St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1865-09-28
THE HUMBLED HEIRESS.

THE HUMBLED HEIRESS.
CONCLUDED FROM LAST WEEK.1
"D'ye mean Eben Steere's house o.
"Yes, SIR"
"Goin' there tonight ? See yonder
chimbly, back O. the woods there's lit
tic curl o'smoke comm out ont -
81 see it, said Augusta, shading her
eyes with blackgloved hand.
"Wal, that's where Eben Steere lives''
He touched the ears of his drowsy oxen
with the whip-lash as he spoke, and slow
ly numbered down tho opposite road. How
Augusta eu%ied the mild-eyed beasts-they
had home to 60 to.
1t was nearly dark before she osccnded
tho porch steps Of thslonely, weathcr- beat
en- farmhouse. The shutters were tight
closed, the shrubs were bare and leatless,
and the few fakes of snow that were begin
ming to tremble through the air gave aa
ditional bleakness to the scene. Augusta
felt, almost like premonition, that there
was no welcome for her behind that worm
eaten door.
As it opened, in answer to her hesitating
knock, she saw urge old-fashioned kitch
en-, with a bright wood fire cracking on
the hearth, and rows Of tin saucepans shin
ing on the shelves opposite. \ hardlook-
ing woman, with iron-gray hair and cold
stecl-bluc eyes, sat knitting by the fire
and bowed old man, with deep wrinkles
on his brow and pinchcd features, stood be-
fore her, holding up Pickering candle SO
that its light might shine on the new-cem-
er's face.
"Is this Mr.. Eben Steerc's house?''
"Yes,' and am Eben Steete; what's
wantin' ?"
The cold tones seemed to chill through
Augustus heart, she tluddered my oluu
tarially.
II am your niece, Augusta Pelham"
''vh, you be, eh - said the old man, ap
parently somewhat taken back by .th,
statement. "Come income in. So you
pas dead, is he"
Augusta dropped, weak and powerless
on chair, and burst into tears. The mal
turned helplessly toward his wife.
"Loah, this gals cryin'. rguess likcl.
o she's almost froze."
a He seized up the backlog between tn
a tongs as he spoke, scattering shower O
red embers on the hearth. Mrs. Steer
rose and went towards her niece.
take of your things" she said, frig
idly. Il s'pose you calc'late to stop a.
night. There, there-1 haint no pat;enc
with cryin' folks. 1never cry meself, On
: 1 don't see no use in other peoples makir
fools O. themselves
: The fountain of tears was dried up. Al
8 gusta drew herself to her full height.
':Auut Leah," she said, ''you aud m
uncle are my only living relatives, and -
!. ''Yes, yes, know" interrupted Mr'
e Steere. "It's very unlucky Joseph's fail
l. in and dyin', and all that; but we amt ,
- blame for it as know Of, and of course 20
r don't expect US to keep you. We aint ric
ourselves, and you're strong hearty gal t
look at, and don't see why you shouldn
IL earn your own livin'.'' '...
It "Nor I either" chimed in Uncle Eber
II ''Though, Of course, we haint no objection
!. to keepin' you here day Or two while 20
look round little.'' &, ..r
"Thank you," said Augusta, in trem
= ulous voice; ''but shall not trouble you.
"You aint goin', be you? Why, it's dar
and CROWN cold"
j. "Not colder than your hearts," though
Is poor Augusta, as she walked out of the in
, hospitable dwelling, her heart throbbin
with indignant scorn, and her eyelashe
still wet with tears.
Homeless homeless in the bitter Decem
= Der storm. The snow eddied round ho
like a white, feeting shroud; the win
shrieked down the dreary valley like hu
man wall Of despair as she made her wa
gropingly through the night and tempest
''Surely it was here that the road branch
!: ed off to the railroad station" shethough
leaning against broken rail fence an
pressing her hand TO her aching temples
, 'Surely it was htre-and yet-Oh, if
: have lost my way !" h. -.....
The bare possibility appalled, her sl1
.. turned shudderingly from the black darl
mess, and strove to press yet further int
the road.