The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1903-05-22

lie gave n door bell a sharp pull
and waited impatiently for some n to
respond. He had no right to be im-
patient with any one but himself-his
heart told him that! but just the same
1t seemed that somebody was aWfully
slow about answering that bell. He
had time to walk to the end Of the
porch and back again twice before the
door was finally opened by an old coll
cred woman, who, after gazing at him
blankly for a moment, gave a grin Of
recognition n began bobbing up and
down, looking more like a cork on a
choppy sea than anything else tina he
could think of.
why, Mr.. Jack! How you is chang;
l mos didn't know you," she said.
working in the words between the
hobs. AN you had to wait till Chris
ma come round SO you would come
back de same time you lef. Thank'ee,
MT. Jack, thank'ee"-closing her hand
over a new half dollar-"I suttenly is
glad you come, I suttenly is. An Miss
Grace gwineter be glad, too. Yes sub,
come right in and mex yo'se'f com
f'table, an I'll go right long an tell
'er o come"
She went up the big winding stairs,
stopping at every third or fourth step
to glance back at him over her Shout
der with a look Of admiration. He was
good to look at-tall and straight, with
shoulders broad and a graceful car
riage. His eyes We're his best features,
dark brown andsclear, but the face was
clean cut and most people thought him
handsome.
He removed his top coat, which he
hung on the rack with his hat, and
then slowly made his way across the
wide hall, now beautifully dressed with
holly n mistletoe, and drew aside the
heavy port1eres. Once more he was in
the gold and white room which he
There was the plano where 1t had al
ways stood. He went over and glanced
at the piece Of music which was open
on 1t. "a Dream of Love- he said:
that was my favorite; let me see.
What was hers-but oh we'll, what's the
use thinking about it anyway; It's all
over now and neither Of US cares. so
what does it matter"
The holly In the big vases on the
mantelp1ece looked just like that which
was there the day he went away. pre-
served in its freshness by some magic
power. He could almost swear 1t was
arranged just the same way. and he
Went over and pulled a spray Of berries
to fasten In his coat. Then he remem-
bered that on that Christmas, two
years ago, a flower, a rose, had been
Pt1liAeu III his coat, and ne put the bit
OF holly back again, but Just for a mo-
ment, and calling himself a fool he took
1t once more and fastened 1t roughly to
his lapel, staring down into the red
a which were burning so brightly In
the open crate.
II I hadn't felt positively sure, he
Went on, inthfs thoughts. I never would
have come; but then I didn't want her
TO think that we We're not good friends,
and as I had to come south again. and
at Christmas. too, I thought I might
call Just for friendships sake. There
We're some pretty high words, but /
reckon we've both forgotten them now:
at least I know I have, and her little
note was very cordial. Let me see
how 1t went-"You certainly must not
leave town without seeing me, for the
sake Of the old days, and, besides. /
have q Christmas surprise for you.
Your flowers were lovely" n
Q that vas certainly a friendly
little note. I wonder what the Christ
mas surprise Is? We always did have
some little surprise for each other at
Christmas. I see she hasn't forgotten
It. Maybe she will suggest that we be
friends again, aye, and more. Maybe
she will be willing to forget the last
two years and we a be as we were
before. Maybe
She say she be down In a few min
utes, Mr.. Jack" said the old darky
from behind the portieres.
All right" he answered; thank
you"