The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1904-01-29
MISTAKEN FRIENDSHIP.
Bv Elise Louis.

BY Elise Louis.
fronx-~ht 1901. by w. r. Hearst. Great
Britain Rights Reserved.
you are mine, heart, body ana soui'
Won belong to me for better or for worse
and a pair Of strong arms folded the girl
to his heart.
They were married and were at ias.
alone in a tiny apartment that they hao
spent DAYS and days in making cosy, YET
tar from luxurious. They had spent hours
In planning to spend the small sun o.
none to the best advantage IN nttlns up
their future home; their little nest az
they called It, made secure by the VOL
nme Of love 1t contained.
In marrying the girl had sacrinceo u
fortune and all the luxury money pro-
gides and that she had been accustomed
to from infancy: She had been brought
up by q maiden aunt who had humored
her in every whim but the selection OF q
husband. She had married against the
strict wishes OF her aunt and therefore
had been disinherited.
Undaunted ard brave in her great love
Tor the man, she was prepared to face the
Inevitable and begin life with him on q
small income.
He on his side had grave fears OF the
future for her, as he was so unprepared
to provide the luxuries she had been ac-
rustomed to and which she had tried to
make him believe were not essential to
happiness. and from here we will follow
them with hopes and doubts for the fu-
ture.
In the evenings after dinner, which she
had, In all earnestness taken such pains
to prepare they presented a perfect pic
ture of domestic happiness with faces
full of contentmen In their quiet married
life. With laughter they would tell little
stories Of their personal sacrifice In order
10 be able to drop a few coins in a small
box for the occasional trip to the theater.
For Elk months this pleasant state Of
affairs continued without a moment of
aissension anywhere.
One evening he came in late to dinner
with a friend who was Of great advantage
to him in business, and with her usual
hmiab1lity she made the evening one to
be remembered.
She had such a sweet manner Of making
people feel perfectly at home that her
husbands friend called often to enjoy the
privilege OF q perfect evening with a
woman whose influence was so whole
some.
They drlfted into such a pleasant
lsienashlp tina the closeness was hardly
realized by either one Of them until one
evening her husband was compelled to re-
main away, but %laughingly told her his
friend would be with her, and she would
not feel so entirely alone.
In his absence the two friends decided
TO read aloud to each other, and for
a While the evening was very enjoyable,
put a little pathos in a story he was read
Ing to her prompted him to look at her,
and he found her eyes full of tears, and
he at once closed the book and came over
to her.
She started porceptibly as he held out
his hands to take hers. but drew herself
away with a dignity that could not be
misunderstood. Nothing daunted. he sa.
down beside her and tried to draw her
toward him.
n did not say. "How dare your or
"What do you mean?' but kindly and ST.
1ently drew herself away from him with a
sweetness of manner that did not fail to
meet with its reward.
II am ashamed. forgive me-" he said
and walked to the other side of the room.
When he had composed himself he came
back to her.
You have taugl. me to care" he said,
you have taught me to believe in and APP
preciate a wonlan's sweet companionship;
until tonight thought we were comrades,
but something in your eyes Just now ON
PEELED me TO fancy hat there was more
than that for you and me. but I was
wrong-I know that you will say that I
was wrong .
Yes. you were wrong" she said. ooh!
80 entirely and cruelty wrong. How you
have misjudged me in my simple little Of
fering Of a well meant friendship; but I
am not going to censure you; 1t was q
mistake, q grave enc, perhaps, but never
theless 1t h a be forgotten.
You probably wished me to listen to an
undying devotion and had I been the
weak woman in stories, 1 should have
cried or fallen, whatever way the depth
OF feeling may have swayed me, and you
would nave been disappointed either way.
mo, my friend. there is nothing any
man car offer a woman to compensate for
the loss OF a kind and good husbands love
and belief in her. wen allowing that the
romance might have fed with the mar
rage tie.
Even had you inspired me into an IL
licit love. what happiness would there be
for either OF US? What strength could
you have commanded to lift me from
degradation? None. Am 1 not right?
Now, my friend, as I am so secure In my
love and devotion for my husband, I can
afford to be generous to one who has
erred. and l am going to you
to forget everything that has passed be-
tween US tonight, and though the waters
may not be as smooth that we hence
forth sail, in Justice to him and all con-
cerned. silence will be appreciated; there
Is my hand in friendship; can you and will
you accept 1t in the full sense of the
word?'
Eagerly and gratefully he srasped he,
hand and held it firmly. "If It had not
been for your strength and sense would
have been denied the privilege Of ever
holding 1t again. Thank you" and he
fore she had time to say another word he