The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1900-12-22

scientiousiy believe that Hooker or
himself had suffered for her inconsist-
ency?E Nc. From all that he had heard
she was q suitable helpneet to the
senator, III her social attractiyeness,
her charming estentatiens, her engag-
ing vanity that 9disarmed suspicion,
and her lack of responsibility even in
her p~artisanship. Nobody over dared
to hold the senator responsible for her
promises, even while enjoying the fell
lowshtp of both, and 1t is said that the
worthy a sfngularly profited by It..
Looking upon 1t merely as a phase OF
Washington society, Brant resolved to
go.
The neon was high as the carriage
whirled him out OF the still sitting
avenues towards the soldiers home-a
sylvan suburb ~frequented by cabinet
ministers II the president-where the
good senator a "decreed" like kub-
la Khan, "a stately pleasure dome" to
entertain his friends and partisans. AS
they approached the house the trem-
bling light, like ~fireflies through the
leaves. the warm silence broken only
by a military band PLAYING a drowsy
waltz on the Neranda, and the heavy
odo-s of jessamine in the air, thrilled
Brant with q sense Of Shame as he
thought of his old comrades in the
field. But this was presently disslpat-
ed by the uniforms that met him i'll the
hall, with the presence of some of his
distinguished superiors. AT the head
of the stairs, with a circling back
ground OF the shining crosses and RIB
bons of the diplomatic corps, stood
Susy-her bare arms and neck glitter
ing with diamonds, her face radiant
with childlike vivacity. A significant
pressure of her little glove RS he made
his bow seemed to be his only welcome,
but a moment later she caught his
arm. You've yet to know him. she
said, in a half whisper; II thinks a
good deal of himself-just like Jim.
But he makes others believe 1t, and
that's where poor Jim slipped up" She
istically disposed of II presented
Brant. 1t was the man he had seen
before-material, capable, dogmatic. A
glance from his shrewd eyes-accus-
toned to the weighing Of mems weak
nesses and ambitions, and a few hur-
ried phrases apparently Satisfied him
that Brant was not at the moment inn
pertant or available, and the two men
a moment later drifted easily apart.
Brant sauntered listlessly through the
crowded rooms half remorsefully con-
scsous that he had taken some irrevo-
cable step, and one the less assured
by the presence of two or three re-
porters and correspondents who were
dogging his steps or the glances of
1.-TWO or three pretty women whose curl
fosity had evidently been aroused by
the singular abstraction Of this hand
some, distinguished, but sardonic-look-
ling officer. But the mex moment he
was ~singularly Interested.
A tall young ON lad Just moved
into the center of the room with an In
dolent vet simple gracafulness that
seemed familiar to him. A charge in
her position suddenly revealed her
face. 1t was Miss Faulkner. Previous
lily he had only known her In the riding
habit of confederate gray which She
had at first affected, or in the light
morning muslin dress. she had worn at
Gray Oaks. IT seemed to him tonight
dress became her Still more; that the
pretty w~iilfulness Of her chin and
shoulders was chastcned and modified
by the pearls round her fair throat.
Suddenly their eye met: her face
Epaled visibly; he fancied that she al
most feared against her companion for
support; then she met his glance again
/ with a face into which the color had
as sreldenly rushed. hut with eyes that
seemGd to be appealing to him, even to
the point of pain and fright. Brant
was not conceited. he could see that
tt girls agitation was not the effect
of any mere personal influence in his
recognititn but of something else. He
turned hastily away; when he looked
around again she was gone.
Continued Next Week.)