The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1898-10-14

pc my rate to see my hitherto highly-cs-
teemed relative, who gravely reproved my
delinquencies when l was Young, and
gravely admonished me Us to the way in
which / should gowhen l grew old, brand
ed as a gay sea-rover by the highly respect
able and scandal-loving inhabitants Of the
parish of st. Awenl'
You need not talk such utter nonsense
II you must jest" said Stephen Treden-
nick, shortly.
There was not another man on earth
who would have dared to address that
silken-robed, beautiful young woman in
such a manner; but Stephen Tredennick
always spoke as he, felt to his cousin Mil
dred, aud Mildred liked him rs she liked
none other on earth--save one. That one
she loved-and Mildred Tredennick's love
was a feeling very different from liking.
1t Is not utter nonsense by any means,
particularly good sense, as you may
find out" Mildred returned, jestingly
still, but with a certain weight of meaning
In her tones.
And l thought you cared more for me-"
Captain Tredennick remarked, quietly
and reproachfully. thar to allow vulgar
gossip, in your hearing, to tamper with my
name-not to mention the poor innocent
little girFs-in that absurd ndimprobabla
manner"
"You tempered with 1t yourself before
l ever heardstsssa girls name mentioned, or
entered the clustered seclusion of Rose
worthy retorted Mildred, sharply. One
could wager with far greater certainty on
the event of a bright, mild, sunshiny
spring morning than on Miss Tredennick's
mood for half al hour together.
The meerschaum was roughly pushed
aside now.
sI!" he said, the veins in his temples
standing put darby in relief-"I, Mildred!
How. pray?"
Through that fur jacket, l believe"
Mildred responded, briefly.
Her cousin looked both excited and scr
iously disturbed and angry. She was a
little afraid OF provoking him much fur
ther: but the temptation to tease was IRE
sistible with the %tyrannical young lady
besides, after all, what could this poof1iit-
tie Winnie Caerlyon be to him?
That fur Jacket, concerning which ]
have heard such sensational accounts
why did you give 1t to her, S%tephen.n
"The-fur-jacket," Stephen Tredennick
repeated, In the slow utterance of mingled
establishment and Internationally did
l give it 10 herr Because l chose to do SO.
and had the money in my pocket, I up-
pose"
VERY likely" Mildred replied. She was
enjoying herself notwithstanding in
full to the very person most concerned the
real cause which her aunt would have abb
%solutely ignored and denied-of Madam,s
decision to rid herself OF her poor little
companion. Madam Vivian would not on
any account have allowed Stephen Tired
ennick to discover that she had had the
slightest apprehension with regard to poor
Winnie Caerlyon's dangerous attractive.
ness. Mildred had, of course. discovered
this, along with others of her astute aunt's
secret purposes and desires: as a bold, true,
single-hearted nature will often discover
the craftiest policy Of u world hampered
brain at q single effort-she had q score on
her own uccoun likewise to pay off, and
dutifully delighted in the thought of Mad
ANS discontinue. Very likely,' she re-
peated, laughing, "but l have heard of
fatal gifts before now, Captain Treden-
nick. Dejanira's poisoned garment may
have. been pretty enough-doubtless as
pretty as that beautiful sealskin Jacket I
have heard so much of-but you know
what DejaEira's gift did for poor Her
cules."
Between the terrible allusion to Spots
oncd garments" the sarcastic blame i'm
Piled in his cousins manner, md the ut
tack upon his NEUROLOGICAL memory,
Stephen Tredennick felt quite over
whelmed.
why, Mildred, what harm was it, Did
Twas it wrongfn he stammered. IT
thought l might give a young lady-a girl
of her age-a present-a little gift for a
keepsake. 1t is not unusual, l Think Was
1t wrong? What harm was it, Mile? I
did not think there could be any harm In
deedl,
In his earnestness he stood clasping his
cousins fair jswelled hands. while Mil
dred's handsome face grew radiant with
girlish fun, both On account of poor old
~;tephen's uneasiness," and at the sudden
lief 1'.tt * 80 srr feeling than
.here annoyance prompting his earnestness
and excitement which her clever teasing
had brought to light.
The red glow Of the freight revealed
them standing 80 together-Mildred's
bright. upturned face cleaning with
smiles, Stephens full of earnest question.
tng-revealed them 80 plainly that q watch.
er outside IN the chill wintry cleaning Of
the dark, frozen shrubbery could notice
even the pattern of the fragile white lace
collar and sleeves which adorned Mildred
~Tredennick's rich dark silk dress, the
brilliant cluster Of golden toys swaying
at her watchchatn. the restless flash Of.
the starry rings on her long, thin white
fingers.
The frelit room, with those soft, ample
curtains OF maroon damask lying on the
warm dark carpet-the subdued glitter Of
dark polished woods, and lines and spots
OF bright gliding glimmering from floor to
c~eiling-that dark cased wall, with it,
c~lose.packed rows Of books-the light,
warmth, comfort, happiness, and ths
beauty Of beautiful Mildred Tredennick-s