The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1897-12-18


Urged her remaining.
you are rapidly becoming a prime fav-
rite with my uncle, and you must rivet
,our chains before we venture to breach
he question of your marriage. Let me
write to your mother begging an extension
VI leave"
This advice prevailed, Mary adding to
Ter consent with II soft sigh
81 am just too happy here"
The fine weather which had prevailed
sor some weeks n broke up, and Octo.
Der presented itself in gloomy guise, with
Wild winds and driving rain, which per-
nitted but little outdoor exercise to the
girls.
Uncle Sandy himself was a little COM
planning and cranky; but, on the whole,
music and reading, the state of the stocks,
md bookkeeping, with Kenneth'S help,
Kept them tolerably amused during this
period of Imprisonment.
Lisle made nosien. Mona was not sorry.
His presence, without having n distinctly
disturbing effect, awoke painful memories,
nnd obliged her constantly to think before
she spoke. Atlcngth afairly bright morn
Ing broke upon the deluged country, and
NtUuu ulueTG)Oh u OllNC lutO AtthIOuu "
execute divers commissions
Uncle Sandy Directing to be left alone,
Mona departed with only 1.-THE boy" in at
tendance.
Having finished her business, she turned
the horses head homeward, and had
alighted to walk up the steep road which
led from the loch to Craigdarroch, when q
sportsman, with dog and gun suddenly
emerged from II small wood which filled n
sheltered hollow, and approached her.
She recognized Lisle, and paused to speak
to him.
at is more than q fortnight since | saw
your he exclaimed, in IN aggrieved tone,
while his keen light eyes sparkled with the
Joy Of seeing her, and his hard mouth re-
Taxed into n pleasant smile.
~ suppose 1t is" returned Mona, smil-
ing.
SIT is q delightful day for walking. Will
you not tell your servant to take the trap
home, and let me have the pleasure of es-
eorting you by the shortway to the house."
Mona thought for u moment, and then
said-'I will"
Directing the boy to 60 on, she walked
on beside Lisle. and they turned of almost
Immediately by a path to the left, that led
by a sleeper and more direct line to the
house.
Lisle opened the conversation by saying
"You are not bound here for the term of
your natural life, are your" looking eager
ly into her eyes. THAT unspeakable bore,
Miss Morton, mentioned some absurd re-
port of your uncle intending to marry you
to his wild Highlander of q nephew. 1t
cannot be true!'
"Whys" asked Mona, demurely.
"Why? A creature like that"
"He is very good-looking, and most ami.
able in disposition"
But Ole knows nov IN amiable dispo-
sltion may fare a tyour hands" he returned
somewhat bitterly. Tell me, for Gods
sake, is it possible you can contemplate
such a sacrifice? Do you really think OF
linking yourself with n mere respectable
Earmers"
pray remember, if you please, that
Kenneth Macallster is my near kinsman;
he cannot be socially beneath me-"
II dare say you think INC an ilhbred
brute. but you know how profoundly in,
terestcd l have always been in you, and
once in a crisis in your fate, you permitted
me to advise YOU"
- nv IA yoN - IVA AhAS
stomp said Mona, with an arch smile.
81 think l never made such u mistake In
my lifei / am always burning to implore
your forgiveness for my idiotic suggestion
"What is there to forgiven" she returned
gently. son the contrary, l ought to b,
grateful to you for breaking through tho
principle Of non-interycntion, which, o
course, would have prevented n man OF the
world doing anything SO q~uixotic as to Of
Ter n way of escape to n damsel In distress"
May tell you what my W state OF
mind was at that unhappy junctures"
mo, mol! There is no use in looking
backl Let us thank Heaven for the pres
| ,nt,"
II do not" said Lisle, gloomily. "But
10 not be enigmatic. You are not going
to marry this-this cousin of yours?"
"No. Sir st. Johnv' returned Mona, as
suming an air of sadness. 81 cannot, see
Ing that he has rejected me-"
"What!' cried Lisle; rejected your"
Yes. l hope you sympathize with me
In the shock l have receiveaf But Kenneth
prefers not to marry me-"
"Then old Craig wanted to arrange a
marriage3"
HE did; but his purpose has been frus.
tratedI" returned Mona, with tragic EN-.
phasis.
Lisle laughed.
81 understand. / think" he said. 'Im.
agine any man refusing Uoul did moi
think you had so much quiet sarcasm"
81 am unawar OF it," returned Mona.
"And you will not listen to my cxplana-
tion!"
II do not SEQ what you have to explain;
and, were any explanation necessary, there
is no time: we are close to the house, and
] suppose you will come In and sec Uncle
Sandysn
Most certainly. But, Miss Craig,
must Insist mean, l must implore yor
to hear tho explanation I wish to make"
II really want none!-perhaps l under
stand more than you think"
II fear you may understand in a wrong
wnv.n
well, here we are at the house, ant
here comes Uncle Sandy and Mary. If
in a paroxysm OF hospitality, my uncle
asks you to supper, do not stay. l know
the mcnu, and you would not like it."
Then h4,tening to meet them, she ex
claimed
II have brought you each a letter, bu'
HOANAS 40 ActAS v AS AAoal ut - Z
risay, I fear something must be the nat
ter with her"
CHAPTER xxII.-THE R HAS FLOWN.
Lisle had never before been SO piquet
and frustrated as he was by Mona's mod,
Of receiving his advances.
Had she shown GOODNESS or resentment
he could have understood his position. Bu
her sweet friendliness was utterly battling
His Impotence, the eageri fire that quick
ened his pulses. urged him perpetnally t
seek her; while pride and his habitual re
luctnnce to commit himself, held him back
It was a running fight between thes
two forces, through the couple of week
which succeeded Mona's visit to Strath
airlie; but the strongest finally prevailed
aud telling himself he really ought to lie
that oldSbnor at Craigdarroch know TIM
Che right OF fishing question was settled
he started In wonderfully good spirits 70
his mornings sport, intending to end tn
RI IA -nr n,-aAf.