The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1897-09-18
whom was she ca!lsd'h

1hho AS"A NY Puu a. sAAShSs lSlyp
emphat.cally.
"They dinna always hang together, re-
turned their new acquaintance.
"She was very. very good to me-" said
Mona.
ANY way, you've had a wisc-like up
bringing. You are net ashamed of you
uncle Sandy, though he is a plain bodiei"
Ashamed! No, indeed"
"Now"-he called it "noo"-"tcll me
how We come to be here with this Teddy.
thought the Honorable Mrs. Newburgh'-
with somewhat sarcastic stress on ''the
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS to leave you q fortin'."
ALAS! my dear sir, my dear young
friends story has been n real tragedy" be.
gan Nine. Debrisay. who proceeded, with
suitable modulations of voice, to "recitc'
the tale of Mrs. NewburRh's losses, and
Mona's consequent p~overty-of the neces-
sity for her laboring in order to live. and
being reduced TO her present position.
Reduced, yc en- it," he sud. Its no
reducing for an honest lassic to earn her
own bread, which Is mnir honorable than
the honors of the peeragel So you live
here, my dearie! All, there's n good drap
of Craig bluid In yer veins, or you would
not have set up for yourself, like q wise
lassie. II ye can keep Il roof like this over
your head, you Gamma be doing so bad"
perhaps" said Nine. Debrisay, insinu.
atingly, perhaps your uncle would stay
and share our modest midday repast. We
have but n little cold ronst beef, n salad,
and 'omelcttc aur fines hcrbcs,' but atlcast
1t will avert the pangs of hunger"
"Eoast beef, did you say?' asked Mr..
Craig, anxiously. II Gamma digest boiledi
But you're varra good, and l shall be happy
to join you. l am varra frail. l worked
nara a my youth under n fine man, MIR.
Kenneth Maceachern, of Macenchern s.
Leslie's, the great jute manufacturers. He
retired, but he just missed the occupation,
and went of like n puff OF wind. l kept it
on, and saved n bit. and my old master re-
membercd me in his will, so, US l found
my health failing, and new men coming
into the firm, l thought l would rest and
try to recover. I took a cottage an a bit
farm ava in the west, but l got ~rheumatics,
and grew worse, so l cam up totry Il great
London doctor, and was recommended to
yon place in Camden Town. The son of
one of our clerks lodges there; but he is out
a. day, and l suspect a the night, too. l
am just wearyin' OFT; but l am not half
cured yet. wonder o If this place is
much further from Harley street,"
by no means, my dear sir!" cried Nine.
Debrisay. ut is n shorter and u p%leasunter
drive. presume you are consulting the
famous Doctor S%wnithem?"
THAT'S the man. He Is awful c~ostly.'
"What matter! so long as you can regain
your precious health. think you would
find this nelghborhood more salubrlous.
and In avnry NAV nrafarah1o
Here Nine. Debrisay slipped quietly from
the rooni-to make some addition TO din
ner. Mona did not doubt.
Tell me" said Uncle SanLy-the hoarse
whisper in which he usually spoke intensi-
fled-"tell me, what does she make you
pay her for living here;",
she does not charge ne anything. 1
pay my share Of our food and flre-that is
ALL"
"Ahl and she is no of your bloodS"
"No; | came to know her seven or eight
years ago, as I told you"
at is just wonderfull" he calculated,
and sat silent for some time, with n curl
ous, ~half-satisied, half-mocking smile in
his face.
Then the prim figure of lane appeared,
n she proceeded to lay the cloth.
The dinner was very successful. Uncle
Sandy was exceeding communicative as to
what he might and might not eat. Atflrst
he said he would take nothing but cold
water to drink; then he fancied there was
a slight taste-he could not exactly define
what-in the water, and when he per-
ceived this, he had always been warned to
qualify the water with a drop of spirits.
He supposed they hadn't any whisky, No;
we'll he would do with n trihe of brandy,
THE next time I come to see ye," he said,
with IN mir OF great generosity, I'll bring
you a bottle Of real good stuff-it's far
wholesomer thar brandy" He seemed to
enjoy his repast, and afterward made
many inquiries into Nine. Debrisay's his
tory. He was also profoundly Interested
In the prices current Of oil articles Of con-
sumption in London. Then, noticing the
piano, he begged his niece to sing him a
song. She compiled. Before she was halt
through it he stopped her by observing that
he had an uncommo ear for music, but
that it must be Scotch music. So Mona
changed her une to oh vert thou In the
cauld blast" which gave him great de-
light. He nodded his head and tapped the
carpet with his stick In time to the music,
and declared with feeble energy, that there
were no songs like Scotch songs-no in
tclligence comparable to that of Scotsncn
mo church system like that of Scotland.
Then he looked at his watch. and said he
was sorry, but he must leave them; that it
was the only cheerful afternoon he had
spent since he came to London, and ex-
pressed his resolution to look for lodgings
in their neighborhood.
Pray, let me get you a cab" said Mona.
"You will be so very tired walking all tho
way to the station n second time"
"Hoot, tootl am stronger since lately,
and money is not SO plentiful as to let me
hire cabs everywhere Ego. Nav, nav! pll
just walk to the station. 1 have my ticket
to Cover street, and l will get on fine from
that for tippence. Goodbye, my lassie.
I'LL no. forget how ye helpit your uncle,
Goodbye to you, mem. May be you'll help
me to find n respectable lodging. l can't
come again till the day after tomorrow,
for l have to see the doctor; but il it is any
way fine, i'll not fail you"
Mona went out to open the garden gate
for him, and watched him hobbling down
the road for q moment or two, and then
returned to Nine. Debrisay.
What an extraordinary encounterl'
cried Mona, throwing herself into n corner
Of the sofa, and laughing unrestrainedly.
II imagine Uncle Sandy is n character,
and l really am sorry for his Ill health and
loneliness; but I am afraid he will be rather
a bore il he settles near US. He seems ia
have fascinated you, Dear Deb"
Poor creature. Ibid feel for him, and
I think he is naturally a very superior man.
But, Mona, me child, it's for your sake ]
spoke. Now Providence has thrown him
in your way, l don't want you to lose your
hold on him. Keep him by you, dear, und
he will leave you all his money. No one
can provide much for old age by teaching,
and you must think of the future, ma belle"
You wicked, grasping Debv" she ex.
claimed. "You want to turn me into a
legacy hunter! I assure you l will be kind
and attentive to my poor fathers brother,
whether he has a cottage or q castle. He
will probably not stay here long, and we
may as we'll make him happy. He must
have had a dull life. 1t must be very hard
to feel life slipping away before you have
known enjoyment"
"Ah, my dear; don't you be downcast-
times will mend.'
A few more days brought them to Au-
gust. The last lesson had been given, and
both Mona and Nine. Debrisay were look
fo~ forr,,ouJ - - ,n.k ,-.l1 1850. -