The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1900-01-06
MONICA. {
4 I ovH STORY OF MODERN DAYS.

3A ], ovH STONY OF moDEaN DAvs,
If 1 had had to- confess there had been
no introdnctioD,n goes on Monica, laughing.
result"
The deluge, l suppose, returns hsr com.
panion, Moughtfully.
What a pity you have IN uncle at all p,
Monica, presently. st would be all
right only for him. She omits to say ,phut
would be all right, but tile translation is
simple.
"Oh, don't say that entreats Desmond.
VINO hasa wholesome affection for the old
gentleman above at Cooie. "He is the kind
est old fellow in the world. l think, il You
knew MN, yoa would be very fond of him;
aha \ knowyhe would adore you. lii fact,
ne IS 50 k1nd-hearted that cannot think
now all that unfortunate story about YOUR
mother ever came; about. He looks to ms
as II he couldn't say Boo, to agoosa' where Il,
woman was concerned, AMI yethis manner
tonight confirmed everything / heard.n
He confessed" in q deeply Interested
tone.
Well, just the INT thing. He seemed
distressed about his W conduct in the af-
falr, too. But his manner was odd. thought;
and he seems as much at daggsls drawn
with your aunts as they with him."
That IN because he is ashamed of him
self. One is always hardest on those one
has injured"
But that is Just it, says Mr.. Desmond,
In a puzzled tone. 81 don't believe, honest
ly, he is a bit ashamed of himself. He sati
y good deal about his regret, but 1 could see
he quite gloried In his crime. And, in fact,
l couldn't discover the smallest trace of re-
morse about him.
"lIe must really be a very bad old man.,
says Monica, severely. I'm perfectly GER
tain il he were any uncle 1 should not love
him at ALL"
Don't say that. When lie is your uncle
you will see that l am right, and that lie is
q very loyable old man, i'll spite of all his
faults.n
AT this Monica bushes a little, and twirls'
her rings round her slender fingers in an ex-
GERS of shyness, and finally, in spite of q
stern pressure laid upon herself, gives way
to mirth.
what are you laughing at now?" asks
he, laughing too.
AT you,' casting a swift but charming
glance at him from under her long laslles.
You do say such funny things!,
Did You hear there is to be an afternoon
dance at the Barracks next week." asks lie,
presently. 81 was Mt Clonbrec Oh ThurN lay,
and Goblet told me about it."
who is Cobbcttf'
s'The captain there, you know. He was
at Aghyohl!lbeg yesterday. Didn't you see
nina little, half-starvcd-looking man,
with a skin the color Of his hair, and both
gray?'
GA, of course-now / remember him."
says Monica, this fetching description hay
Ing cleared her memory. u Thought to my
self how odd lie and the other man, Mr..
Ityde, looked together, one as big as the
other was little.n
II think there is more matter than brains
about Ryde,' says Desmond, contamptu-
olsly. do you think your aunt will let
you go TO this dance at Clonhree?."
"Oh, no; am sure not. My aunts would
be certain to look upon n dance III the Il IT,
racks as something too awfully dissipated."
FOL one reason l Should be glad you
didn't CO."
"Glad?' opening her eyes.
YVES. That fellow ltyde never took his
eyes off you yesterday"
is that a criiuc?'
in my eyes, pcs."
And you would wish me to be kept a
prisoner at home, Just because one man
looked at me?:"
Il dom want any one to look at you but
meP' Then he IN a little closer to her
and comrels her, by the very strength Of
his regard, TO lot her eyes meet his. ado
you like RydeY lie asks, somewhat serious
~. Monica, answer me-"
Its the %secondtime he has, called her by
her Christian name, and a startled express
sion passes over her face.
We'll, he was very nice to me-" she says,
with q studied hesitation that belongs totlle
ar'st bit of coquatry she has ever practicel
IN her life. She has tasted the sweetness Of
power, and fresh as her knowledge is, She
estimates the advantage of it to a nicely.
II believe q mar has only to be six-feet-
one to have every woman. In the world in
love with him. says Desmond, wrathfully,
who is only tive-feet-eleven.
Il an not exactly in ,Jre with Mr.. Ryde,"
says Monica, sweetly, with averted face and
a coy air, assumed for her companions dis
comfiture; "but-'
"But uhdt2'
But, l was going to say, there is nothing
remarkable in that, as | am not iii love With
any ono, and hope I never shall be. Iwon-
der where Kit can have gon. to; will you
get up there, Mr.. Desmond, ana look?."
Breaking OFT a tiny blade OF grass from the
bank near her, she puts it between her pref.
ty teeth, and slowly nibblcs it with al air
of utter Indifference to all the world that
drives Mr.. Desmond nearly out of his wits.
Disdaining to take any heed of her notice
to quit and quite determined to know the
worst, he says, deiantly,-
IF You do 90 to this dance, may lconstd-
Or M ESa1f aylunyaA IN t-f,, fnr. }Lo Il ySf Avn ~ ~
There is quite q froWn upon his face as he
says this; but 1t hasn't the fdntest effect
upon Monica. She is not at all impressed,
and Is, in fact, enjoying herself immensely.
IT go, which Is more than improbable,
l shall.certainly not dance with you at ALL
6lne says, calmly, because Aunt Priscilla
will be there too, and she would not hear OF
my doing even a mild quadrille with q Des-
mond.'
~ sec" with a melancholy assumption of
composurc. "All your dances, then are to
be preserved for Ryde.''
II Mr.. Ryde asks me to dance, of course
l shall not refuse"
You mean to tell me"-evcn the pooras-
sumption is now gone-"that you are going
to give him all and me a,0ncT'
II shall not give anyone all; how can You
talk like that? But / cannot defy Aunt pris-
ella. Ii Is very Unhinu Oh YOU 10 OeSire IT,.
I suppose you think l should enjoy being
tormented from morning till night all about
y6n?.
Certainly not. Idon't want you to be
tormented on any account, and, above all,
on mine" very stifly. $40 prevent any
thing of the kind, | shall not 30 to Cobbett's
dance"
If you choose TO get intoa bad temper !,
can't help YOU"
~ am not in a bad temper, and even if l
were 1 have cause. But it is not temper
will prevent my going TO the Barracks"
What tlen?"
why should l 60 there to be made mis-.
cradle? YOU can go and dance with Ryde
TO your hearts content, but 1 shall spare
myself the pain Of seeing YOU. Did yon say
you wanted your sister? Shall | call her
Aow? | am sure you must want togohome.'
81 DON'T she says, unexpectedly; and
Hena little smile Of conscious triumph
wreathes her lips as she looks at him, stand
Ing moody and detected before her. A word
from her will transform him; and now, The
day being all her Own, she can afford to be
-. $500. Ir.,n,, - XJa ,,n,-,, I,o,{ ~ .n,,,, AZ,