The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1897-09-11
M0NA'S CHOICE.
BY Mrs. ALEXANDER.

"But you must acknowledge l have kept
out of sight and not troubled you"
Yes, 1t is qt-te true. NowI have met
you, am amazed to find yon still exist.
How have you managed it. Monat"
why trouble about details? l exist,
| and wan Nottingham is cnoug.... Row,
tell me sor.e news. How is your dear
motheri She was always so good"
"She is exceedingly iourishing and busy,
for Evelyn is going to be marriei-very
good mltch-to Lord Finistoun. He is a
pleasant, casy-going fellow-rather an ass,
but that will suit Evy. She hasn't much
brains herself"
she has sense enough not to think she
has all the brains of the family, as you do,
Berthe"
Yes, / do, and | am nc great things af-
ter all. Your troubles have not taken the
sharp edge off your tongue, Miss Joscelyn,'
lie said, laughing.
There is no Miss Joscelyn now. Ihave
resumed my poor fathers name. 1t is
more suited to my fortunes and fancy"
"By Jope! And what is it? Craigs UNI
1t was Il queer notion of Mrs. Newburgh's
to suppress it. l suppose You havcn'theard
or seen anything of Waring?"
mo; of course not"
Nor anyone else eitherl Can't think
what's become of him. Some one did say
he was training Il colt for the Derby. l
dare say he is glad enough now tlnt you
have broke with him. Can't understand
why men marryl--must be an awful bore.''
81 have no doubt he is obliged to me-"
"And you are deucedly sorry you gave
him the chance, chr"
"Youwould not believe me If l denied it"
"NVell, no., I would not, though you are
q run sort of a girl, Mona. 1 always
liked you. You say what you think, and
you held your W with that grandmother
of yours, who was as big a tyrant rs / have
met You arc Il fool, too, in many ways
ready to cut your own throat for an idea;
but there's something taking about you.
l never thought st. John Lisle would lose
his head rs lie did on your account. had
q letter from him some TINS ago-asked
why he had not seen your marriage au-
nounced-asked it in a postscript-always
a bad siguof womanish weakness. Where
do you live, for Heavens sakei We must
be approaching the far west"
d not come III further, Bertie-you
will die of fatigue"
mo, l will not, but you will, if it's a few
miles further out; let me secure a cab, be-
fore we lsave the haunts of civilization be.
hind u.s."
81 think ten minutes more will bring us
to II destination; but to copy your OWL
amiable candor, l would rather you did not
come"
"Ah, but I will. 1 am determined, tc
see your lair"
well, l cannot prevent you. but I dc
not want you." r~cjoincd Mona.
In n few minutes they reached Nine
Debrisay's abode, and on opening the dool
that individual was discovered resting ii
al armchair, beside q table set for tea
Her bonnet lay on tho floor beside her, ant
her thick and u%ndcniably disordered blacl
hair was uncovered.
"This is BERTHE Everard," said Mona
quietly; "Evelyn's brother"
Very pleased to see him, Pm sure y sale
madame, rising bravely to face the intru
der, and not deigning to pick up her bon
net. "Your sister was one of my mos
charming pupils"
ooh, indeca" returned Everard. +"
should not have thought it."
And you find your sweet cousin looking
WE'LL have done my best to take care o
herr
MY cousinY" elevating his eyebrows
Can YOU tell me the exact degree, Mona
first, second, twenty-ffths"
"Ohl a cousin removed to the vanishing
point OF relationship. l have not the faint
est wish to claim you, BERTHE"
Really, Mona. my dear, that Is not tn,
retort courteous"
eff you knew Mr.. Everard better, dea
madame Debrisay, you would know tina
he despises courtesy in himself and Others.
"Ionly hate shams, +" said BERTHE, frankly
"Let me offer you n cup of tea" sait
Nine. Debrisay, rather %scandalized.
"Thank you; ] shall be glad of it. ate
our long, dusty walk. Really, it's not s.
bad, now we have got here, " looking rount
with visible examination. ut is q bette
room than mine in the Temple. Now, tel
me, how do you manage to rub aiong,'
MADAME Debrisay and l have enterct
into partnership; she takes the big pupils
and l take the little ones"
"By George! Does the %squalling an,
stunning pay for all this?" waving hi
teaspoon Complementary round.
ut does; but then you must remember
is all in the fourpence three farthings styl
of expense" said Nine. Debrisay.
Cad, what heaps of money we waste!
exclaimed Evcrard, putting down his cur
"What sums my father gets through
suppose you never go to parties or thing
of that kind, so living out here is no con
sequence. Why one might live for hal
nothing up here"
"There are nj rooms to let in this house
BERTHE"
"That is a pity. Good-morning, Mrs
Debrisay; goodbye. Mona"
Happy to see you again." said NM
Debrisay. you are really quite a charat
ter"
"What the deuce does she mean2" aske
Everard Of himself, as he took up his neul
ly rolled umbrella, and opened the dool
while Nine. Debrisay screamed after hi1
to turn right and go on to u large churc
where the city omnibuses passed everyte
minutes.
CHAPTER VlI.-AN