The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1904-12-16
CHAPTER XII.

CHAPTER Mi.
That evening George Bostock sat in
his study. a comfortable and almost
luxurious room, with Its cases of old
rosewood holding many a rare and
precious volume, quaint engravinss on
the wall between the deeply recessed
windows with their velvet curtains Of
olive green hue, brackets of wrought
and curiously twisted iron. upholding
bron2c busts Of the literary heroes he
reyered. rich colored. d%eep-piled Turkey
carpets on the floor. the light of care
fully shaded lamps casting a soft glow
upon his desk and leaving the painted
ceiling and distant corners almost in
shadow.
Something in his attitude. something
In his face. spoke of the depression
which overwhelmed him Il depression
he never permitted to master him in
the presence of others, but which con-
quered him completely in his moments
OF solitude. Looking back upon his life
it seemed to him he had gathered and
stored for himself but little Of the hap
piness that falls TO the general lot of
mankind. Left an orphan before he
could we'll remember his parents, he.
a sensitive, ilnpress!onable boy. had
been reared by his maternal grand
mother and only surviving relative. a
stern. ~unbending old lady, who had
never understood her charge or sue
ceeded in winning his affection.
\ nature which might have expanded
under tenderness was repressed by
yielded to gentleness became I'M
bending under punishment. So that
early in his years he was driven. by
lack of comprehension and want of
sympathy to hat inner life of loneli-
ness which chills the hearts warmth
n ND ~ Is, 1, Iy,> {l,1 ,.~r1S ~ NJ, n dos
ert. And the mind being most. sensi-
tive in youth, the impressions then re-
ceived are never wholly eradicated. for
nothing the after years may know of
pleasure compensate for early days
darkened by pain.
AS a shy. reserved ~schoolboy he had
sought few friends, but to those he
made he showed a stanchness and de-
yotion seldom returned, and frequently
disappointed, so that here he found lit
tie escape from the isolation he then
scarcely understood. On coming to
mans estate he had invested his patri-
mony in a publishing firm of which he
became a partner; he being attracted
to the business chiefly by his love of
books, which from youth had been his
chief companions. His knowledge of
literature, his rapid perception. and his
addition to the firm gave it a career
of prosperity it had previously lacked.
beIoTc he Ildu IedClleu HIS llliSlelA
year he had bought OF his partner.
and was now sole proprietor of the
business. Success continued to attend
him, and he was usually regarded by
his large circle of acquaintance as a
fortunate man. No expression of his
by word or look CAV them to under
stand he did not agree with their opin-
ion; tina which he really felt was hid
den from the world. But in the silence
of his inner life he cried out against
his fate; for he was conscious there
was something missing from his life
which other men possessed; some
anchorage, which he had not, held them
fast III happy contentment. With a
nature capable of deep and constant
affection, the love Of woman had never
frightened his days. and he regarded
with despair the chilling isolation which
he seemed powerless to change.
On reaching his Office rather later
lady waited to see him. CHANGING at
her card he saw her name-Mrs. Dum-
bartonEwas unfamiliar and he looked
forward to the boredom of an interview,
possibly with a wealthy m who
came with a check in one hand n a
manuscript in the other, which she de-
sired him to publish that her genius
might be made known to the world;
probably with q novice possessing a
sense of her merit derived from the
opinions of her friends, who wished to
offer her production at a price which
Q veteran novelist might envy.
The visitor who entered his office be-
longed TO neither Of these classes. In
q timid,, nervous manner she asked to
have a story she had brought with her
read with a view to publication, If it
met with his approval. There was
something in the grace of her move
ments that attracted him; something
- Is ~-S N,-~~ 900
OF her voice that stirred him: nm
thing in the earnest expression Of her
large gray Eyes that interested him. He
etrOve to prolong the interview because
Of the strange pleasure 1t gave him, and
in the hope OF hearing details concern
ing h life and Of learning traits re-
Earding the individuality of the woman
before him.
But unlike most of her sex who Wis
fled him, she was reticent. Beyond
knowing her name and that she had
written some magazine stories previous
to undertaking the novel entrusted to
him he gained no further information
about her. Having briefly n plainly
stated her business, she rose and bowed
as he opened the door for her to de-
part.
Left alone he fell into a reverie. The
prefix to her name showed him she was
either aswife or a widow, and her gen
teel appearance led him to conclude
h latter state was hers. He then
wondered what were the circumstances
in her life which had led her to write,
and from that his curiosity was aroused
regarding what she had written. The
general business OF the day distracted
his thoughts from her, but that being
ended she filled his mind once more.
1t was now his general c,;1tom to for
ward manuscripts to a professional
reader for his opinion; but his stor,
he resolved to read himself. and he
looked forward to it's perusal with 8
curiosity inc interest he had not fell
concerning other novels submitted t.
him.. 1t was his opinion tina the inner
life Of q writer Is reflected in his pages
that on the paper may be seen sucl
subtle feelings, innate tastes. or strons
characteristics as lie in his heart. A.
George Bostock was DESTROYS of learn.
Ing In this mi the nature of tn,
woman whose mark ed Individuality to-
strongly impressed him.