The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1875-12-22

Miss Evelyn Yorke, in golden silk, with
roses in her hair, was floating through a
languid polka .redows, Mildred kneIt At
the bedside Of a dying woman!
:''Mllly, you have been good to me al
ways. and am very old. q Years ago.
when I Was young" >.S &ss .5 81 = at
The word died away into everlasting
silence upon her lips, the gray shadows
of death crept. slowly over the wrinkled
forehead, and the freed soul went out
through the midnight into the great Un-
known. n ~ .,&
Poor Aunt Patience was buried quietly,
and forgotten! Even the formal s.wiil, -
in which she bcqueathed to Mildred
Yorke her gold:headed cane, her gold
beads and geranium plant, had ceased to
excite laughter or comment. =
= Mildred was sitting at her work few
days subsequently,, when the door OPEN
ed and on unwonted visitor appeared.
"Charley!''
ut is I, Milly. I couldn't keep away,
any longer. Mildred. You have not
ceased to love me?''
81 shall never cease to love -> you
Charles!''
"Then there is no truth in this report
about Julius Raymond's being engaged to
you p - 80
''Not word Of truth .........,....-
"Thank heaven for that, dearest. You
will be true to, me always, Mildred e.
"Until death,'' she said softly.
'But it is so hard to watt he said
passionately, pacing up and down the
room. 81 know it is wrong to burden yon
with my cares and troubles love; but if
only had a little money-thcrc is such a
capital business opportunity open to me
now. Oh, Mildred, it drives me wild to
fancy what might be, if had only a
thousand dollars!'
1t was very awkward; Charley Glenn
was not in the habit of doing things so
bungling)y, for as he bent to press his
lips to Mildred's, his elbow struck
against the glazed earthenwarc flower.
pot in the window scat, and down it
went with crash, rose geranium and all.
Charley uttered an exclamation of
comic despair.
"Never mind,' said Mildred, gently.
1.-THE plant would have needed new pot
soon, the roots wire sadly cramped.'
"What is this,' exclaimed Glenn, who
was STOPPING to pick up the debris. "a
little tin case. as live, exactly fitted to
the pot! No wonder the roots were
cramped, Milly. And it is locked, too -
Mildred looked q moment in amaze.
ment at the box, and then uttered lit.
lie cry of surprise.
SHOW know the meaning Of the tiny
key that hung from Aunt Patienceis
tstring ofgold beads, she exclaimed, hur
riedly unfastening the antique ornament
from her slender neck. t'Charley, it is
like story in the novel! Unlock the
box-my hands tremble so.'
The little key turned in the lock, re.
vealing an inner case that had no lock-
a case full of layers Of rustling papers.
''Only twenty notes for ST. 900 each,
said Mr.. Glenn, deliberately. MY dear,
I told you that Aunt Patience was the
Witch Of Endor.''
"No--rather fairy godmother," said
Mildred, with sudden gush Of tears, as
she remembered all Aunt Patience's enig.
matica, words. "Dear Charles, take
the moncy--it has come just in time for
your need.''
'rake the money! And pray what
| return have to make?
"Only YOURSELF whispered Mildred.
laughing and crying in the same breath.
eve caan be married now, Charley!'
They were married.; and in the bright
little bay.window in. the sitting room,
Aunt Patience S rose-geranium thrives as
CALAMITY as when its roots twined round
the mysterious box.
But Evelyn still remains single, and
says sometimes with sigh, "Who
would have supposed Aunt Patience Pru-
dence was so rich p