be sure, yes. Ihad forgotten
that l had sent my man down to you with
those books this morning. he snid, with
very wcil-assnmed carelessncss.
They had ali been standing, hut Mrs.
Iratlord sat down again aud picked up
her knitting. She was still at work on
a crimson sock, but it was not the same
IT was indeed the second of another pair.
me iietie widow found it convenient to
do Il good deal OF knitting-in the first
place it was work that Interested and
amused her, work to which she could give,
us suited her at the moment, the closest
or the most lax attention. 1t was not ex.
penslge and the socks When finished al
ways made acceptubISap1escnts to herdea,
boys, as shc general Iled the husbands
OF her children, Laura Madge.
She gave the few inches of silken work
the closest attention then, for she was not
anxious that Pamela should see in her
eyes the knowledge which she had Just
gained from Captain Legard's remarks,
remarks which had told her I'LL too plain
ly that lie had not the very smallest in
tention of anything serious coming about
between the young lady and himself. She
was really sorry that Pamela should have
found them alone and thus have had the
opportunity OF giving herself little airs
about the send aud Captain Legard. 1t
was natural and yet it WAS so silly. Mrs.
Tratford saw, OF thouglt that she saw. so
very clearly just what had l,appened-thut
he had goue rather further with Mrs.
Lnrelace than he knew to be prudent,
that like n cautious man anxious to avoid
any unpleasantuess with her husband, he
had deliberately instituted q quarrel with
her and had started u violent Irritation
with Pamela Winstanley instead. And
Pamela had been taken in by it, she had
given herself little airs and had spoken of
the regiment and the routc to Mrs. Traf-
ford In Il tone as il they belonged to her.
Mrs. Traiforl was very sorry for Pamela
Winstauley.
Captain Legard, however, displayed an
admirable self-possession which served to
prevent any awkwardncss. He sat down
again as Mrs. TrafFord did so, and went
OIL talking usi if Pamela had never blushed
and lie had not tried TO make the lady of
the house believe that he had not had
communication With the young lady al
ready that day.
st is a great bore leaving he said, in
Disguised accents; really Il great bore.
But it is always so with us. We IRE sent
to n place and get to like it, aud us soon
as TINT happens and we know n few peo-
else to begin it all over again.
"Oh, it is very tiresome. of course"
Mrs. T:afford agreed; though she add
ed, with IL sigh, Il believe my two girls
We're glad TO 20. The both wanted to be-
gin soldering in downright good earnest
and they felt that it was not proper SOL
dierlng Till they went to IL strange town
where they didn't know II soul"
Captain Legard laughed. "They will
soon get tired of that" he remarked. "Ol
course, it isn't so bad for us unmarried
officers, but we find it bad enough, aud
married men very soon come 10 flnd the
constant changes intolcrable. For my
part he ADDED, deliberately, and looking
steadily at Mrs. Trafford, II never find
myself in the midst OF Il move that I do
not feel thankful that l have no wife to be
made uncomfortable, too"
Mrs. Tratford couglied. sYes, yes" she
said, %nervously, for really She was getting
quite nervous thinking OF poor Pamela's
little airs and what this would mean tt
her. II have no doubt it is II very tire
some existence when once the glamour has
worn off. But it is time we were thinking
OF tea. Will you ring the bell, Captain
Legard?"
To her great relief the door opened as
she uttered the words, and two ladies
were shown in-Mrs. John Doughty ant
her daughter. Never. perhaps, had Mrs
Trafford been so thankful to see that par
ticular lady in all her life before. She
welcomed her with open arms and made
her sit down beside her, and assumed &
confidential attitude which surprised while
1t gratiticd her visitor. Then the bells be
gan to ring for cvcnsong and Mr.. Gabri
ELI went away, leaving Julia free to talh
to Miss Florence Doughty. thus leaving
Pamela aud Captain Legard at liberty to
explain the events of the past ten minutes
If they chose to do so.
But Captain Legard's keen eye had
SptSN opP = ptSiNC otSlilJ NV i iick
an actually pretty girl, was very young,
very fresh, plump, with n lovely rose uut
lily complexion md q wholesome capacity
for open and innocent Irritation such as
you only see in extreme youth. So in.
stead of sitting down beside Pamclu and
soothing her wounded feelings. he stroll,
ed across to Julia and the youthful charm
cr and Julia had no choice but to intro
duce him,
Thus Julia could only go over to PA
meia, who was sitting quite near to til,
place where Co usually set the tea tn
Bile. Then Cox came in with the ira,
and Julia thanked Heaven TINT she would
have something to do. She hardly daret
look at Pamela; but Pamela was prout
IL she WAS anything and after the frs
shock she pulled herself together mos
creditabiy.
Not anything, thanks" she said, wher
Julia passed her the c%ake-plate. II have
only just time for q cup Of tea. Yes.
must be off TO service, dear. Father like.
US to go, you know"
In less than five minutes she had sal,
goodbye aud had gone. I4egard openet
the door for her and she passed him witt
Il brave Good bye, Captain Legard,'' blu
never looked at him. Then he shut tn,
door and came back to his seat again, pick
ing up the thread of his conversation witt
Florence Doughty as If it had never beef
interrupted.
They had scarcely settled down agaii
when the door opened and Cox showed il
another visitor, and TO Juliu's surprise j
was Stephen Howard. 'Oh. is it your
she said, in nstonishment. ~ thought 80,