The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1897-08-14
MONA'S CHOICE.
BY MRS. ALEXANDER.

BY MRS. ALEXANDER.
Mr.. Oakley obeyed the summons. Mrs.
Newburgh, revived by her new hopes, was
up and dressed when Sir Robert and the
solicitor arrived. She had, with the help
Of Wehner's arm, descended to the draw
ing room; but she looked like q ghost of
her former self.
Then ensued a long, melancholy discus
sion, at which Mrs. Newburgh insisted her
granddaughter should be present, and
from which the latter gathered that it was
of no use endeavoring to save anything
cut of the ~wreck-tnat whatever the I'M
fortunate shareholders possessed must
pass into the clutches of company's credi.
tors; u call had already been made, and
would be followed by others, until all was
swallowed up. 1t was therefore deemed
more prudent for Mrs. Newburgh to reside
in the house she had bought, thar to move
to another for which she would have to
pay rent. Hcv income had of course been
narrowed to a miserable eighty or ninety
pounds a year, and ever on that she could
not long count.
"You see, Mona, the condition to which
we are reduced said Mrs. Newburgh,
when their friendly counselors, with grave
faces and kindly expressed sympathy, had
withdrawn. II purposely asked YOU to be
resent at this conference, that you might
understand the true state Of the case. l
leave you to draw yeur own conclusions.
No. dear, do not reopen the discussion. I
trust to your own common sense and right
feeling. l am quite exhausted. Ring for
Wehner to help me to my room. can see
M o,&- -1-~ - -
Mona"
Thus cut off from remonstrance. Mona
felt she was left to her fate, and Mr.. War
ing; grannie was resolved to leave the de-
cision-the responsibility-to her.
Mrs. Newburgh had not long returned
to her own room, and had just taken some
refreshment, when Mr.. Warnings card was
brought. A strong feeling of humiliation
and disgust rose in Mona's heart; the calm
Indifference of which she boosted the pre-
vious day failed her at the moment of trial.
ID not keep the poor young man wait
ing" said Mrs. Newburgh.
SIT is frightful, having to go deliberately
to listen to an offer of marriage.' cried
Mona, starting up and walking to the VIM
dow instead of the door.
Il thought you would not mind"
81 thought so; but l will go, dear gran
ME-"
She came back quickly, kissed the old
woman's cheek, and disappeared.
Mr.. Waring stood on the hearth-rug. He
was not so tall as Lisle; his broad Shout
ders and rather short neck further dimin-
ished his height. He was built more for
strength than grace, and though not fat.
was, it must be admitted, tieshy. His hair
WpQ dark aJn1pSt hlnry phy,N10yt or}
wavy, and his broad, good-humored face
was redeemed from absolute ~plainness by
a pair of fine, soft, dark brown eyes. He
was in general rudy and fresh-looking,
but the excitement, indeed it may be snid
the terror of the moment, had blanched
his cheeks, till he met Monn's eyes, when
he blushed furiously.
She hesitated after she had crossed the
threshold, and closed che door, standing
tall, stately, infinitely sad, in the simplest
m~orning-dress or black silk and cashmere
she possessed, a lace scarf pinned round
her throat with an old-fashioned brooch,
her bright hair turned loosely back sur
mounting her fair pale face like an aureole.
81 am so much, so very much obliged to
you for seeing me!' exclaimed Waring,
starting forward to take her hand, which
he shook nervously, and dropped immedi-
ately. Mona something, he did
not hear what, and sat down beside the fire.
Waring resumed his position on the
hearth-rug. An awful paused ensued.
Mona gazed at the glowing Goals, and
thought of Lisle's expressive voice and
perfect, easy self-possession. Waring cud-
geled his brain for some suitable phrase to
open the dreaded yet longed for converse
ton. The result was a restless change of
attitude, and the words, Awful nasty
weather" His voice was strong and harsh.
81 hope you took no cold on your journey
to town"
mot a cold; 1 had a slight chill" re-
turned Mona, who had some sense of hum
or.
You are amused, I dare say" he cried,
his power of speech unlocked by the magic
of her smiling eyes; you must be amused,
to hear ME laundering like an idiot about
the weather, when my heart and mind are
filed With hope and fear. Tell me, Miss
Joscelyn, did Mrs. Newburgh show you
my letter."
.She did"