The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1905-04-28
f1t HiAS1LK UT APPLTH1
BY Francis Lynde.


-
coming. Marsery looked IN upon me
| ottencr. and soon there grew up be-
tween us a comradeship the like of
Which. / think. had never been between
Il woman loved and Il man VINO. loving
her. was Yet constrained 10 play the
part oil her rue lovers friend.
III | played this part but stumblinsly;
if at times the madness of my passion
would not be denied the look or word or
hand-elaSp not OF poor cool friendship.
| have this TO comfort me: that in after
time. when my dear lad came To know.
he forgave me freely-nay. held ME al
together blamcleSs, as | was not.
OF What these looks and words and
hand-clasps meant to Margery L had
no hint. But in my hours of sanity,
when l would pass these slippings in
review. ] could recall no answering
flash of hers to salt the woundings of
the con-science-whip. So far from it. it
seemed. as this sweet comradeship
budded and blossomed on the stock of
a better acquaintance, she came to hold
me more as If l We're some cross be
tween a father or al elder brother, and
some closer contidant of her own sex.
You are not TO understand that she
was always thus. nor over-often. More
Frequently that side of her which / soon
t'Ii ~ u NV y a.
to me, and l was made to stan q tar
get for her Wit and raillery. But she
was ever chanGeful as a child. and In
the midst of some light TESTING mood
would sober instantly III give my age
its due.
In some of these. her soberer times, l
felt her lean upon me as my sister
might. had l had one; at others she
would frankly set me in her fathers
place. declaring l must tell her what
to say or do in this or that %entangle-
ment. Again, II this came oftener
as our friendship grew. she would talk
to me as surely woman never talked to
any but n kinsnlan. telling me naively
of her c~onquests. and sparing no gal
liant OF them all save only Richard Jen-
infer.
And of Dick n his devotion she
spoke now and then. as we'll. though
never mockingiy. as Of the others. Nay.
once when L pressed her on this point.
asking her plainly If my dear lad had
not good cause to hope, she would only
smile and urn her face away. and say
that of all the men she knew the hope
full ones pleased her best. So j was
thus assured hat If 1t We're a scale for
love to tip. my lady'S heart would fall
to Richard.
Now 1 took this to be a hopeful sign.
that she would tell me freely of these
her little heart affairs; and seeing her
so safe pom the side of friendship.
held the looser rein upon my own un-
chartered passion. SO long as l could
keep my love we'll masked and hidden
hat harm could come to her or any
If 1 should give it leave to live in
prison? None. l thought; n yet at
times was made a very coward by the
thought. For love. like other living
things. will grow by what it feeds upon.
and once full-grown. may haply come
to laugh at bonds. however strong or
cunningly devised.
With such a fever in my veins 1t was
little wonder that my wound healed
slowly. AS time passed by, With never
a word of news from the world without
if Margery knew aught of the fight
ing she would never lisp a syllable to
me-and with Gilbert Stair still keep
ing churlishly beyond the sight or
sound of me l fretted Sorely and would
be gone.
Yet this was but n passing mood.
When Margery was With me l was not
ill-content to eat the bread of suffrance
in her fathers house. and angry pride
had scanty footing. But when she was
away this same pride took sharp re-
venges, getting me u of bed to bully
Darius into dressing me that l might
was still unfit for any useful thing.
One morning in the summer third of
June my lady came early and surprised
me at this business of pacing back II
forth. Whereat she scolded me as was
her o when l grew FESTIVE.
What weighty thing have you to do
that you should be so fierce to be o
1t, Monsieur Impetuous?" she cried.
III donc. you'd try the patience of a
saint"
Which you are not" ventured.
But truly. Margery, I am growing
stronger now, and the bed does irlS me
desperately, ii you must know. Be
sides
Well, what is there else besideso Do
1 not pamper o enough?'
/ laughed. I'll say whatever you
would have me say-so it be not the
truth"
I'll have you say nothing until you
sit down.
She pushed the great chair OF Indian
w~ickerwork into place before the win
dow-bay, and when l was at rest she
drew up a low hassock and sat at my
feet.
Now you may go on" she said.
You have not told me what you
would have me say"
The truth" she commanded.
%,.What is truth" said testing
pose my Lord Bacon thought the Ro-
man ~procurator TESTED at such a time
and place."
You are clubbing. Monsieur John. 1
want to know why you are SO impa-
tient to be gone"
Saw you ever a man worthy the
name who could be content to bide in
active when duty calls?"
THAT is not the whole TRUTH she
said, half absently. You think you are
unwelcome here"
Twas you said that; not I. But
must needs know your father will be
relieved when he is safely quit Of me-"
"'TNas you said that, not l. Monsieur
John" she retorted. giving me back my
own words. Has eve word been
brought you that he would speed your
parting"
Surely not. since l am still here.
But you must know thai l AVE never
seen his face, as yet"
And is that strange? You must not
forget that he is Gilbert Stair, and you
| a ra }tpppy Iroton'S son