The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1898-09-03

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is possible that generous, thoughtful
Stephen Tredennick was scarcely aware
of their tenor or purport as he replied
confusedly to the girls exclamation, smil-
ing oddly and holding her hands tightly
still.
Whether you forget me or not, Win
ME" he said, that strange tluttering at his
heart making his voice quite hoarse and
unsteady, II trust that-thatI shall
never near of your giving your thoughts
or-yoursef to any N but one WHO'S well
worthy oil the gift; 1 trust shall never
hear it when I am away
He paused a moment, still looking at the
agitated face burning with swift-coming
bushes, and, us he paused, there seemed
to sweep over him the thrill of a strange.
pleasure, a strong, wild wish, Il passionate
longing, and the remainder Of. Captain
~Tredennick's judicious common sense and
calm self-possessien seemed to vanish be-
fore It.
81 must co. he uttered suddenly, In a
Kind Of startled fear of the fascination that
had fallen on him-thc fascination, the de-
light, the b%ewildering sweetness of the
steady, weather-beaten sailor Of thirty-two
StaA w h-,C. JUN III olfkllNkiAIE III u SllllIl
red-tiled kitchen, with rows of polished
tin dish-covers shining on the wall at his
right hand, a little black c~ooking-stove
with y bright fire, a singing kettle, and a
baking griddlescakn, whose delicate,
scorching flour odor was agreeably dis
tinguishable, in front of him, and Winnie
Caerlyon by his side. Goodbye, dear
goodbye, my pet!' he said. hurriedly.
Tya f,,rpo1 tn ,Yn m Ia t,tt,,,,1 +l,n ,,,,1,
but the islight and fascination were too
strong for stephen Tredennick-the fas.
cination of the presence Of little girl in a
shabby blue dress. suddenly releasing
her hands, he caught the slight figure in
his strong arms, and kissed her twice pas
sionately; then he hurried out OF the house
and away from Tolgooth, and was half
way back to Roseworthy before the fast
thrchbing heart in his broad breast grew
calm again,
And the little girl in the shabby dress
stood n long time m%otioniess on tin, spot
where he had quilted her, wondering
dreamily how it was that the world, that
used to be so sad. had changed into such
an Eden of joy and hope and love.
CHATTER VII.
"Well, Miss Winnie, you have concluded
6 put in an appearance at last: l am sure
l had grown perfectly satisfied in my
mind that, for some Important reasons
of your own, your absence was to be per-
petual."
Madam Vivian was smiling, but she
was not pleased; nor did she look so,
though she sat in her favorite seat and at
'ituae, her dainty feet cleaning on the
velvet footstool, her black, glittering fan
in her hand tlnttering softly, aud her
handsome head resting against the dark.
green velvet cushions of her chair.
II couldn't come before, indecd,'' plead
ed the little protc9cc, hunbly and earn.
estly; you know, dear Madam, / wrote
and sent you word that mamma was not
willing, and that buby was very i'll, and
Tommy had such Il bad sore throat"
"Oh, dear me: yes, | know-dread ful!'
said Madam, irrita5ly. evidently applying
the adjective in impatient disgust. rather
than in pity for the suTertngs of the baby
and Tommy. You told ME so before,
What n nuisance to have such II pack of
children III a small house, and always ono
or two of them illl'
The teats rose to Winnie's eyes, but not
tears of self-pity. She hnd AN unhappy
home she knew, but she thought that il
that hateful Thomas Pascoe were only out
OF her sight for ever. and mamma did not
scold her SO often, aud poor little Louie
would grow string and well, and she had
money enough to buy n few nice warm
clothes. she would be quite happy-for the
small salary which Madam insisted on
paying for her services went into Mrs.
Caerlyon's pocket, untouched, to the ex-
tent of n single shilling, by the poor little
recipient. they wanted it so badly-Sarah
Matilda, Caroline, Tommy. Harry, and the
rest-how could she attempt to buy fine
things for herself when they wanted ne
cessaries2
Mrs. Caerlyon. however, with ~csarac-
teristlc plain dealing, placed the matter
before Ninnie's conscience in the terse
pitltS se~ntence-"Every penny Of it don't
more than pay for your keep. Winifrcd."
So, in order not to rob the family of the
portion OF her keep" Winitred handed
her salary to her step-mother monthly, rs
she received it, Only pleading to hnrc at
least one neat dress, in order not to dis
please Madam. Poor Winnie mendcd,
and turned, and washed. and darned the
thfnnest, shabbiest clothes of any of the
family for her " apparel when out of
the precincts of Roseworthy. Still, save
and take care of it as Winnie would. that
one best dress of dark merino was getting
faded, and looked thin and poor, and an
noyed Madam's eyes.
81 cannot think. Winifrcd,'' she said,
sharply, after u heightened survey of the
meea-looking figure, pale face. and down
cast head, crowned with its feminine glory
of shining hair-nad 1t seemed tonight
richer, more abundant and bccomingly
arranged than Madam Ind ever seen it,
why Mrs. Casrlyon does not allow you to
spend the pocket money I give you on
yourself, You have had nothing but
that rlcrilo since last autumn twelve
month; and your Jacket Is qnite Worn out. u
ut Is, Madam" assented Winnie, col
oriug painfully; "but l nm going to get u
Jew cac,".
of what llind9" asked Madam, with
the neVer-lacking interest to q feminine
mind which such q subject possessed.
Get Il nice respectable one, Winnie,
child: it quite annoys me to see you look
ing SO poorly clad. Thcrel there. don't
look SO distressed, it is not your fault, L
know.
No, Madam. but-but l know l look
shabby" she sud, with quivering lips,
the painful bushes burning in her thin
cheeks.
He had noticed her being shabby and
thinly clad. she had seen his eyes resting
on the frayed cloth edges. the thread bare
cuffs and collar of her one wcll-worn cloth
jacket, that bitterly cold wild March
morning. She had noted the quick COM
passionate glance at each Involuntary
SILVER and tightening of her faded wrap
ping shawl-he. her idol, her demi-god,
her great, tall, strong, powerful, gracious,
beautiful, dcmi-gol without IL name: for
how could che dare to say that she loved,
admired, reverenccd, worshipped Stephen
Tredennick?
Impossible! Winnie's heart nearly stood
still ut the bare mental iuxtaposition of
her love-shabby, ill-clad Winnie Caerl-
yon, to whom Madam Vivian paid twenty
r,rI,y,IS n a n. fnr raa.1t,,r 4, l,,. ,.1 ,....4T