The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1898-03-19
1N.


Sir Oswald fingered over his wine. 1t was
not every day that lie found n companion SO
entirely to lis taste as Captain Langton.
The captain had a collection of anecdotes of
the court, the aristocracy, and the mess-room.
that could not be surpassed. He kept his
own interest well in view the whole time,
making some modest illusions 10 the fire.
Gucncy with which his society was sought,
ard the number of ladies' who were disposed.
to regard him favorably. All was narrated
with the greatest skill, without the leas,
boosting, and Sir Oswald, as he listened witt,
delight, owned to himself that, all things
considered, he could not lave chosen more
wisely for his niece.
Ascend bottle OF fine old port was dis
cusscd, and then Sir Oswald said:
"You will like to 60 to the drawing-room;
the ladies will be there. I always enjoy
forty winks after dinner"
Thu prospect of a tcte-u-tctc with Miss Oar
rell did not strike the captain as being a very
rapturous ole.
sShc is" he said to himself, ga lnagnif-
Gently handsome girl, but almost too naughty
to be bearablc. l have never, in all my life,
felt so small rs l do when she speaks to me
or looks at INC, end no man likes that sort of
thing.'
But Darrell Court was a magnificent estate,
the large annual income was n sum lie had
never even dreamed of, and all might he his
Sir Oswald had said SO: his, if he could but
win the proud heart OF the proudest girl it
had ever been his fortune to meet. The stake
was we'll worth going through something dis
agreeable for.
If she were only like other ,wcmen," he
thought, II should know now to manage her;
but she seems to live in the Clouds"
The plunge had to be made, so the captain
summoned all his courage, and went to the
drawing-room. The picture there must have
struck the least imaginative of men.
Miss Hastings, calm, elegant, lady-like, in
her quiet evening dress of gray silk, was
seated near a small stand on Which stood a
large lamp, by the light of which she was
reading. The part Of the room near her was
brilliantly Illuminated. 1t was o spacious
apartnent-unusually SO even for a large
mansion. 1t contained four large windows,
two OF which were closed, the gorgeous
hangings of white and gold shielding them
from view; the other end of the room was in
semi-darkness, the brilliant light from the
lamp not reaching 1.-THE windows were
thrown wide open, and the soft, pale moon
light came in. The evening came III, too,
bringing with 1t the sweet breath of the lilies,
the perfume of the roses, the fragrance of
rich clover, carnations, and purple hello
tropcs. Faint shadows lay on the flowers,
the white silvery light was very peaceful and
sweet; the dewdrops slonc on the glass-it
was the fairest hour Of natures fair day.
Pauline had gone to the open window.
Something had made her restless and UNI
quiet; but, standing there, the spell of that
|. ltno t,tif,lI p,npu liul,t ucoa,o n,1,,nI I,n. ,,,l
held her fast. With one look at that Won
derful sky and its myriad stars, one at the
soft moonlight and the white lilies, the fever
of life died from her, and a holy calm, sweet
%fancies, bright thoughts, swept over her like
an angels wing.
Then she became conscious OF a stir In the
perfumed air; something less agreeable
mingled with the fragrance OF the lilies
some scent OF which she did not know the
name, but Which she disliked ever afterward
because the captain used 1t. A low voice
that would fain be tender murmurcd ONE
thing in her eur; the spell of the moonlight
was gone, the quickly %thronging poetica!
fancies had all fed away, the beauty seemed
to have left even the sleeping towers. Turn
ing round to him, She said, in n clear voice,
every word sounding distinctly:
"Haye the goodness, Captain Langton, not
TO startle me again. l do not like any one to
come upon me in that unexpected Manner
81 was so happy to find you a.one," he
whispered.
II do not know why that should make you
happy. l Railways behave much better when
I am with Miss Hastings than when l am
alone"
"You are always charming, y he said. 81
want to ask you something, Miss Darrell. BE
kind, be patient, and listen to me.n
II am neither kind nor patient by nature
she returned; what have you to sayy'
1t was very difficult, he felt, to be senti-
mental with her. She had turned to the
window, and was looking out again at the
flowers; one little white hand played impa-
tiently with a branch of guelder roses that
came peeping III.
II nm jealous Of those flowers; said the
captain; "will you look at me instead OF
themY
She raised her beautiful eyes, and looked
at him SO calmly, with SO much conscious
superiority in her manner that the captain
felt smaller than ever.
"You are talking nonsense to me,' she
said, loftily; 'and as do not like nonsense,
will you tell me what you have to say?'
The voice was calm and cold, tile tones
measured and slightly contemptuous; it was
very difficult under such circumstance to be
an eloquent wooer, but the recollection of
Darrell Court and its large rent-roll came to
him and restored his fast expiring courage.