The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1904-02-12
SYLVIA.
BY May Harvey.
Copyright, 1904, by w. R. Hears

slidll OF me town band.
mat is rather a pretty thing they
are playing" remarked one Of the men.
frank Leslie, referring to the band;
what is 1T called?"
1 pei1eve he is q gavotte called 'Syl-
wa, replied Stuart Harcourt, his
companion.
what a host OF bitter-sweet memo
RES surged through Franks mind al
me mention of that I'm He saw q
M,nsome, merry face, framed in glori-
Gus masses Of bright, brown hair; soft,
vioiet eyes that had so often gazed at
him with tender lovelight shining In
'hem. A long sigh broke from him,
when caused his friende to turn to
him and say:
What is it, Leslie, old chap? Any
thing the matter? BY the by, Sylvia is
tne name you We're always shouting
When you had brain fever so badly in
india. Is there anything connected
with it?"
A pause ensued, during which time
frank Leslie seemed to be engaged in a
mental struggle, At last he exclaimed.
You have been a good friend to me,
Stuart, and nursed me like O brother
when | had the fever, SO + will tell you
what l would impart to no other per-
son living; that is, my love story.
Light a cigaret, old fellow, let US sit
down on this beach, and here goes:
When | was quartered at Marford, a.
horrid little country town, I made the
acquaintance of MIR. Barns, vicar Of
the country parish of Wartham. He
was very kind. and invited me to his
house. I went, and met his daughter.
Sylvia Barns. Oh. Stuart! I can
never tell o how I loved that girl,
and fully lie l believe; she loved me in
return. I was always looking for OPP
~portun1ties to go to Warthaln vicar
age, and it was comparatively easy,
for she and 1 became inseparable COM
panions. At last the day came when
| received my orders fro India. Iwent
straight to Wartham. saw Sylvia, told
her Of my love, and asked If there was
any hope for me-
81 have never cared for any one save
you, Frank, and never Shall =
Those We're her very words, Bar-
court. but how false they proved! I
then went to Mr.. Barns to tell him of
what had taken place between his
daughter and myself.
You are both too poo to be mar
ried,' he replied. I don't approve OF
long engagements, but If you both think
the same when you come home, Leslie,
I Will give my sanction to the marriage.
If in h meantime should either of you
change your mind write I'M apprise
the other Of the fact, but no other cor
respondence will I allow; in this I trust
to YOU honor
Not being able to make better terms
h a this, 1 consented.
Il had been in India about a year
when 1 received a note in Sylvia's
handwriting which ran az follows.
q have changed my name to Durn-
ford and by the same mail a news
paper arrived, on opening which my
eye caught a paragraph commencing
thus:
1.-The little village Of Wartham was
en- fete on Tuesday, on the occasion OF
the marriage Of DR.. Durnford with Miss
Barns.
II read no further. 1t was indeeo
insult added to injury. Not only Sylvia
proved false in the little space Of time,
but she had also sent me a newspaper
account Of her baseness. You know the
rest. How I got brain fever, and how
on my recoveryswe both obtained leave
and carne honle.'
A few evenings after Franks confess
sion he and Stuart attended the Infirm-
airy ball. While walking around the
room criticising different bellies,
Stuart's attention was suddenly at
tract by an exceedingly pretty girl,
who was gazing at his friend with earn
est attention. He saw Frank glance at
neF VIII u look OIL SuuueH SOUTH, tueu
the fair face paled and she shrank be-
hind a lady who was standing near
Later In the evening Frank. who. had
not danced many times, was accosted
by one Of the stewards whom he knew
slightly.
There is a lady friend of mine here
who hardlyaknows anybody, SO do come
and dance with her.
So saying, he took franks arm, led
u him I'm To n prnnn nelr the Il nnr MR.
INJURED a few indistinct words of intro
duction, and hurried ava to another
non-dancing man, leaving Frank face
to face with his false love. Sylvia
Barns.
Why have yon not spoken to me all
the evening"" she asked in an appeal
ing voice. What have I done to offend
you?"
Need you ask" replied Frank stern
ly, when you think Of your treachery
and baseness 2"
.Treachery and b~aseness!' Sylvia,
faltered. Frank. I don't understand
YOU
This is no place for a discussion;
come into the conservatory" said
Frank.
The conservatory was empty. On ar
riving there Frank turned to Sylvia,
and said in a scornful tone:
You don't understand, Mrs. Durn-
ford, what I meau by treachery? Do
you not call promising to marry one
man and then jilting him for another,
base?"
Eyes, Frank, I should call it so; but
what has it to Go with me? And why
do you call me Mrs. Durnford? I am
Miss Durnfordi
Miss Durnford!" CALCULATED Frank,
In ainazement. How SOP"
why, poor old Aunt Durnford died
when you had been away q year, leav-
ing us her money providing we should
take her Did o not receive
the paper with an account Of Marks
wedding In 1t, which beautifully ex-
planned it all? My father said I wasn't
to write a letter. I wrote q note,
though, letting you know of my change
OF name"
A flight flashed across Franks mind.
Then 1t was Mark who was mar
ried, and, OF course, I remember. he al
ways was in love with his cousin, Bes-
sic Barns. Oh, my darling. my darling,
can you ever forgive me for doubling
your murlnured Frank, ~passionately,
when he had explained his fears
What Sylvia answered I know not;
suffice 1t to cay that the little village of
Wartham was again en- fete shortly at
terward. on the occasion Of Miss Durn-
u ~ ~ @- III - ~ a