The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1905-08-03

bright. unSeiucn nature Will make even
a plain face attractive. Inc there were
times when you would have said that
little Nellie Graham was more thai
comely.
Each weekday morning. punctually
at a quarter to ). you might see her set
ting on tor a two-miie walk TO the
board school In Hirst street. where. AS
head teacher. she received a salary
which enabled her to provide for the
want OF the household.
or n sunny disposition. she always en-
deavored To look on the bright side of
things. But the dark side would persist
IN showing itself. especially when, as
II often happened. her father-a con-
firmed beer drinker-with foul oaths
would demand money from her. while
her MOTHER confirmed invalid-would
signal her from the horse-halr couch.
10 obey him.
At length. however. the time came
when even her darkest days had a
gleam OF sunshine. Love. entering her
life. had gloriied u.
Her s~weethcert's name was Marston.
He was n draIghtsman at Cranston's
big works: and. With n salary OF ElF0
per annum. had dreams for future
greatness.
To most PEOPLE he was an ordinary
young man. with n fair amount OF good
looks. but ~ Nellie he was a hero. and
well-nigh ns handsome as Apollo Bel
yedere.
six months had now elapsed since the
day of their engagement. and 40 Tar
lac saw no reason to doubt his sweet
hearts fidelity.
But the course OF true love. hitherto
running smoothly. received a sudden
check. In this wise. Having been In
formed by his chief that his salary
would shortly be substantially In
creased. Tom on leaving the office went
straight to town and there invested
eightccn-and-sixpenc Ia a present for
his sweetheart. to be given to her upon
her birthday. Aud that same evening
well pleased with himself and the
world, he set OF for , Nentnor Road.
Nellie was not mt home. ms the news
momentnrily damped his spirits.
The twilight was deepening. but Toms
eyes were keen. and presently he saw
Nallie's trim little figure on the opposite
pavement. h was walking quickly.
her gaze straight In front OF her. and
not until she heard his voice was b
kaware OF her sweetheart presence.
His greeting was anything but lover
Hke-nine women out OF ten would as
suredly have resented IL. Where have
you been" he said. a note OF irrita-
ton Ia his voice.
I'll have been she began faltering-
ly. and then stopped. her head averted,
| HtN WYE AHstA ~ kANhAAss
Instantly the demon OF jealousy
awoke within him. You've been walk
ing with some one" he exclaimed
hoarscly. who was Il? Some man. l
SUPPOSE"
With that she raised her head. and
looking straight into hts eyes: Yes
she sail firmly. almost. Il seemed TO
him denautly. 80 was a man. and !
have been walking with HIN for an
hour or more"
For a moment he was d~umfounded.
Then, "Oh, indeed" he said. striving to
control his voice. 'I-well talk about IL
later on--perhaps. Good evening"" And
on he swung. chin In air. twIrling his
cane between his fingers.
That evening and the day following
Tom sulkcd like a spoilt child. Nellie
must be taught n lesson! His
self esteem demanded as much. But
IL was far from his thoughts to al
low his parting To be final.
lie did not doubt he had n rival.
Probably the fellow was good look
ing and glib tongued: and 80 Nellie.
woman like. was fiattered by his at
tenlious. But her heart-ah. that be-
lonsed entirely to him, Tom Marston!
and he did not intend to lose II! But
Nellie he repeated must be taught a
lesson. She would be expecting him To
call today or tomorrow or the day
following: aud then she would write.
begging him To come and see her.
But ms the days went By tthe longest
four he had ever known without
bringing the looked for letter. Tom be-
came decidedly unhappy.
on the following day his pride was
perilously near C~apitulation. Yes. he
would see Nellie-perhaps this very
evcning-and IL her explanation or her
conduct should prove satisfactory, all
might yet he well!
He had changed his collar. n was
adjusting a brand new nccktIe. when
he heard the whlrring OF the electric
bell. The postman! His heart beat
faster at the thought. and. full OF
eager expectancy, he hurried To the
front door.
Chronicle. sir ""
With n sense OF keen disappointment
Tom took the local weekly newspaper
from the newsboy. and ~re-eutering his
sitting room, sat down, and mechanic
ally opened the sheet.
For a moment or two he glanced In
differently across the columns. and
then. suddenly. his eye caught the fol-
lowing paragraph:
"HEIiOlSM OF \ HANDSWORTH
LADY
Yesterday evening a horse. stand
ing between the shafts OF a trap la
Claremont avenue. took fright at a
passing steam roller. and suddenly bolt
ed. \ little boy who happened TO b
playing ga the road at the time was In
imminent danger OF being run over.
when n young lady. Miss Ellen Graham.
OF Nrutuor road. seeing hts peril. ran
into the roadway uu>Tescued him. Miss
Graham. We regret 10 state. was
knocked over, the wheel passing over
her body. and now lies ~ her home IN
u "preCariOus condition
In y fash a numbEess fell upon his
brala. This. however. lasted but "A mo-
ment and was followed b. u curious
sense OF unreallty. n for a space lie
sat staring ut h paragraph, hts face
the color OF cigar ash. Miss Ellen era.
ham" IL was a mistake! IL could not
be his Nellie. his little girl. She. who
was SO healthy n strong when he las
saw her, To be suddenly struck down!
The door was opened by n tall. good
looking man OF 80 or whereabouts. whose
deeply tanned complexion seemed In
diCatIve OF a recent residence In a trop'
teal climate.
~straIghtwuy Tom painted out thu
question nearest his heart, The reply
To which C'Better. much better") acted
upon him like news of a reprieye upor
- mar awaiting execution.
You are Tom MarstOu. ! suppose
/ thought 30. l am Ned Graham-NeIIi
brother. VIII you come inside2"
.
Ten minutes later Tony was stand
ing by the bedside They were alone
Il knew you would come" she whis
....a 49, 80. lnhNt,~ tsn u.sFh n anil,