The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1905-02-10
cv7 p. ~
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/s1V HEReERTsW
CoPXRIGHT, 1907
WM RHEAfsI
TREH7 klNWRIHI5 Re56RWp

GREHT
The harpist turned the handle of the
door, pushed it open and thrust aside
the heavy curtains that covered 1t.
For a ny she stood in the door.
way, then she let the roun arm fall
shat held back the hanginss. and the
beautiful face clouded duly.
"Oh. it Is you!' she said coldly:
Marie told me a gentleman, but !
SUPPOSE that was a trick of yours:
What do you want now?" She crossed
the room and threw herself into a
chair.
She was dressed in some red flowing
garment that gave a brilliancy TO her
dark beauty.
The group on the couch made a
striking contrast to her beauty n
s%plendor. 1t consisted of an elderly
woman. a young girl of eighteen, and a
child of iii or ten. All three We're
shabby and appeared pinched for lack
OF food.
"Erda. how can you?" the young girl
cried. Why should we employ a trick
If we wished to see you" Mother. may
we see her daughter, l suppose. when
she Will" The speaker paused, a
quick suspicion flashed across her face,
anger into her clear eyes, "unlesS you
have been i~nstructing our servant to
deny YOU to US she added Indignantly;
and her message that you We're not at
home. the last three times we called,
has been a lie!"
Indeed was out; ! am almost al
ways out, what with engagements ana
louting for engagements and rehears-
ais she retorted angrily. Though
If anything wou make me take such Il
course she added With hardness. lit
would be scenes such as these. Moth
er, I am expecting a visitor very short
ly, II you can come another time"
~ can come any time you wish,
dear" said the mother sadly. Il am
only anxious to now how things are
going with YOU. If you are beginning
to do well-as the papers say-and can
return a little Of"
"A little of the money you have eX-
pended upon mel" lIdra finished the
the old story. What a thing it is to
have a mother for ones CREDITOR,
When will you pay back the money
when will you pay back the money? 1t
is the question which is always being
dime into my ears!"
Two bitter tears crept nto the elder
woman's eyes. Dear. l did not know
that l had asked you so often she
said gently. The time seems SO much
longer to us than it does to you. But
1t seemed as if things We're at last go
ing we'll With you. We see your name
in so many places-and you know we
agreed TO spend all that we had on
our talent. and you were to see wha,
you could do in six months. That was
nearly a year ago"
II did not know what l was doing
when l agreed to that" said the girl
sulkily. Now, when at last l aln max
ing Roadway. o would hamper and
ruin me With"
"Erda,." The woman's cry was the
cry of one on pain.
Janets lips were white with anger as
she put a comforting arm around hel
mother. Then for the first time the
:hild spoke.
Mother cries so because she doesn',
have enough to eat she said simply
Tears crept into her own blue eyes.
Erda turned roughly away. Moth.
ar she said, lin three months l shall
he able to.repay YOU, perhaps, who
,Nnows. sooner than that. l wish
could ask you to stay now, but, as
said. l am expecting n visitor-a gen
tleman who has a great regard 70
me In spite of all my faults he j:
only waiting this opportunity to asl
me to he his wife" She made al
ironical bow to her sister. Mother, H.
is Il rich man; ] shall be able to d,
more han Fay back this money whel
am his Wife"
She rested one arm upon the a
tel-piece and waited. Every line of tn
graceful attitude said Go but tn
mother. trembling, essaNed one las
word. "lIrda, not for our sakes. no
for amy ones. must YOU marry Il ma
WHOM you do not love-"
l.rda did not reply.
do not be afraid. mother" sal,
Janet quietly, neither for ou, sakes
nor for any one else's. but fer her owl
, will she do this or any other deed"
/: They moved toward the door, upo
:. 1SrI1'S face Stjn that cr1ila Nvbj,
meant her coolest and most unforgiv
ing mood, as those who knew he
we'll.
Al the door the child turned. Moth
er meant TO tell you our new address!
Y 1.rda,' she said: but perhaps sh
4 didn't like tot isn't at all Il mic
Y street. 1t is 1rwell street Just b
the prison. You can reach it i'll til
train if you ever want to come. but
8 Is rather a long Way. a twopenny ride
\ "A %twopenny ride" The phras
/ rans sordid and ugly. and the haypist
h graceful shoulders Went into II sllru
4 as the door closed.
i She. began to walk again the lcngt
4 of the room. from the doc To the heay
Il curtains which shut off the music roo
4 ard her harp, turning With a rrou
a imperious movement which said III;
a she was setting herself 10 conquer III
pleasant thoughts.
" = ''tN(' ''i ii''ii :
q hour; then by the door SHE pauset
she opened it, hesi,ated. cam" aga
into the room. She stood motionle
% by the great glass upon the wall. T.
sarding her own proud image, but 10
in thought.
She had been standing so for son
) moments when her eyes fixed then
selves more %intently upon the MIR
? and into them horror leaped.
: "Nou!" she cried in~voluntarily. s.
stood as if turned to tone.
5 The man who was emerging fro
i the inner room halted for a secon
2 Yes, it is t.. he said quietly.
" thought you had left the rooln.'
!, They stood facing each other in $
ience. Then slowly he girl spoil
: You have been waiting" she said hal
> ingly. how long?"
: II have been there suppose that
what you are concerned about-all /
time
) You heard?' she murmured. S
, raised searching eyes. They fell spec
lily. for one glance WAS sufficient
" tell her that he knew all.