The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1897-08-21

spirfting you up, my dear fellow. Nothing
venture, nothing have-so you won a prize
any man might be proud Of"
Haven't l though! went to the right
man for advice. l say, Lisle, won't you be
my best mani"
~ am afraid I'll be halfway to India
when the happy event comes off"
'Oh! we are going ahead at n great rate.
We-or l should say Hope to fix 1t for
Tuesday fortnight"
"Sharp work, chs"
Here Mona returned.
81 do not think my grandmother will
come down just yet, Captain Lisle."
Sorry l shall not have the pleasure OF
seeing her. | shall be going to India in
about six weeks, and ] have to go to Paris
to see my sister, etc, etc" The talk flow.
ed on in ordinary channels for a few min
utes, and then Lisle rose to take leave.
"Should 1 not see you again as Miss Josce.
lyn," he said, as he pressed her hand,
''you will remember that you nave my
warmest good wishes for your happiness.
l shall pay my respects to Mrs. Newburgh
on my return to London; so goodbye"
"And / wish you all possible success; SO
goodbye" she said slowly.
Waring, in his gratitude, went with him
downstairs, and hid him an ~effnsive fare.
well at the hall door, returning in high
glee to Mona, who was putting some more
coal on the fire.
"Oh, let me do that. Why do you trou-
blef Isn't the room hot enough?"
Ceramic will be down soon, and she
never finds it warm"
Not just yet, l hope. Somehow or 9TH
er never seem to get n moment alone
with you, Mona. / was glad to see the
back of Lisle, though he is II capital fell
low. don't know that ] like my fellow
better; but | was dying to tell you how
happy you made me inst now when came
in; you really looked Us if you were glad to
see me. If thought you were going to
be fond of me. even half rs fond of me as
/ am OF you, why, | should be almost off
my head with JOY"
You are too good to me" she returned,
sadly, for his words and tone touched her.
II know" he went on, that you do not
care much for me now, but | begin to hope
you will. Give me your hand: how long
and slender it is. You could not dc much
with it Mona. Why do you draw it away
Halloo! your ring has slipped Off! don't
like that. Let me put it on again. Now,
give me Il kiss for luck; you have never
given me but nj kiss, and l have dreamed
of it ever since-just one more, Mona!'
And Mona-shocked at her own reluct-
ance, ashamed of her own GOODNESS toward
the man who had given her his whole heart
compelled herself to turn her pale, fair
face to him.
Clasping her hand in both his own, War
ing bent down and pressed his lips linger-
ingly on hers. He scarcely dared to en-
brace her. His frame trembled. his eyes
were moist.
Say Leslie, l will try to love you,'" he
whispered.
~ will try will indeed, Leslie" she
repeated. 81 have been so uneasy md UNI
happy about poor grannie: and l never
Thought of marrying so soon; and altogeth-
err l have been shaken and ~nervous-so you
must forgive me If | seem stupidN'
Stupid! You stupid What an ideai"
Meanwhile Lisle walked down the street
in anything but pleasant elf-commune.
~ certainly troubled myself unnecessar-
lily about my charming young friend. She
has thrown me over easily enough; she
must think me u soft idiot to have troubled
myself advising or directing her. Were l
to remain in town, 1 might teach Mrs
Leslie Warning that / was no foolish strip
ling, to be tossed aside with Indifference
and impunity when fate offered her fairer
fortune! She knows that it cost me a bad
quarter of an hour to give her up for her
own good. Who can calculate on the
strange variations of feminine %nature?"
So argued Lisle, with the degree of logic
usualin men whose vanity has been wound
ed. He was quite willing that Mona
should be taken out of his way, but he
broken-hearted at the loss of his f%ascinat-
ing self. Yet, although horribly irritated,
he probably never longed more passionate
ly to be in Warnings place-always provid-
ed the engagement, marriage, what you
will, was not to be permanent.
The period of engagement was by no
means rs blissful as Warning anticipated.
Mona, though pleasant and complaisant,
was cold-colder than she knew-and
Warning was sometimes tempted to ask
her If the sacrifice to which she had con.
sented was too cruel. Then some strain of
compassion would steal over her heart,
and thrill her voice or soften her eyes, and
the poor boy-for he was but n boy, in
| spite of his ~years-would be lifted to the
seventh heaven Of joyous anticipation. He
had the most unbounded faith in Mona,
and he had her assurance that she did not
love anyone. His devotion, then, must
win her. How formidable the rivalry of
that first unfulflled dream OF love was lie
could not know. Would he learn it here
aftcrf