The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1897-08-07
M0NA'S CHOICE.
BY Mrs,

II wonder IL hs composed it himself"
observed Mona, quietly.
My child, coai9 ynu r n up oar mind
to marry this ycun. IN. Lave noticed
his admiration of You. liz writes like an
honest gentleman. Let me nave the COM
fort of knowing that you nave escaped the
ills OF poverty"
"Oh g%rannie, it is a tremendous price to
pay for safetyl Mr.. Waring may be n bet
ter man than / deserve; but l do not care
Tor him. He seems to me an awkward big
boy-dull and unformed."
VI leave 1t to yourself. am such a fail
ure, l dare not urge my advice on any one.
l was too urgent with your mother. Dc as
yon will, Mona"
"Oh! what ought | to do?" exclaimed
Mona. ut is awful to think of spending
ones Whole life with a man to whom you
are indifferent; it is cruel to refuse the only
efficient help for you, dear ~grannie."
Think of yourself-yourself only; a. for
NE, l." her voice grew feeble, her words
inarticulate, her head fell back, and to
Mona's dismay she became insensible.
All other considerations were forgotten
In the efforts to recover her. The faithful
Wehner went swiftly for the doctor, who
happened to Lave returned from his morn
Ing rounds and came at once.
tits a bad business these repeated at
tacks," he said to Mona, after he had seen
his patient. 'IIer nerves are all wrong.
Her mind must be kept at ense somehow.
Get her out of this.'
I'VE expect Sir Robert Everard the day
after tomorrow, and then we shall decide
what to do" faltcred Mona.
"The sooner the better. my dear young
lady" returned the doctor, who knew Mrs.
Newburgh well. She will go off in n
of these attacks, or her mind will become
seriously impaired. A woman of her age
can hardly stand the shock of such a re-
verse. Keep her very quiet; she seems
drowsy-the best thing for her is a good
sleep; do not leave her; she must be
watched. will look in this evening about
seven"
Mona's thoughts were sorely troubled as
she kept watch ut her grandmother's bed
side. She knew that her marriage with
Warrington even the prospect of it, would
be the best restorative for her only friend,
the woman who had been a mother to her.
who had saved and worked to amass the
means of independent existence for her,
who had loved her after her own hard but
tenacious fashion. She recalled, with a
swelling heart, her grandmotheT's watch
full economy, her self-denial in all things
necessary to herself. She did not doubt
than n niggardliness toward her grand
child was for her future good. How wise
and ludicious she had been in her guidance
of their lives. Ii she had shown too strong
a tendency to marry her granddaughter as
soon as possible to the highest bidder, she
only acted according to her lights-to the
creed of her world and her period. Was
1t well for Mona to refuse the means Of
giving her a longer and brighter spell Of
llfel Dare she incur the responsibility Of
her possible death2 What would she gain
what had she to hope for, in an unmar-
ried life, that she should reject this kind
natured man who only asked leave to de-
vote his fortune to her servlces? With the
tendency of youth to believe in the perpc-
tuity of the present, she thought that love
with her was over forever. She could
never believe anyone again. She was not
angry with Lisle, so much as disenchant-
ed; her anger was more against herself, for
her weakness and credulity.
A soft tap at the door attracted her at
%tention; she rose and cautiously opened it.
MADAME Debrisay is below, wanting to
speak with you, ma'am," said the woman
who had replaced both cool and house
maid.
81 should like to see her; could you stay
for a little with Mrs. N%ewburgh while l go
downstairs"
"Yes'm. l think Mr.. Wehner is Just
come In. will ask him to answer the
door, and come back directly"
Having given n few directions, Mona ran
downstairs lightly, well pleased to nave a
confidential talk with her visitor.
Nine. Debrisay had been her greatest
friend when she was at school in Paris.
There she had been the junior music mis-
tress. and Mona had been immensely at
tracted by the kindness and good-humor
of the handwriting teacher.
When Mona left, Nine. Debrisay moved
to London, and with Mrs. Newburgh's
help contrived to make a good connection
as a music and singing mistress. She gave
Mona lessons, or rather assisted her in
practicing for an expensive master, and
continued her warmest admirer and de-
voted friend. Both Nine. Debrisay and
her late husband the captain, were British
subjects, being natives of the Emerald
Isle, but she deemed it wise to pose as a
foreigner, with a view to obtaining n bet
ter position in her profession; and posses
ing dramatic instincts, she played her part
artistically. speaking English with a for
eign accent, and even brokenly Mt times, a
proceeding she justified by asserting that
the late Debrisay and herself were really
French, being descended from the Hugue-
nots, who had fled from the prosecutions
OF Louis the Fourteenth.
The small ~fireless dining-room looked 80
dismal and dark that chill November af-
t%ernoon, that Mona called Wehner to light
the gas, thatshe might see her friends face.
"Oh! me dear child" (sounded like choild)
-her native accent came out when she
was much moved, 81 have only just come
back from the seaside, and heard some
bad news, so ! ran round to getatthe truth
from yourself"
you cannot have heard anything worse
than the truth, Deb" returned Mona.
Poor grannie has lost everything. l
scarcely know what is to become of u.s."
"Dicn des Dteur, you don't say SO.
Don't tell me you have to face the black
death! for that'o what poverty is. There
is 20 misfortune like it, and I knew. Oh,
my dear-my jewel, can you see no way
out of it!"
mo; no way I should care to try"
"Ha! there is a blink OF hope somewhere
then2 How is your dear good grandmoth-
er, How will she ever bear going downi'''
"She is very unwell and weak; am quite
frightened about her"
"And no wonder"
Nine. Debrisay united her veil, and sal
down with a Respondent air. She was q
plump woman, under middle height, with
dark eyes, iron-gray hair, a decidedly
turned-up nose, a wide, smiling mouth,
which was rarely quite closed over hel
beautifully white teeth.
Tell me all about everything"
And Mona explained rs far as her i'm.
perfect knowledge permitted.
"Those promoters and scamps who get
up these companies to rob and plumber the
world ought to be hung! know the cruel
way they work. You pay a few pounds OF
each share, and all goes swimmingly for O
bit, and then YOU take more, and chuck.
over the good income they bring in, nevel
doubling that their value will double by
by; then ONE the crash, and you fine
all you possess clawed up by those villain:
and Pm afraid they will make a clear
sweep of poor dear Mrs. Newburgh's
money, that she was SO fond of. Not but
that she wnc paporn,,o md lind TODD, odd