The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1899-11-25

1OMaIc nOle-y0u cannot De TIC DeS-
mond,' Interrupts she, hastily.
No; that's my uncle" says the young
man, imocently.
Oh!tien you acknowledge the crimeY,
In deep distress.
II didn't know that an old Irish title
must necessarily be connected with gullt,n
says her companion, fairly puzzled.
En- says Monica, puzzled in her turn.
u don't understand you; ! only want to
know Il you are mi Of the particular Des-
monds?"s
Il suppose no" he replies, now openly
amused, because l regret to say we have
never yet done anything worthy CT note, or
likely to distinguish us from all the other
Desmonds, whose name is legion"
eff YOU are going to tell me you live at
Coole," says Mss Bcresford, in a tone that
is almost tragic, II warn you it will be the
last straw, and that ] sha'n't be able to
bear it,
II nm not going to tell you anything
protests he.
sBut you must" declares she, illogically.
II may rs well hear the worst at once. Co
on heroically tell me the truth. Do you
live thcre?'
Pm awfully afraid lido" says Mr.. Des-
mond, feeling somehow, without knowing
why, distinctly ashamed of his and
residence.
II knew it! i .fe,tit!' says Monica, with
the calmness of despair. Take me back to
the bank ut once, this very instant, please.
Oh, what a roo l should get into If they
only knewr"
Very justly offended at the turn affairs
have taken, Mr.. Desmond rows her in si-
lence to tho landing place, in silence gives
her his hand to alight, in silence makes his
Il 1NINDf e "A Pa %ytthpSt 6 ~ tt,,,nb 80 a -, - = -
her, although lie knotcs slci standing alt
tie way from him, irresolute, remorseful,
and uncertain.
lie might, perhaps, have maintained this
digniled Indifference to the end, but that,
unfortunately lifting his eyes, lie catches
sight Of her In this %repentant attitude, with
her head bent down, and her slim fingers
toying %nervously with the lilies of bis own
gathering.
This picture filings dignity to the winds.
Going upto her, he says, i'll a would-be care
less but Enthusiastically offended voice, MAY
l ask what | have done, that they, whoever
they are, should consider you had disgrnced
yourself BY being with nc forlalf al hour?,
"l'ou have done nothing" says Monica,
family. ut was your uncle"
My ntcle!-George Desmond! Why,
What on earth can he have done?" demands
he bewildered.
II don't know" Feeling this is indeed a
lame answer to a most natural question, she
goes OH hurrieily, ut all happened twenty
years ago, and
But what happened9" asks he, with par
donable impotence.
Something dreadfully wicked" says
Monica, solemniy. Something reallyyery,
Gerry bad, because Aunt Priscilla can't hear
you spoken of with common patience.'
.NLen
~ SO much you, perhaps, as your
She hates the very sound oft. There isn't
q u about that; because, though l have
not heard the exact story yet, L know both.
my aunts grow actually faint with horror
When orr mclc's name is mentioned"
Good gracious!' says the mortified neph-
CIV of this apparently %disreputable old man.
He is staring at Monica, but in reality he
does not even sec her. Before his minds
eye isa picture OF q stout old gentleman,
irascible, but kindly, with a c%ountenancc in
nocent of guile. Visions of forgery, m,,r-
der, homicide, rise up before him, but, try
as he Will, he cannotconnect Mr.. Deslnond's
face With any of them.
You don't exactly know yourself what
the crime is with which he is ~charged?" he
asks her, With growing difidence.
"No. But I shall find out, and tell But
that will tie impossible !'-with a glance
full of ~liveliest regret. II cannot tell you,
because after to-day l shall never see or
speak to you again"
That Is the most insane nonsense 1 ever
heard in my lifc,' y saye Mr.. Desmond.
The girl shakes her head sadly.
III you won't speak TO me / shall speak
to you, whether you like 1t or not" says
Desmond, with decision.
Tint viii be ont of your power, MS YOU
viii never see me.'
you mean to tell me l may not call at.
MoyneT'
Certainly l do. They wouldn't hear of
1t. They wouldn't, in fact, receive you.n
but why must they visit my uncle's sins
upon my shoulders? l have heard of y
fathers sins being entailed upon his heir,
but never All uncle's."
she laughs a little, in spite Of herself, and
/ quotes, in a low lone, ''Oh! Romeo, Romeo!
wherefore art thou Romeo?"
But he takes no heed Of this frivolous
quotation.
You mean. me to understand, then, that
l am never to speak to You again?"
II do, indeed
"NNhat! Do yon know we arc to be close
neiglbors for the future. you and II This
is to be your home. Coole is to be mine.
At the most, only mile ofroad lies between
MS, and here not quite q yard. And yet you
calmly tell me Lam from this day forth to
be only q common stranger to you.''
YOU look as If you were angry with me-"
says Monica, with sudden tears in her eyes
at his injustice. "ltisn't my fault; I Haven't
done anything wicked. Blame your uncle
for 1t ALL"
.'The whole thing is simply absurd" SAYS
the young man, taking now the superior
tone that is meant to crush the situation by.
holding it up to ridicule. "'You forget, per-
llaps, that VIC shallhdpe to meet sometimes.
| suppose the people down hero give balls
occasionally, and t~ennis-parties, and that;
and when l meet you at them, is 1t Your
wish that | shall pretend never to have seen
you beforc,-never to have known yousn
n s, says Monica, with rs lnucil nes,ta-
ton as lets him know how she hates saving
1t. when next you meetme, you arc to
look right over my head, and pass orr
II couldn't doit," returns he, gazing at
her steadily. 81 couldn't, indeed. III fact,
| feel it is just the last thing in the world 1
could de-
but you must" says Monica, imperions-
ly, terrified to death as she c%onInres up be-
fore her Aunt Friscilla's face as it will sure
" be If this Philistine dares to address her:
81 tell you my aunts would never forgive
me if they knew l had interchanged even
one syllable with you. From this moment
you must forget me. There Will really be
no difficulty about it, as our acquaintance Is
but of an hours growth. You have seen
me for the first time to-day, and a chance
ne ting such y as this is easily drivss from
That's your opinion" says the young
man, modify. Sits not mine. Idare say
uo,t will find 1T very easy to forget. I sha'n't.
And this isn't the first lime have seen you,
either. 1t seems to me as ii years have
rolled by since last | looked nponyour face.
l was standing at the gate Of Coole, and saw
yon pass by, the day of yourarrival in Ross
nloyne. So, You see, we are-in spite Of
you--almest old 1riends.n
A bomb-shcll flnngat herfeet couldllardly
have produced a greater sensation than this
apparently harmless speech. Ali at once
there ruslies back upon her the recollection
Of that fatal day when she lay upon a carts
load of hay and according to Tcrence) kick
ed up her heels in the cxuberamce Of her Joy.
y Nh .-----t 49,