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

nero, md her bright yes peering in their
naughty gaze into her Cousins troubled
changing face. Il am sorry to see that
the news affects you 30 much, Captain
T~redennick.''
Affects me?" Stephen Tredennick cried,
his alarm and bewilderment growing
stronger. why, Mildred, what is there
to be sorry fors WHAT'S 1t about poor lit.
tie Winnie Caerlyoni"
The cold naughty face grew colder, and
Mildred T~redennick's eyes flashed in q
sudden blaze OF indignation.
Captain T~redennick, I hate hypocrisy
q > hate craftincss," she said; ut does not
become one of orr name to stoop 80 low as
to touch either." And, having given ut
terance to.h her sentiments, her imperial
highness gathered her satin-lined morn
ing-robes around her MS If they had been
IN truth the regal puppies, and swept out
OF Stephen Tredennick's offending pres.
ence, leaving him hurt, amazed. angry,
and confused beyond measure.
Half an hour later her mood changed.
Il don't believe poor dear old Stephen
fs to blame one bit, in spite of allthey may
Bay,a she muttered to herself, twitching
her dress away from Miss Trewhella's 80
icitous touchls-g and arranging, and
marching off i~mperiously, fastening her
silken sash and adjusting her lace collar
as she went, in a highly independent man
ner. She fearlessly invaded her Cousins
privacy in his study, where he sat before
the fire in the dark dull afternoon, in a
deep reverie of thought aud tobacco smoke
hazlly intermingled.
Cousin Stephen" she said, abruptly,
II beg your p%ardon-I spoke rudely a
while ago, but you annoyed me-"
II was not aware of having done so,n re-
joined Stephen Tredennick, quietly and
gravely. There was no one on earth who
could manage Mildred Trcdennick SO east
~, and exert such IN influence, over her,
as her cousin Stephen; at least his aunt
and hers-Madam Vivian-hnd constantly
assured him Of the fact But you annoyed
and troubled me. Unkind insinuations
and malicious hints ought to be as far be-
meath a Tredennick as hypocrisy and craft
iness, Millie."
And l have not stopped to either, Steph-
en-" said Mildred. holly; but l thought
that you were descending to an elaborate
pretence Of ignorance Of something of
which you were perfectly aware-at least,
80 they suid.n
I E# az aNtoNs NO
manded, laying down his pipe.
"Everybody-the world OF Roseworthy
aud the parish of st. Awenl''
What did they say, Mildred" the Cap
tain Of the Chtttoor asked. sternly, CON
fronting his handsome, naughty cousin,
laughter than himself, looking down
from his. stalwart height on even her
Juno-like stature; and imperious, self-pos.
sessed Mildred quailed ever 80 little, and
faltered, with q girlish rising color.
'.They said that you admired Winnie
Caerlyon, noticed her. walked out with
her, paid her visits, liked and admired
her, and paid her attention-you know,
Stephen''- imperious Mildred faltered
here-"and then"
Then whats' He struck his clenched
hand with an involuntary force against
the arm Of his chair, and a storm overtak-
ing the Chittoor on the wide ocean never
brought 81 dark o cloud as then swept
over his brow.
They said that Winnie Caerlyon, poor
little thing Mildred's very temples had
colored now-her keen womanly pride and
delicacy shrank from what must have
seemed casting ridicnle on another wo.
mans hopeless affection. That poor little
miserable, pale-faced, shabby creature
why should she render her absurd and un.
worthy of respect in Stephen ~Tredennick's
eyes?s
She glanced at the mirrored reflection OF
her own splendid form, in the glory Of he1
blooming womanhood-at the silken sheen
of her sweeping robes Of royal blue-Mil
dred would have liked to wear purple vel
vet and ermine every day had it not beer
ineonvenient-the massive gold comb and
pins fastening the braids Of her shining
bronze-hued hair, her arlstocratic jewelled
hands, the satin fairness of which, one
hours hard work had never sullied-at all
/ the queenly elegance and grace which
were SO natural to her in the pride of hel
beauty, and fine hesitated, with the I'm.
willingness of q noble nature, to crush
the weak, to mock the helpless, to slight
| sister-woman because she was inferior II
birthAnd station.
But Stephen T~redennick's face admitted
of little hesitation, Of no denial; beneath
the magnetism Of his clear, stern gaze
capricious Mildred had no power blu,
obediently to reply
"They said, Stephen-gossiping women
-tattlers-those kind OF people, yor
know" she went on, reluctantly-.tha,
Winnie
What about Winniesn Stephen Tired
ennick reiterated.
The childish name brought back in q
food of recollection the announcement Of
the little dark dripping figure In thelight
ed entry-the pale-faced child with the
beautiful tresses of hair and the passion
woman whom he a escorted home
through the wild March m~orning-the
gentle girl by whose side he had sat on
tnat sunny afternoon, listening to her
sweet voice, as it mingled with the plash-
Ing Of the waves--the patient, dear little
creature, busy in the tidy kitchen, with
her white apron and her big knife, cutting
Observation-Disclosures
Stephen Tredennick had often laughed
since, calling to mind what q large knife
and great pile OF bread were there, and
how slight and small vas the deft little
housewife-poor dear little Winnie, who
had blushed beneath his gaze as he had
never seen a woman blush before or since,
whom he had taken into his heart, al
though he did not know 1t, whose pure
lips he had kissed, and had felt ever since
Us II he dared not sully his own bya coarse
word or a lighter caress, for their dear
matdenly sake.
Winnie! Poor dear little pale-faced,
quaint, simple hearted Winnie-fiery,
proud, passionate little woman-patient,
dutiful. loving little malden-what had
the serpent tongues Of gossips and scan
~dal=mongers tolay to her charge-that in.
nocent child with the wistfnl face and the
dark. pathetic eyes, like sea-spirit exiled
from the beauty of her ocean home 10
earth's dreary drndgeryi What had they
tossay of herr What did they dare to sayi
And Stephen Tredcnntck's stout heart
grew still in the breathless waiting for his
Cousins reply.
What do they say about Winnies'' he
rapeated. hoarsely. n