The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1897-01-23
Sydney" he whispered, II love your
She heard him i'll rapturons silence.
lice l,,I n,..,.ar,j so. l,..

At that crisis III their lives they were sayei
by an ~accident;a poor little common acct
dent that happens every day. The spring III.
tbs; bracelet that Sydney wore gave way a.
she held him to her; the bright trinket fell
OIL the grass at her feet. Tie man never no
ticcd II. The woman saw her pretty orna-
lnent as 1t dropped from her arm-saw. and
remembered Mis-. Liniey's gift.
Cold and pale-with horror of herself con-
fessed in the action, simple as it was-she
drew back from him in dead silence. .
He was astounded. In tones that trembled
with agitation he said to her: Are you illr'
Shameless and wicked she answered.
"Not ILL.," She pointed to the bracelet On
the grass. Take it up: | am not tit to touch
il. Look OF the inner side
He remembered the Inscription: ITO sgd
ney Westerlield with Catherine Linley's
love" His head sank on his breast: he un-
derstcod her at last. ~ on dcspise me" he
said; and | deserve it,
No; | deSpise myself. | have lived
among vile people, and | am vile like them"
She moved a few steps away with a heavy
sigh. Kitty she said to herself. Poor
little Kitly!'
He followed her. why are YOU thinking
of the child lie asked, lat such a time as
this.:"
She replied without returning OF looking
round; distrust OF helseit had inspired her
with terror OF Lin'ey !rGm the time when the
bracelet had dropped on tie grass.
Il can make but one a~tonelnent," she said.
we must sec each other ito more. | must
say sood-by to kitty--I mist 20. Help me
to submit to my hard lot: | must go"
lie set her Eo example of resignation; he
sliraEk from the prospect that She presented
to him. where are o TO go ii you leave
usy?' lie asked.
Away from England! The farther away
from = on the better for both of us. Help me
With your interest: have me sent TO the new
world in the west with other emigran,s. Give
he something to look forward to that isnot
shame and despair. Let me do something
that IS innocent ard good may find Il trace
of my poor lost brother. Oh, let me go! Let
me go!.'
Her resolution shamed him. He rose to
her level in spite OF himself.
II dare not tell You that you are wrong"
he said. u only nsk you to wait n little till
we are caliaer before you speak of the future
again. He pointed to the summer house.
Go in, N poor girl. Rest and compose
yourself While l try TO think"
He Lett her ana paced up and down the
formal walks i'll the garden. Away from the
maddening fascination OF her presence his
mind grew clearer. He resisted the tempta-
ton to think of her tender!y; he set himself
to consider wiiat it would be well to do next.
Tie moonlight WAS sseu no more. Misty
and s%tarlcss. the dark sky spread its majestic
obscurity over the earth. l.inley looked
YEARLY toward the eastern heaven. The
darkness daulited him; he saw in it the shad-
ow of his w sense of guilt. The gray gliln-
mcring OF the dawn, the songs of birds as the
pure light softly climbed the SKY, reused and
relieved him. With the iirs. radiant rising
of the sun he returned TO the summer house,
"Do l disturb you:" lie asked, waiting at
the door.
NO" So.
"Wiil You come oat aid speak to me?'
She Appeared at the door. waiting to hear
what he had to say to her.
II must ask you to submit to a sacrifice of
our W feelings le began. "When l
kept away from you i'll the d~rawing-room
last n~ight-when my strange conduct made
you fear that you had offended mel was
trying to remember what | owed 10 my good
wife. l have been thinking OF her again.
We must spare her a discovery too terrible to
be endured While her attention is claimed by
the guests who are now in the house. In a
weeks time they will leave us. VIII you
consent to keep up appearanccs2 viii YOU
live with us as usual until we are left by our
s~elv.s?9"
1T shall be doue, Mr., l.inley. only ask
one favor of you. My worst enemy is my
W miserable. wicked heart. Oh, don'tyou
understand ME? l i'm ashamed to look ut
you'll"
He had only toexamine Ills own heart and
to know what slo meant. Say 10 more,'
he answered, sadly. 1--WE will keep as much
away from each other as we can"
She shuddered at that open recognition of
the guilty love which united them in spite of
their horror OF 1t, and took refuge from him
i'll the summer house. Not a word more pass
ed between them until the unbarring of doors
WAS heard III the stiffness of tile moru;ng and
the smoke began to rise from the kitchen
chimney. Then he returned aud spoke to her.
You ca.i get back Ia the house, lie said.
go up by the front stairs, and you will not
meet tbs servants at this early hour. If they
do see you, YOU have your cloak on; they
will think you have been in the garden ear
licr than usual. As YOU pass the upper door
draw back the bolts quietly, and | can let
myself ill.,"
Ste bent her head III silence. He looked
after iiel ;s She fastened away from him
over the lawn; conscious Of admir.ng her,
conscious of more than lie dare realize to
himself. When she disappeared he turled
back 10 wait w!lere she mad been waiting.
Witt: his SENSE Of the duty he owed 10 his wife
pet .tehtiS present to his mind, the lne,hury
OF that fatal kiss still lett It's vivid impress
SION on him. What a %sce.ndrel | am he
said TO himself rs lie stood alone in the sum
mer-honse, looking at the chuir which she
lad just left.
g ." Y.
4 clever old lady. possessed of the ines:im.-
abi"a advantages of worldly experience. must
submit nevertheless to the laws of nature.
Time and sleep togethel-powerful agents in
i,it sfhitIi hours of tho moining-had got the
better OF Mrs. Presty's resolution to keep
awake. Free from discovery. Sydney as
cended the stairs. Free from discovery, sgd
hey entered her wv room.
l!a!f All hour later Linley opened tie door
OF his drawins-room. His wife was still
sleeping. Ills mother-in-law awoke two