The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1903-11-27

IS SAVED BY +
: A DREAM +
+ A Thanksgiving Story. +
-ss"sI
1t was late Thanksgiving eve when
my ball dress was sent home. and
Marie. my dainty fingered French
maid, had finished braiding my heavy
black hair and adjusted my new head.
dress, an exquisite diamond bandeau.
Nora brought up the dress nicely fold
ed. and Marie sprang to take 1t from
its wrapp!ngs and lay 1t out on the
bed.
AS Marie lifted the dress and shook.
its rich folds a slip Of paper fell to the
carpet 1t was madam's bill. and T was
q little startled as my y ran we it.
$20Ol But then the trimmings, a rich
lace and cord d'or were perfect. 1t was
an expensive dress, but I didn't think
1t would be quite that, and Mr.. Gordon
had said that none had been getting
tight for some time back. I wouldn't
show him the bill Just yet, SO I thrust 1t
into q drawer of my dresser and turned
to Marie. who stood waiting to dress
me.
is \ WdS contemplating my Ie1leCIlOn IN
the mirror with much c~omplacency
when the door opened and Mr.. Gordon
came in. For a momen I was half
frightened at his pale face and grave
air, but he said: II only stopped for a
moment, Mrs. Gordon, to say hat 1
shall not be able to join you at
madam's tonight. Business affairs
will keep me down town late"
Before I could ask him what he
thought Of my dress he passed out Of
the room. and presently I heard the
street door close. It was nothing new
for me to attend parties without the
escort OF my husband, for somehow he
was always immersed In business;
neither was It new for Mr.. Gordon to
look grave or pale, for he had lost his
fresh color these late years.
At length I was ready and was
driven to the home OF Nine. Stapleton.
One ball is SO similar to another In.
the world OF fashion that to recount
how the hours passed in madarn's
drawing rooms would be to tax your
patience. Sufficient to say that 1t was
long after the midnight chimes had
rung that I was handed from my car
riage to my own o by the most dis
tingnished gentleman Of my set.
The atmosphere in the drawing room
was deliciously warm i~nscontrast with
the temperature OF the1sharp Novem-
DGI iiSlll WllllUul. ~ was plsdSdHC u
sit there with my dainty slippered feet
over the register and the waves of
lustrous silk bathing the carpet and
reflect that I swan On the topmost
wave Of the sea of fashion in the city
around me. n the warm air stealing
up from the register soothed my senses
to delicious calmness.
Suddenly, while I sat thinking. from
the dim corners Of the drawing room
seemed to glide out a train of figures.
each dressed IN questionable gar
ments of bygone days, and yet, strange
to say, each garment was recognized
by me as something that I had worn In
those days. and in the face of each fig
ure turned toward me I beheld my own.
The figures gl1ded around me, then
seated themselves on the opposite side
Of the apartment. each looking at me
STEADILY and with my w dark, eyes.
Gradually the figure nearest my right
seemed to invest Itself with the access
soties ola picture. and h thin mist hid
the others from my sight.
A child of 10 summers stood in the
yard of an old broken farmhouse, with
the westerins light OF the sunset
streaming owe the hEilding and bath
ing her tiny fingers tn a FLOOD of gold.
/ did not speak even In a whisper
While the picture of my entire child
hood was unrolled before me, but
thoughts like these glided athwart my
brain: WASH once that happy heart
ed, wild, romping child whose greatest
are was to please her parents and
whose greatest grief the loss of some
woodland pet?'
Even while I sat gazing the scene
slowly faded, and out from the dim
mists that had infolded the figure near
est tho child rose fair and clear the
second picture before me.
A slender, beautiful maiden stood In
the moonlight beneath the rustic porch
draped with ~honeysuckles tina climbed
over the farmhouse door. It was Daisy,
but q child no longer. She wore a neat
but simple dress of pale pink muslin,
n a single white rose plucked from
the bush beside the doorstep adorned
her hair. Suddenly a firm step came
up the walk leading to the farmhouse.
1t was a young and frank faced man
who Joined her, and Daisy blushed, and
they weiit in and sat down together In
the moonlight by the west room vim
dow. E~loquence was not necessary to
love in those days, and Daisy and
Charles Gordon sat long in; the noon
light and talked together. Charles al
ways thought he must leave at 9. but
he Is in no haste tonight Ten, half
past 10. II goes by. and there they
stand In the moonlight. When they
part. a tender kiss burns on Daisy,s
cheekS ana q slender gold ring CLEANS
on her finger, and she goes to her cham
Der to sleep the first dream Of a happy
plighteG love.
Fol- a moment I stretch out NV
hands toward the maiden In the farm
house, but the scene grows dim, the
figures fade and another picture un-
folds before my view.
It was q bridal scene. Charles had
grown more grave looking, for he was
a business mar now, and three years
lad added luster to Daisy's fuller flr-
ure. Both were trusting aud belovs1