The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1897-11-06
MONA,S CHOICE.
BY MRS. ALEXANDER

y UIlUIUL.
BY Mrs. ALEXANDER
''The usual fate OF legacy hunters" re
turned Mona, smiling.
you are no legacy hunter. Nom. Ide
clare that c~untankerous uncle Of yours cal
have no more heart than a flint
81 do not believe be is quite hcartless,'
snid Mona, t%houghtfully; II believe he !.
fond OF me, and will soon recall me-"
when I hope you will have moro spiri,
than to r%espondl' cried madame, indig.
nnntly; 'he deserves to be left to hirelings
for the rest OF his days"
THAT would be n cruel punishment for
an outbreak OF tempcr--it was nothing
more. Come, dearest Deb, I am tired and
depressed; l will go to bed. Do you know
that 1t Is very delightful the idea Of break.
fasting tcte-d-tcte with you Tomorrow"
rs it, my darling? All, IL warns my
heart to hear you say so! II you belonged
to me now; il you were my own. W
child, oh, it would give me the strength Of.
a dozen women to work for you and fight
for you; not but I'd do it all the same, only
I'd have n right to you them
Until l married some selfish tyrant Of
a man, who would show his love by scpar.
ating me from you," returned Mona, tax
ing her hand in both hers with IN affec.
tiOnnte smile.
The next day was one of Nine. Debri
sny's busiest, and it was exceedingly wet
Mona sat indoors very %contcntcdly, busy
with book or needle, and Uncle Sandy
made no sign.
The following evening, Kenneth made
his appearance, with an exceedingly per.
turbed aspect.
We'll, Mr.. Macalister. what news" cried
! Nine. Debrisny, putting down the teapot
to shake hands with him.
"Good-evening, Kenneth. You do not
look too happy" said Mona.
"Happy!n lie repeated; 81 am just mtser'
able. l am thinking Uncle Sandy's gone
clean daft. He was up in the city at our
place, md saw Mr., Sinclair-that is the
principal partner. Came in all the rain in
u cab from Moorgate Street. He told Mr..
Sinclair that he was going to adopt me.
and requested l might be allowed to leave.
rs he could not go to his place in the High
lands without me. So was called up, and
old Sinclair made me a speech about my
good fortune, and ms excellent conduc,
while in the service Of the house II don't
believe he knew my name rightly half ar
hour before); and the two old fellows com
plimented eech other. i fancy Mr.. Sin,
clair thinks l am come in for ten thous.
and a year ut least. This morning all the
clerks We're congratulating me, and I felt
like q thief"
"Why should you. Kenneth! I assure
you should have been moro miserable
than you look. If I thought my uncle had
quarrclcd with you about me. ! have per
feet confidence in your loyalty"
And You may have that, Cousin Mona
but it's many a long day before1 can be Of
any use to you.'
Let me give you a cup of tea, Mr.. Ken.
meth" said madame, kindly. ut is my
oplnion,' she continued, as she poured il
out. that neither one or other of you will
ever see a sou of your uncle's money. He
will get all he can ont of you, and then
leave all he has to some church or institi.
ton. or something wicked OF that kind"
mo, / do not think that" returned
Mona, thoughtfully. II believe he Is quite
earnest in his intention now but lie might
get angry again and change his mind"
AFTER nll.' cried Nine. Debrisay, 81
don't believe he has much to leave behind
him. He talks big; but for all the cry
suspect there is not much wool"
There is no telling" said Kenneth.
"But i think he is rich. My poor mother
thought he was ferry rich"
I'VE shall never know till poor Uncle
Sandy has no further need of our services, y
said Mona, smiling. $50 there is no use
conjecturing."
THAT is true. Eth, but he is dreadfully
argered against Mona u returned Kenneth
addressing Nine. Debrisay. when l said
l would come over n see her, he broke
out against her, and forbade me to cross
your threshold. could not stand that.
just told him that was willing to obey
him in many ways, but that neither OF us
hal any right to quarrel with her. So af.
ter some words-a good many words-he
told me to do as / liked, but ! was never tt
name our name to him. He is awfu,
miserable-just f~retting the flesh of hi:
bones. We are to start for Craigdarroch
on Monday" =
Some more talk aud friendly conjecture
made time pass quickly till Kenneth rose
to bid them goodnight.
Mona could hardly believe that Uncls
Sandy would leave town without seeing
her, and she kept u good deal indoor until
the Monday fixed for his departure; bu,
the old man made no advance.
Nine Debfisay insisted on her being 9
guest for Mt least n month, to which the
fear of offending her kind hostess compelled
Mona to agree. Otherwise, the rest anG
conccnial companionship were very dc
lightful.
Uncle Sandy had been gone about
week. and the last days Of July were fasl
slipping away, when one warm sultry Ut
ternoon, as Mona was out shopping for
madame, whose soul expanded at sale
time, Il slnart footman overlook her, ac-
costing her with the words, "If You
please'm, Lady Finistoun would be glad
to speak to YOU"
Lady Finistount" repeated Mona, look
ing round. Where is shef"
"Her ladyship is in the carriage. close
by"
Following the man, Mona was soon shak-
Ing hands with her former ally.
Il was so afraid 1 should miss you, DEAR"
cried the young peeress, shaking hands
warmly with her. II was afraid you had
vanished from me altogether. BERTHE told
me about meeting you abroad with a won
derful old millionaire of an uncle. Come,
let me drive yon wherever you IRE going,
or, better still, let me take you to see baby.
Such a dear, darling baby. You will be
enchanted with him. Do come in. Open
the door, William"
"Oh, yes! l should be so delighted to
see your baby, tear E%velynl" said Mona.
The next minute she was seated beside
Lady Finistoun, and driving toward that
lady's house.
"Why did you not let me know you were
In town."
II have not been long here" returned
Mona, ''and l have been busy. Nor did l
think of looking you up. You see it is no
use attempting to be on the old footing.
We must drift
ooh. nonsense! You look MS well-in-
deed better than ever. You willnever lose
your style, Mona, and I dare say you will
marry very we'll, especially with this rich
unr1a hphind you ~