The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1898-03-19

u walttoask 4 favor. 0 f9you,,s,55 he said;
and Tie pleading expression thai. he lnanae.
ed to throw Into his face WAS really credit.
able to him. u want to ask you II you will
be a little kinder to mo. I adniiroyu SO
much that | should bette happ!est man in
all the world II you would butsgiye me ever
SO little Of your friendship.r
She seemed to consider lis words-t0 pom
der them; and from her silence lie took hope.
u am quite unworthy, l know; but, If you
knew how all my life long / have desired the
friendship Of a good and noble woman, you
would be kinder to me-you would indeedV'
DO. you think, then, that l am good and
noblcp" she asked.
II AM sure of it; your face"
II wish,'' she interrupted, s.tl,at Sir Os-
wald were of your opinion. You have lived
in what people call the world all your life,
Captain Langton, l supposeW
Yes" he replied wondering what would
follow.
You have been in society all that time yet
| am the first good and noble woman you
have met! You are hardly complimentary
to the sex, after all"
The captain was slightly taken aback.
u did not say those exact words, Miss Oar
rcll."
But you implied them. Tell me- why Jos
wish for my friendship more than any other.
Miss Hastings is ten thousand times more
estimable than i am-why not make her your
friends"
Il admire you'll like YOU. l could say
more, but l dare not. You are hard upon
me, Miss DARRELL"
II have no wish to be hare" she returned.
WHO am l that l should be hard upon any
one? But, you see, l am unfortunately what
people call very plain-spokcn-very truth
full"
$50 much the better" said Captain Lang
ton.
rs it2 Sir Oswald says not. If he does
not me his %leiress, it will be because 1
have such all abrupt manner Of speaking; lie
often tells me So"
Truth III a beautiful woman" began the
captain, ~sentfmentally; but Miss Darrell
again interrupted hiln-she had little patience
with his platltudes.
You say you wish for my friendship be-
cause you like me Now, hero is the diff
culty-l cannot give it to you, because do
not like YOU"
you do not like meY' cried the captain,
own senses. You cannot mean It'll You
are the first person who ever said such a
thingp
perhaps 1 mr. not tho first who ever
thought it; but then, as l tell you, 1 am very
apt TO say what 1 think"
"Will you tell me why you do not like
me%? asked the captain, quietly. He began
to see that nothing could be gained in any
J other fashion.
/, Her beautiful face was raised quite calmly
to his, her dark eyes were as proudly serene
as ever, Size was utterly unconscious that she
was saying atfything extraordinary.
y will tell you Hitfl pleasure she replied.
"You seem to me wanting in truth and earn
%estncss; You think people arc to be pleased
by tiattcry. You flatter Sir Oswald, you fiat
ter Miss Hastings, you 1atter me. Being
agreeable is all very well, but an honest man
does not need to flatter-does not think of it,
in fact. Then, you are either needless OF
cruel-l dc not know which. Why should
you kill that beautiful flower that Heaven
made to enjoy the sunshine, just for one idle
moments wanton sport?"
Captain Langton's face grew perfectly
white with anger.
Upon my word Of honor, he said, II new
er heard anything like this!"
Miss Darrell turned carelessly away.
You see" she said, Friendship between
us would be rather difficult. But l will not
judge too hastily; l will wait a few days,
and then decide"
She had quilted the room before Captain
I.angton had sufficiently recovered from his
diSmay to answer.