The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1896-05-30
"Never go out till after the second act.

~ ~ v IlOLHy ultd ~ 0ONkp
let us go down to dinner now"
Mrs. Boblaughed. bob is quite touchy
about walking round" she cried, teasing
Is. "ohl by the by, Julia, dear, / have
just had q letter from Lady Lucifer and
they have had the biggest robbery in
Blankhampton that they have ever had
yet"
What. anothers' cried Julia, standing
stock-stll In the corridor.
MY dear" replied Mrs. Bob. impress
sively, they have got all the Civic plate
the sword and mace, the Mayor and
Mayoress' chains of Office, they AVE got
her ladyship's diamonds. they have got
everything. My dear. 1t is wicked to
laugh ut the misfortunes of others, but
when ! think Of the sword and mace ]
can't help laughing. And when l read
Violet Luclfer's letter. ] just roarcd."
But Mamie" exclaimed Julia. in an
awed voice, where will they stops Where
will they go ncxtS"
Impossible to say. ',,<szswered Mrs. Bob,
"but depend upon sword aud mace
have been boiled a long before this
and he chains I'll the big silver eau.
dlesticks, too. Rid what they'll do at
the banquets and parties l can't think, for
Pm sure there isn't money enough in
Blankhampton to buy any new ones"
Julia tried to think-tried to realize
what Assize Sunday would be like with
out the insignia of civic state and dignity
to give an air Of splendor to the scene;
tried and failed.
"Well," she said, as she unfolded her
serviette, Pm very glad I don't live In
Blankbampton any longer. 1t did not
matter as long as I had nothing to lose
but l should be very sorry to lose all the
pretty things / have now"
'Of course, you would" Mrs. Bob re-
turned, II know l felt losing my things
badly enough. II you will believe me I
keep what I've got left about me night
and day, aud l seut every silver teaspoon
we had to The ban before we came away.
Just as we'll, for as likely as not they
would all have been gone when we got
home again"
1t was n charming little dinner that
they enjoyed that evening, at the com.
Portable little table in the Coolest corner
of the great dining-room. which Bob had
reserved for himself n his wife's use
during their stay in the hotel. And Julia,
when she was made much OF by tho other
three, quite rs inuch of by Bob and his
wife as she was by Stephen, began to feel
that she wa a mean little wretch and
nothing less to be giving house-room to
such a feeling as had taken the shape of
o little cloud no bigger than a mans hand.
They got somehow during the course Of
the meal to talking about a great murder
case just then occupying the attention of
the newspapers, Q case In which q wife
who outwardly had all the appearance of
devotedly nursing q sick husband only to
be confronted by his relatives with q
charge OF wiltul and deceitful murder, OF
using nffectionate solicitude for his wei.
fare as a cloak under which to administer
a deadly poison.
Think she'll get off," said Bob.
"Ihope she will" cried Julia: ''poor
thing, 1t must be bad enough to lose your
I husband without being accused of killing
him."
at must be pretty bad to be standing
in a dock on a charge of murder whether
you happen to have done 1t or not" put III
Stephen, thoughtfully.
ooh! horrlblel' Julia answered, 1--WE
knew a mar who was charged with mur,
der, but only at the inquest, you know.
And we knew the man who was murdered
too. They were both in the Biankshire
Regiment"
'"Then he didn't do it," said Stephen.
'The mar who was had up I mean.n
"Oh, nol-they were the greatest friends
possible. But they never found out who
did do it, all the same. l remember Mr.
Beresford-he was such a nice fellow; hi
married Nancy Earle, n great heiress. of.
terwards-told us when he came back tina
often enough during the few days that he
was in prison, he used to wonder what II
would feel Hike to be hanged for the muir
der Of his best friend who he would cheer
fully give ten years of his life to bling
back again"
And you think he didn't do it," said
Stephen.
II am as sure that he did not as I cal
be of anything which 1 have not seen witt
my wv eyes," Julia answered. "And !
!, they had convicted him aud hanged hin
!, they would still not awe convinced m,
, that he did it. should always have be
lieved in him." she added, quite warmly
But whyY"
because ! believed In him. He wa
: not capable of numbering anybody, t.
: say nothing of numbering his best friend
; without the smallest reason for doing So
You are a good friend, juicy" sait
+ Stephen Howard, smiling at her, land
! think may take it for granted that !
ever ! am accused of muir"
! (Which God forbid" put in Bob Mark
; hath, with sudden carnestiiess.
Thank you, Bob" said S~tephen-"but.
+ continuing to his wife, 81 may take it TO
granted that you will believe In me an,
!, stick to me-
Julia smiled back Mt him. eyes, Ithinl
you may" she answered.; 81 should believ
= In you whatever might happen to you
= whatever you We're accused Of" f
:, CHATS good hearing" put in Bob, bu
: Stephen Howard said nothing, only locke
: at his wife with such q world of love an,
: trust in his brave eyes hat instinctivel.
= Julius guilty thoughts sped back TO tina
!. little cloud and her own dropped befor
:. the glory OF his In a kind OF shame, Q
= which, nevertheless, she was q little PROUD
: 1t was Mrs. Bob who broke the silence
81 believe that poor soul will get off, bu
do you know the hardest part of 1t all t
= me is that 1t is her own sisters who ar
y giving the strongest evidence against hcl
= all the evidence there is, in fact. l neve
= can understand that. never had a 81!
. ter, 80 that / don't know how sisters fet
~ go and help to tie the rope round her nee
whatever she had DONE"
"Wcll, l have a sister," Julia exclaimed
still a little moved by tina look Of Stepl
70 ems. land I know that if l had actual
. seen her murder somebody. I would sti
do my best to get her off. I should b
y sorry, OF course, hurt, grlsved-butI woul
no. help to han. my own sister. No,
don't think it ought to be expected of an,
OF one. Idon't indeed"
" Then you would be wrong" said Be
u Markham, drlly.
~ 81 shouldn't care" persisted Juli'
10 promptly.
e. "But the law would very soon make &c
care-you would find yourself In the doc
IL too ns an accessory after the ACT" vi