The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1897-09-18
M0NA'S CHOICE.
BY Mrs.

~ - tstASA AehAAS - 10 W III
on the whole, satisfactory, though-"The
way money slips through your fingers Is
most amazing" she observed; though we
have done pretty we'll, we couldn't afford
a trip nnywherc-not prudently; and you
cannot put By anything. At al events,
you have not reduced your own bit OF
money much, that's a comfort; keep tight
hold of it, dear"
Having heard her friends and
assisted TO educe the sea of small account
books. scrubbed scraps OF paper, bills. and
receipts to something like order, Mona re-
lated her adventure, and madame did not
scold.
well, it was funny! May be the old
gentleman is n millionaire in disguise; they
are generally queer. May be your six
pence will prove the sprat that caught q
whale"
"You have too much Imagination, Deb"
said Mona, laughing. There was notl-
ing of the millionaire about my old Il
He was too humble for Il moneyed man.
If they IRE queer, they are generally con-
scquential. 1 fancy he will make his way
here. He is very feeble, however, and ]
imagine 'cawbs'-cs he calls them-are too
costly for his taste"
well, l shall be curious to see what will
come of ii! 1t is my belief that your meet
ing didn't happen for nothing" II Nine.
Debrisay shook her head solemnly. II
believe you are a lucky girl, Mona"
Only lucky in having you to befriend
me! Your cup is very crooked, dear-go
and put on your bonnet! ] am not n bit
tired. Let us indulge in Il hanson to Ken
sington Gardens, and stroll about till it IS
time for n late tea,n
The Saturday following Mona's rescue
OF the oil: S%cotchman, she was surprised
and delighted by the receipt OF a letter
from Evelyn Everard, now Lady Finistoun.
After roluminous apologies for her sill
ence, she expressed her warm sympathy
with her dearest cousin"
"They were NIL so angry with yon. that,
without giving myself the trouble to think
Ony usual way, you know. | took for
granted that you were adreadful criminal;
still was as fond of you as ever-but
mother would not hear OF my writing.
Then l was so bewildered about Fin1stoun.
Hec and went, and somep people thought
he was going to marry Lady Geolgina
Fitz-Maurice; but / did not. AT last it was
busy, and then l was travelling SO much,
and so selishly happy, 1 never gave a
thought to any one, which Is disgraceful,
know. Now, dear, that am married to
the incest, kindest, pleasantest of men. |
feel you were quite right to refuse Mr..
much! 1t must be quite awfulto be united
to anyone you cannot love with all your
heart. or course if Mrs. Newbnrsh had
lived. it would have beendiiferent. Ihave
bers you last year, md admires you very
much. He says you are a plucky girl, but
does aot think you were wise to throw over
Leslie Warning. The best of men, dear
Mona, have very little sentiment about
otter peoples marriages. Let us hope
they IN about their own. do trust you
are not very unhappy.
1--WE are getting tired OF moving about,
and intend returning in August to Scot
land. Finistoun has q deer forest in the
almost oil the autumn. If l u at all
manage it, | will come and see you as 1
pass through London; and you must come
and stay with me. l am sure you will like
Finistoun; he Is not exactly handsome, but
disttnguc, and really very clever. My
4 sound Conservative. The dear mother is
1lourishing. and looks forward to present.
ing Geraldine next season. 1t Is lonely,
not having n daughter out Goodbye,
lect, and grant l had u good excuse.
Ever your attached
EVELYN F~INIsToUN."
81 am not so sure about that, !" said Mona,
smiling, as she put the letter which she
had read aloud, back into its envelope.
But | am most grateful to her for writing
at NIL. She is really a nice, dear thing"
S she 81 replied Nine. Debrisay.
"Why, Mona, there's a little man trying
to open the gate-an old man, with u stick
md an umbrella. 1t must be your mill
ionaire."
CHAPTER Ix.-"oH, MY PROPHETIC SOUL, Ny
UNCLE!'
In n few minutes the severe Jane en-
tered, and told them there was "a-gen-
tleman'-shc hesitated before pronounc-
ing the term-"wanting to see Miss Craig.n
"Show him in at once, Jane,' said Nine.
Debrisay, graciously, and the hero Of
Monn's adventure came in slowly, having
left his hat in the hall.
You'll excuse me" he said, falling on
to a chair, rather than taking a seat, but
/ am varra frail. It's n long way from the
station here. l told you, misscc, l would
not forget ye, and / h haven't"
Very pleased to receive you, sir" said
Nine. Debrisay, bluntly.
Bat you should not hnve taken the
trouble" added Mona, compassionately.
81 wanted to come" he said, wiping his
brow with q red cotton p~ocket-handker-
chief. "First, l wanted to pay 70 back
your sillcr'-he extracted a small bag
purse from his trousers pocket, and tool
out sixpence; "and there it u.s." laying 1t
on the table. Next, l wanted to ask you
n few questions, if you don't mind"
Certainly not"
He drew forth her card, and looked att
slowly reading it. Miss NJ. j. Craig,"
''yNhat does the M. and the j. stand fori'
"Mona Joscelyn."
"They are not very Cbristian-like names.
Where did your father Liver"
"In Glasgow"
"Ahl And now, what was your mothcr's
nnme2"
,"Newburgh."
GAY, just so. Tour fathers name was
John Craig, and he was n clerk in the
Western Bank Of %Scotland3"
"Hi5 name was John; but I know little
else about him. l remembcr family that
he was kind and loving"
well, I knew him-knew him from his
babyhood. My name is Craig-Alexander
Craig, ard l am your fathers eldest broth
err
'Indeed!" cried Mona, touched, nay,
even pleased, tomeet anyone OF her fathers
blood. "Then you are my uncle-my own
%unclel'
II AM that" he returned. earnestly.
"But, my dear SIR" calculated Nine.
Debrisay-''forgive the caution of an old
woman Of the world-can you supply some
proof that you are this dear child's nearest
relativc."
you are right to be cautious, mem. l
have q letter from my niece's grandmoth-
er, written near fifteen years ago, offering
to take her and provide for her, II her
fathers people would undertake never to
come nigh her or interfere with her. l
was n bachelor, and n busy man. I never
approved of my brothers. marriage. He
took q wife from a class that despised his
own, so l just let the poor wean go. l
loved your father" he continued, looking
at Mona, almost like q son. You lave q
look Of him, and q bonnie reed held like
his. Your mother was a pretty, dark
haired ~lassie; but l lost him when he mar
rled. She was too fine Tor me, md I lived
away from them. Here's your grand
,n~SI.z.s. 1AA.- - 49,