The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1898-12-24
the lull came . faint, distant booming
snund. -

s.T'
sound. /.
..The wrong of compelling me to sacri.
nee and trample upon my feelings in spite
of every instinct OF my nature, which
shrank from the trial, " said Lady Noun
trevor, with gloomy hopelcssness; ''the
wrong of compelling me by fear of her
displeasure, the force of her authority. the
dread of her ridicule on a night-a sum.
mer n~ight-seven years ago, Winnie Caer-
lyon-to go to a bull with her with a pre-
sentiment of coming sorrow like o leaden
weight on my girlish heart, with u fevered
brain, q weary, spiritless frame, my eyes
burning from weeplng-the wrong of com.
pelling me to dress, and adorn, bedeck,
bejewel myself, Danish all traces Of the
load Of apprehension and pain that was
resting on me, simulate gaiety and high
spirits, and go and mingle amongst hedct-
less people of whom I hated one-half and
despised nearly oil the ~rest--to dance, and
smile, and firt, and attract-to exhibit
myself, in a word. for the securing more
surely the rich prize my would be proprie-
tor offered in exchange for me, all to graf
lily her love OF pomp and wealth and vani-
ty; one, the vain. selfish woman, who
never experienced one throb of real Lowell
She made me go to the last ball Of the
season; she chaperoned me, and paraded
me, and showed me off-as surely as ever
a slave merchant did his Circassians and
Georgians before the eyes of rich pashas!
/ danced with Lord Henry Mountrevor by
Madam Viyian's express desire; l premen-
AIDED the conservatory with him; l sat
with him behind bowers of orange-trees
in blossom; with smiles I listened 10 his
p~rotestations Of admtration; l gave him
every artful encouragement that q ball
room coquette uses to capture q golden.
prize In matrimony, and ] gave him a
flower from my bouquet at parting, 1 re-
membsr-a rose-a white rose, and he
kissed it, and placed it in his coat, to cx-
hibit its withered remains to me for a
week afterl Winnie, do you know what
day 1t was-the day that I danced out the
close of the last ball OF the season with
Lord Mountrevor, 1t was the twenty
ninth OF July, eighteen hundred and"
THE day-the day that" broke from
Winnte's lips involuntarily, in the shock
of the moment.
1.-THE day-the morning-the hour when
Albert Gardiner lay dying amongst stran-
gers in a strange land" Lady Mildred
said. slowly; land when I discovered the
truth afterwards, bitterly as I hated my.
self, there were two others whom 1 hated
still worse-Maoam Vivian and Lord
Mountrevor! l hated every Que In the
world but my cousin Stephcn-my poor,
dear, old, ~kina-henrted S~tephen-who
came with tho tears running down his
cheeks, calling me his poor bereaved,
desolate little Miller His sympathy
saved me from going mad or acting fool.
ishly."
"Oh, Lady Mildred, denrl'' Winnie
sobbed, in her generous sympathy feeling
as If every grief of her own innocent. low
ing life were as nothing compared to the
stormy vindictive misery of this proud,
noble, misguided nature. "But Heaven
helped you to forgive yourself and every
one else for that unintentional wrong--ifl
wrong it could be called. when no one
meant cruelty to you, although it was SO
cruel; and towards Lord Mountravor, of
course, as you married him afterwards,
you must have felt differently.n
.Miss Caerlyon," said Lady Mildred,
briefly, '.as you say, Ibecame tho wife Of
kord Mountrevor afterwards, aud the
mother of his heir. Now, If you please,
we will change the subject. This storm
has affected me strangely, terrified me
ouS w - SSiA pSooSooAc uiAN ASakSS4SCs7
but l repose perfect confidence in your
womanly honor and delicacy of feeling"
"Ot course You may responded Win
ME, sorrowfully, fearing that she had Of
Tended her.
II know / may" said Lady Mountrcvor,
quietly: and then, as Winnie moved from
her side to the window to recommcnce her
anxious watching aud listening, she put
her arm around her, drew her towards
her, and kissed her with a gentle cordiality
that made Winnie's heart beat fast with
pleasure.
II think one could make a friend Of a
woman like you" the wealthy peeress
said, with thoughtful sadness; .sbe that as
It may. you can never be but an object OF
interest and liking to me, Winnie, ut all
events-whateyer I am to you--nfter what
you told me this night Her voice sank
low and trembled audibly as she struggled.
passionately for control OF her feelings. ST
can never forget it. winnie-I never shall;
and I may be able yet" she whispered,
laying her cheek to Winnie's, and wetting
It with! her tears, ITO give you some days
Of happiness-some years of happiness. /
hope-for the hours OF regret and the tears
you gave to his, Albert Gardeners, meme
DRY. 2 81
She buried her face in her handkerchief