The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1900-02-17
aHAPrER xY

HorldF says Mrs. B0hun, In her soft plain
tive voice, speaking very enthusiastically.
I'VE ought to be more than grateful to you,
dear Miss Blake, for letting us see 1t
Miss Priscilla reddens with suppressed
satisfaction, but say
Tut int, my dear! 1t Is only a funny
old-fashioned spot, after all, Sin quite anoff-
hand Manner
1t Is Friday THO F~r.day,-as the Misses
Blake have been thinking of 1t for days, III
fear and trembling, as being the date OF
theis first hospitable venture for l.iany
years.
All the Aghy0hillbeg party. and the men
from Clonbrce Barracks, and some other
neighbors, are strolling through the swce:
antiquated gardens of Moync, lledged with
yews Enthusiastically cut. The roses, white
and red and yellow, are noddinS their heads
lazily, bowling and cOurtesyi..s to the pass
ing breeze. The stocks and mignonette are
filling the air with perfume. Tall lilies are
smiling from distant corners, and the little
merry burn, tumbling over its gray bowl.
ders through the garden, is singing q loud
and happy song, in which the birds in the
trees above join HEARTH.
The lazy hum of many insects makes one
feel even more psrceptibly Low drowSy.
sweet is all the summer air.
Mrs. Bohun has now fitted away with
Monica, who in her white gown looks the
MettieSt flower of all, in this wilderness of
sweets" with the tall, infatuated Ryde and
handsome young Ronayne in their train.
Mrs. Bohun, who is In one of her most mis-
chieyOus moods to-day, has taken 1t intoher
head to smub Lord Rossmoyne and be all
that is of the sweetest to Ulic Ronayne, a
proceeding her cousin, Mrs. Herrick, regards
with dismay.
Not so, however, docs Bella Fitzgerald re-
gard 1t. She, tall, and with a wou!d-be
stately air, walks through the grounds at
Lord RossmOyne's side, to whom she has
attached herself, and who, .fdutc dc mieur,
makes Himself MS agreeable as he can to
her, considering how lie is inwardly raging
at what he is pleased to term Olga's dis
graceful behavior.
Miss Priscilla has now been seized upon
by Madame O'Connor and carried off for pri-
vate confab.
And you really must let her COM to us
fora week, my DEAR says Madame O'Con-
nor, in her fine rich brogue. ayes, now,
really | want her. 1t will be quite a favor.
| can't withstand a pretty face, as you well
know; tits q weakness of mine, my dear,
and she is really n pearl. Olga Bolun is
talking of getting up tableaux or some such
nonsense, and she wants your pretty child
to help u.s.
II should like her to go to you. 1t is very
kind of you," says Miss Priscilla, but with
mmistakable hesitation.
Now, What is 1t? Out with 1t, Priscilla -
says Madame O'Connor, bluntly.
Miss Priscilla struggles with herself for
yet another minute, and then says quickly
"That young man Desmond,-will he be
staying in your house?'
Not if You object, my dear says Mrs.
OConnor, kindly: Though LIDO think it is
a pity to thwart that affair. He is a nice
and MS pleasant II young fellow rs | know,
and would make a jewel of ii husband and
m~oney-say what you like, my dear Pris-
cilla--is always something. 1t ranks high
cr than revenge
There is no revenge. 1t is only a just
resentment
We'll, I'll call it by any name you like,
my dear. but must say
II mustbeg, Gertrude, you will not discuss
this unhappy subject" says Miss Priscilla,
with some agitation.
Well, l won't, then. There let it lie"
says Madame O'Connor, spontaneously.
and tell me, now, ii l come over to fetch
Monica on Monday, will she be ready for
me?'
quite ready. BIT we have not consulted
her yet says Miss Priscilla, clinging to a
broken reed.
'9lga is talking to her about it. And If
she's the girls she looks, she'll be glad of a
change, and the chance of a sweetheart"
says Madame o'connor' gayly.
What lovely lilies! y saws Mrs. Bohun,
standing before a tall white group.
"Oh. don't!' says Owen Kelly, who has
joined her and Monica. whenever l hear
lily mentionedI think of Oscar Wilde, and
it hurts very much.'
Il like Oscar Wilde. He quite nice,
and rorV amusing says Olga.
II Wonder if / could max. my hair grow"
says Mr.. Kelly. meditatively. Hes been
very clever about his; but l suppos, some
body taught him."
well, i think long hair is dirty" says
Mrs. Bohnn, with an distracted glance at
Ronayne,s lie ltly-shaven head.
Then, as though tired of her sweet role
and of its object Ronayne) and everything,
she turns capr!cionSly aside, and, motoring
away the men with her hand and a small
frown, sits down at Hernia Herr.ck's feet
and plucks idly at the grasses near her.
so we are dismissed = says Kelly, shrug-
ging his shoulders. Monica has disappeared
long ago with the devoted Rydc. Your
queen has her tempers, Ronayne."
'arhere are few things so cloying as per,
%fection,' says Ronayne, loyalty.
II entirely agree with you,-so much so
that l hope Providence will send me an ugly
wife. She--l beg your pardon--Mrs. Bohun
does pretty much what she likes with you,
doesn't she?'
altogether what sie likes. Shes been
doing it for so long nov that l suppose she'll
go on to the end Of the chapter. l hope il
will be a long one. DO you know" says the
young man, with u rather sad little laugh,
'it sounds of course rather a poor thing to
say, but l really think it makes me happy,
being don't what She likes with?!'
ut is only to oblige q friend that I sllo:ld
seek tc understand such a hopelessly in.
VOWED sentence as that" says Nj. Kelly,
YEARLY. But nave managed it. You're
as bad acase ITS ever | came across. Ronayne,
and | pity YOU. But 'pon my soul, l respect
you too" viii, a flash Of admiration; athere
is nothing like being thoroughly in earnest.
And so | wish you luck in your wooing,"
You're a very good fellow, Kelly says
Nonayne, gratefully.
In the mean time, Olga, firing of tearing
her grasses to pieces, looks up at Hernia.
''llow silent you are! She says.
II thought that was what you wanted
silence. You have been talking all day.
And. besides, If l speak at all, it will be
only to condemn
Nevertheless speak. Anything is better
than this CHASTITY quiet; and, besides, frank.
ly, | need not mind you. you know
"ien are flirting disgracefully with that
Ronayne boy"
What harm, if he is a boygg'
ssliei is not such Nfboy as niltl,at m to;
and if you don't mcun It, you are overland
to him."
lies my baby says olga, with a little
laughs; Il often tell him so. Why should 1
not be kind to him??'
''Oil, if you are bcnt on it!',
II am bent on nothing. You do run away
SO with things!''
81 think you might do BETTER
'I'm not going to do anything says the
widow. She throws off her hat, and ruf1les
up all her pretty pale gold hair with impa-
tient fingers.
'Oh. if you can assure me of that!'
~ don't want to assure you Of anything"
sol thought. That is whyI say you
might do better.'
"Imight do worse. too
perhaps. But still l cannot forget there
4 ,.,e. - ~. II. -