The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1898-01-08

danger MS profit sometimes In the knowl-
edge OF penniless men,"
"Oh, Watson is no penniless; and he is
really n very good fellow"
THAT is fortunate, /" said Mona, forcing
herself to join in the conversation "Isup
pose you have no other companion"
None. A chance traveller asks for hos
pitality now and then, but he never stays
long"
ut must be u lonely life, though l should
not dislike it," said Kenneth.
II certainly do not. There's freedom and
plenty OF work, and when night comes one
is too tired for anything but q good nights
rest"
And Idaur say you are rnair peaceful
and content to be AVA frae yon pow-sow-
die O. conceited fules md grinning cheats
they ca the great world, u said Uncle Sandy,
yiciously.
"Oh, human nature is pretty much the
same in the wilderness or in the world OF
social life," said Warning, spontaneously.
ut would be but poor philosophy to cry
out against the world l have left because
l played the fool there; Oh my head BIO it
II threw away my fortune. There are as
many good fellows-or as few good fellows
iii one state of life as another"
II believe that" said Kenneth. IL
should like well to see your place, Mr..
Waring."
why don't you come out for a bit. It
is a sort Of life you would like. l think"
"Eh, but he has his work cut DOT for him
here!' cried Uncle Sandy. He'll find 1t
best to bide WI me. Moo, tell me how
mony head o. cattle have ye forbye horses!"
And the three men plunged into talk,
from which Mona collected that Wnrinp
had invested almost all the capital left him
after much wild extravaganza and fool
ish speculntion-in n ranch near the fam
GUS rcdwoods or the Pacific coast, and
that, as yet, he had realized very little,
though his hopes were high, and he had
evidently thrown himself energeticully into
the undertaking.
She kept silence gladly. Warnings
presence--his steady composure, his quiet
submission TO the inevitable-touched her
deeply. She longed to cry out
Have you forgiven ms' Can I atone
for the pain l inflictcd!n
But most probably he had nearly forgot
ten that he once loved her. and hoped to
pass his life with her. She painted to be
alone, to disentnngle her thoughts-to
master the disturbance of her mind.
AS they seemed so absorbed in converse.
ton, Mona thought she might slip away
unobserved; but her uncle noticed her
movement.
''Bide a bit, my ~lassic!' he cried. "We
have sat here lang enough; we'll n come
VII ye to the drawing-room. You shall
sing us q sang, n then Ill gang AVA to
INV hai Nv pJooo oi,,ro 3-, NJ N.Y.
Ing" ho added, as he took Mona's arm,
II know that, Mr.. Craig" returned Wal.
ing, opening the door for them to pass
through; II remember her songs well.n
Mona felt that she blushed crimson.
while she said, In n low tone, to her uncle
II have scarcely any voice to-night-do
not ask me to sing"
"Hoot, toot, my dearie! you'll please us
weel.n
Mona stood a moment irresolute after
Uncle Sandy had tumbled into the depths
es bic chair. !U:-::s GANG &c her side, ana
looking kindly, and perhaps a little sadly,
into her eyes, said
Don't refuse, Miss Craigl You don't
know what 4 treat the music Of a woman's
voice is TO an exile like myself, especially
rs in n few days l shall go back to the wilds
again."
"Then I will do my best" returned
Mona. simply, and she went to the piano.
The song she choose was n pretty, quaint
German ditty she had learned while abroad
for she did not wish to revive painful re-
collections by singing anything Tint might
be familiar TO Warning. He moved away,
and sat in deepest thought while he listen.
ed.
"Awcel, that's not une o. my favorites.
l am not much OF q musician-my oppor.
tunitics have been scnnt-but l lave an
uncommon guide ear" said Uncle Sandy.
GIVE us a Scotch sang. my dearie!'
III ! am not prcsuminR too far" said
Warning, coming over to lean on the piano,
"Might I ask for IN old favoritc-'Robin
Adair?'"
cay, that will do" from Uncle Sandy.
II need not have been so careful to spare
his feelings" thought Mona. II am max,
ing u fool Of myself. 1t is an age since !
attempted II" she said aloud: "but I will
try it If you like"
1t was d%readfully annoying, but she
could not steady her voice. She could not
keep a certain tremulous pathos out Of her
notes. Men were so conceited-they had
such a high opinion Of themselves, that
perhaps Leslie Warning would fancy, ms
she was SO upset at meeting him, TINT she
regretted having rejected him. All, no;
he wa too frank and honest, too simple
and unselflsh, to need the guarded trent.
ment Lisle required. Lislel why, he was
not comparable to Leslie Waring. What
wonders time and trouble had done for the
latterl
'Thank you," said Warning, from his
chair In a shadowy corner. where he had
retreated when she began the song he had
asked for. THAT was an immense treat.''
LAY, there's nae music like Scotch music,
nor is there any sangs for melody an
poetry, an spirit, an'-an' historical value,
like Scotch sangs," said Uncle Sandy.
II believe the Irish claim Robin Aduir'
as their own.'' said Mona.
"Claim 1t! I daur say they do" said
Uncle Sandy, c~ontemptuously. ''They'd
aye claim everything; but ii that lit isna
Scotch. nweel, am no Scotch. Come, give
me your arm, Mona, I'll just gang to my
bed. I'm awful weary"
Then may be Mr.. Warning would like q
smoke with me In the kitchen. Think we
will have it all to ourselves in q few min
utes. " said Kenneth.
AHuaA you, ! SnOui0. One grows a At
tie too fond OF the weed when one is freed
from the restraints OF society"
IT'S a very perneecious practice; but IT'S
Just talking to the winds to protest against
1t. Goodnight, sirs. Kenneth, there are
the keys. Mr.. Warning will need q drappie
after his pipe"
Goodnight" murmured Mona, as she
gave her arm to her uncle.
Waring bowed, but did not attempt to
shake hands with her.
1t was an infinite relief to be alone, and
locked into her own room. For . long
time she thought confusedly, or rather .
confused mass OF mixed memoir and
thought throngcd her brain, without any
effort of her will.
How wildly Warnings face, pale with
painful emotion, the day they last met,
came back to her. lie had quite forgiven
her; she felt that. He WINS a really good
fellow. She wished they could be friends
ngnfn, rs she was with Kenneth; but that
would never be, she feared. She never
could feel at ease with him. He looked as
II he had suffered a good deal. Was it her
fault? oh, mol she never could admit that.
She should like to let him sknow that she
had generally n very good opinion of him,
but how should she find time to do SO,