Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1877-06-28
HOPE STILWELL'S SECRETS.

An ORIGINAL TORY BIZ CARRIE NJ. TYLER.
I'VE take the following story from the pages of
line High School Repertorya issued annually
by the Students OF the Yankton High School.
The third number of this publication was given
to the pu bile in cenl ection with the anniversary
exercises Tuesday afternoon. The author of the
story, which our reporter characterized as zone
that would have done credit 20 Mr.. Habberton,'
is q member OF the class OF 80
1t was in the month of June. In the
sitting-room OF a very pleasant and home
like house, two ladies are seated, Mrs.
Stilwell and her daughter Grace. They
are talking of the expected arrival, the
next afternoon, of a gentleman friend,
whom they had not seen for several
months. This arrival was evidently
looked forward to with a great deal of
pleasure, by one of the ladies at least.
But suddenly their conversation was
interrupted by the appearance of fairy
like little girl of some FIVE summers, with
blue eyes and loag golden hair flying
loosely over her shoulders. This is Hope,
the pet of the household. She came in
with a skip and a hop, carrying in her
arms a large wax doll. But as the ladies
desired to continue their conversation,
and did not wish to have her hear all the
details of the plans, Grace said:
Hope, do you know what papa put III
your playhouse this noon2'
"No, what did he?n
ooh, you had better go and see. 1t is
something you have wanted very much.''
Away goes Hope down the gravel walk,
and over 10 the corner of the yard, all
the time talking to her doll.
II DO wonder, Matilda Jane, what it
can be. | just shouldn't wonder if it
wasn't anything much, cause | b'lieve
mamma and Grace are talkin' secrets, and
didn't want me to hear. 'xpect though
they're talkin' about Ernest, don't you
Matilda Jane9 Let's hurry though, cause
maybe its something nice.'
Hopes play house would have delight
ed any little girl, for it was a real house,
furnished with a table, little chairs and
1OAoS1 u " pCdolCdl anu Ouitbu 10I IleI
dolls, and last, but not least, in Hopes
estimation, a tiny cooking stove, with all
the modern improvements. AS soon as
she reached Rose Cottage as she called
it, because it was almost covered by
beautiful climbing roses, the search for
the present began.
"You sit down there, Matilda Jane.
while l look around. P'raps he put it in
your bureau. No, there isn't anything
there. Let's look in this box. Oh here
It's. Just see this beautiful tea sci
On! it is so nice! guess papa knew
should want to have a party here wher
Ernest comes, and he Just got this a pur
pose. Now Matilda Jane, when he come
you must be real good, or he won't like
you-just as good as ever you can be-
But the longest afternoon comes to al
end. Setting the table to see how thu
new tea set would look, and giving Ma
tilda Jane minute directions as to hel
conduct during Ernest's visit, made thi.
one pass very quickly and pleasantly
SO papa, when he came home that night
found a very happy little girl awaiting
him.
Soon after tea, mamm tells Hope it il
time for her to GO to bed; but this sh,
does not like, as she wants to hear wha
they are talking about. But she finall,
has to go, taking Matilda Jane with her
to whom she tells all her troubles.
II just know they are talking secrets
will have a secret, though, some way.
And perhaps because Matilda Jane j
not very sympathetic, she bites poor Ma
tilda James nose off.
"Now I'll hide you, and | won't tel
anybody, and III have a secret. And
Matilda Jane, you'll have to be put GU
of sight, and not see Ernest when h
comes, for you've been SO naughty"
She soon forgets the party down stair
and goes to sleep, happy in the though
that she has a secret.
When she arises in the morning, tn
first thing she does is to hide her dol
Just as she is leaving the room to do thi
she sees a picture of Ernest on the bu
reau, and thinks she will take a look a
it. So she gets two hassocks, puts on
on top Of the other, climbs up, and get
the picture.
'oh! how nice you are. wonder
you will like me. | don't believe yo'
will, cause I ANT a bit like Grace; sh
has black hair and dark eyes, and | hay
white hair and blue eyes, and I mos
know you won't like me cause you Xix
her. l wonder what Grace would sa
if | should break this"
just as she said this one of the has
socks slipped and down she went. Whe
she picked up the picture she finds tina