The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1900-06-23

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should doubt Her aanisy, even md her
words seemed less wild, / . iii the exs:.
scitcment Of giving expression I her;
absorbing thought her eyes hlazed,;
color mounted to her cheeks, and her
voice grew loud and shrill. Moreover,
he noticed that the girl, instead OF
working, was cnrertIy but ~intently
watching her, with q look that he ia.
terpretedsto mean anxiety.
hat You may not Think the wild
ow went on ,tsmy words are only vapor,
from the feyerish imagings of an over
heated BRAIN II am going to tell you.
briefly the story. When I have done
SO, you will comprehend why the de-
cision I have announced to YOU must.
be final.
Eighteen yenrs ago when Addie.
was an infant in her cradle, her father
waD q well-to-do merchant here in
New York, with e substantial capital,
4 1onrishing business andsnn unblem-
ished reputation. Beforeshe could
speak his name he was bankrupt in
purse and honor, and in six months
more he was dead. He died of pneu-
monia, the doctors said, but Iknow he
died of q broken heart, the victim Of
foul treachery and unmerited dis
grace. And all the i'll that came to
him was the work of a trusted
friend"
John Latham uttered an exelama-
Q OF indignant surprise, for he felt
that she was telling but the horrible
truth. For a moment the furious II
ergy OF her speech was checked, and
her lips moved in silence, rs if she
were uttering an inandible prayer or
more probably soicing in her soul an
ex%ecration upon the dead mans faiths
less friend. Then, with a sigh and
passing her hand YEARLY across her
brow, she continued in u Somewhat
calnier tone:
My husband WAS not altogether free
form blame legally in the transaction
which afforded the opportunity for
his ruins but /, who knew his heart
and all the circumstances of his ac-
ton, know that no shadow of n dis
honest purpose ever entered his mind.
He had become security i'll Il large
amount fora man with whom he had
business relations. and there was
every reason to believe that the man
would not be nble to meet his obliga-
tions when they fell due. Knowing
that the holder of the notes was I'M
ayaricions, hard and merciless man,
who would grant no time and would
not scruple 10 prosecute the
lindorscr Mt once and sell
him ont i'll ordar to seize nrun
all the law would give him, my hus-
band temporarily put almost I'LL he
possessed into the hands of one who
had been his most intimate ind trust
Ell friend from bcylool.
"In order to guar! against question
ofthe apparent validity of the trans
fer. 1t was made to appear that he had
parted with everything in exchange
for some stocks which were well I'M
derstood to he absolutely value1css.
BY this means, it was thought, delay
would be compelled and time gained
to enable the drawer of the notes to
realize upon certain property he held
md to pay his debts. .tfter which it
was understood, and even stipulated
bctweentheminn secret writing. that
my husband and his friend should
transfer the property and the value
less stocks. Thus no one would have
been injured OF have suffered ever a
small loss. But when the debtor had
satisfied his creditor, as he was UNI
expectedly enabled to upon the ma
turity of his obligations, without the
solvency of the indorser being ever
called in question, my husbands
friend coolly refused to give up the
property he held, denying all knowl-
edge OF any such understanding az
my husband alleged and declaring
bona d the purchase of the worth
less stocks. OF course my husband
brought suit against the audacious
rohber, but at great disadvantages.
The withdrawal OF so large a sum
from his business precipitated him in
to bankruptcy. He had scanty means
to prosecute his suit, and the treach-
erous thief who had robbed him, hay-
ing the money, could employ the best
legal talent for defense against him.
Worse than all else, the most ma
terial witness, the man who held that
secret writing, mysteriously disap-
peared. While the contest wa still on
an the courts my husband died. Than
the case was quickly decided in fn-
Yors of the robber, who is now a very
rich man and highly respected citizen.
l read in the papers Il few days ago
n speech made by him upon some pub
lie occasion, in which he said that
heaven had prospered his ~endeavors.
suppose that is correct. And his most
successful %endeavor, the one that laid
the foundation for his great wealth,
was the spoilation of the widow and
|schild OF. the man who had trusted him
as a friend"
although I fully syInpnthize with
You i'll your misfortunes and share
Your Indignation utthe abominable
~treachery of which you hahve been
the victim, I full to see why these
things should stand in the way Of
Your daughter becoming my wife. l
love her. She loves me. / shall be a
good husband to her. 1t seems to me
that it would be more philosophic tn
seek whatever happiness may yet he
in store for YOU and her under
improved conditions of life than to go
on brooding oyer such II melancholy
past and sacrificing all The joy Of life
/ to it"
You must permit me, Mr.. Latham,
to be the judge of WHAT best for me
and mine. My life is vowed to aveng-
ing justice, and my daughter has
shared my VOW. Not until the lost
witness is found, the robbcr and as
sassin of my husband punished, rcsti-
tuition made and our honorable name
cleared from the stain that scoundrel
put upon 1T to shield himself may.
Adele think of love and marriage"
Perhaps if you would permit me to
do so, ! might be able to aid you in
attainment of the end you lave In
view, or at least in demonstrating the
practicability or impracticability of
the endeavor to do so"
The old woman seemed to reflect
upon the suggestion, and lie began to
hope he had found a way for ultimate
~ winning her favor, but when, after
a little silence, she answered him her
words soon dispelled his hope
NO. she said, You could not help
us. The strands OF our ELVES will never
be twistcdinto one cord. &c and for
get us if you can. Let Adele alone.
She has voluntarily taken my obliga-
ton upon her and must keep the VOW
But i'll could help you by finding
the witness you want
Your claim upon my gratitude
would be greater than my other 1iv-
linpg Infn,S R11t If 10 1lse1esS%fo talk rf