Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1908-10-23
THE PHOTOGRAPH OF
THE QUAKERESS

antrim DohSlIully uecldfed tHdt ne
never would marry. Perhaps 1t was
on this account that every woman
that knew him longed to dangle his
scalp at her belt.
At the big hotel at Mackinac he met
Ethel, whom he knew. and whom he
always had feared a little. She was a
desperate firt, and many men had
found her irresistible. Antrim had no
mind to be caught in her snares, but
she was so pretty and agreeable that
he could not always keep away from
her. They strolled on the beach in the
afternoons and sat in secluded n
of the mocniit verandGs in the even
ing.
Antrim knew that he was drifting
into danger, but for the life OF him he
couldn't fumwon up the fortitude to
change his curse. II he tried to break
away from Ter she would bring him
back with a smile.
AS a last resort Antrim sought to
save himself V an unworthy device.
He pretended that he was consumed
by passion for sore fair unknown.
yes" said this deceitful man one
evening as LEY sat together en- the
moonlit 70 Oh and gazed at the gleam-
ing water; yes, / have loved her for
years, though she does not know it.
Her image is With me always-always.
She is the In. grafton, the lodestar of
my life. | an so unworthy of her that
| dare not risk my hopes by a propos-
al. If she refused me / should die"
80, how extremely interesting" was
the eager response. 81 should so like
to see her photograph. You have her
photograph. | am sure. Don't deny it,"
1t was easier to admit than to deny,
so Antrim sgil yes, he had a photo
graph, an Cd che that he had obtain
ed surreGtitiously.
you viii let me see it, won't you?"
Antrim hesit<ted, for he had no pho
tograph to show.
Please" size beseeched, prettily. 81
think, as good friends as we have
been, hat you could grant me just this
one small favor"
In this pie ding mood she was ire
sistible.
Antrim Suddenly remembered that
his / ter be- q lot of photographs in
her room. Pc haps he could find one
there that would do.
4 will see if | can find it," he said.
1T is impossible for me to refuse you
anything"
Re ran TO his sisters room. She
was rot there, but lie knew where to
find the photographs. He glanced
through them hastily and at last Sc
lected a demrre, sweetfaced girl pos
ing as a Qu7reress. He knew it was
a fancy dress photograph, and he
thought it W the picture of an act
ress.
There" e said trembling a little
at re the Of being such a deciv-
er, tie e v u see the only girl | ever
loved or ever could love-
She gave . little start of dismay as
she 'ooFed ct the photograph in the
din light. Then she got up and leaned
over the banister to obtain a better
look at tie little Quakeress.
She trrne hack to him with a lit
tie cry OF suTp Use, letting the picture
fall TO the h~or.
ooh, my d Ring" she murmured, as
she threw be SELF upon his bosom. 81
never in al my life heard or dreamt
of such 4 charming way of proposing.
/ cannot refu e you"
could he DO but silently kiss
the sweet urturned face?
"That was. taken years ago. she
went on. we all went to a fancy
dress ball and was dressed as a
Quakeress. Next morning I was pho
~tographed in that costume. To think
you had it all this time. I can give
you now a much better photograph of
myself"
1t was a long time after they were
married when Antrim accidentally
learned that It not Ethel but her
sister that went as a Quakeress to the
fancy dress ball-Paul Harry.