Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1878-10-17
Our Selected StO7'y.
A NEWSPAPER FILE.

/
1t was two dayc after Aunt Priscilla
funeral, and Sue anu were sitting togethe
by the kitchen fire. with that hush owe
our spirits which follows q death and
burial. All the afternoon we had bee
busy in getting the house to rights, no
J meddling yet with the things which ha
been hers. and were now ours. but by din
of open windows, SUNSHINE and furnitur
busted and rearranged, trying to restore t.
the rooms that familiar look which the,
had lost during these weeks of anxiety ant
trouble. A few days more, and we mus
face future which was full of terrors
Meanwhile custom as well as inclination
accorded brief respite in which to thinl
of her who has gone, and Of each other
with the clinging fondness OF those who's
lives, never before parted, were about t.
separate.
Sue sat on low stool. her head agains
the chimney jamb. 1t VAS the chimney o
Aunt Prisclla's youth; she never woult
alter it-one of the wide old-fashionet
kind, with Iot-hooks, and blazing logs
and bake-oven at one side. The SCOT
blackened bricks and faint red glow, made
a back aground for my sisters head, witt
its great twist of fair hair, and lily-likt
slender throat. Sue is very pretty, pref.
tier than anybody ever saw. l recollect-
ed a picture as looked at her-a picture
of Cinderella sitting in just such an attitude
by the chimncy-side. She was equally
picturesque at that moment; so tar as
looks 60, equally worthy ola Prince; but,
alas! no fairy godmother was likely to
emerge from the apple-room for her bene-
fit. Aunt Pris, who in small way had
enacted IT, Il, part toward us. was gone. and
her big r rsxing-cliair, which we had no
heart to sit in, swung empty in its accus-
toned place. type of a like emptiness which
we were conscious of in other things, and
would feel tor long time to come.
Neither of us spoke for while. We
were tired and spiritless, and John Slade
was coming presently to talk over things,
so we saved our words.
DR.. Slade-John-wa Sne's lover. Their
poor little engagement had been formed
two years ago. How many years it was
likely to last, nobody could guess; but
they held ON to it bravely, and were con-
tent to wait Pretty soon. as we sat wait
ing. his step sounded without on the gravel,
and with little tap-courtcous but unne-
cessary, for the door was never locked-he
entered, gave Suea gentle kiss, me another,
and sat DO sIi Dslwecn @, in asaty's rock
ing-chair. 1t was comfort to have him
do that. The house seemed less forlorn at
once.
"WelL children, how has the day gomez:
he asked.
s.Pretty WE'LL" replied Sue. eve have
been busy, and are tired tonight, l think.
I'm glad YOU are come, John, dear. We
were getting lonely and dismal, Cree ana
L." Y.
Lucretia is my name; but Sue and Aunt
Priscilla always called me Gree
John adjusted a stick on the embers'
and, with one daring poke, sent tongue
of bright fame upward before he answer
ed. Then he took Sues hand in his broad
palm. and, patting it gently, said:
Now let g talk over matters. We ought
to decide what we are to do, We three"
That ..three'' WAS very comforting to
me. but John always is comfort. He was
..made so.;' Aunt Pris said. And he GER
tain,y carries out the purpose OF his crea-
tion. = aa
sDid your aunt leave any will?' he went
On. f4 5a9
"Only tl,is;'' and brought from between
the leaves of the big Bible, where we hild
found it, a llalf-sheet of note-paper, on
which dearaunty had stated, in her own
simple form, that she left all she had to be
,oi,allv divided between her neices, Susan
and Lucretia Pendexter. Squire Pickards
name and Sarah Brackett's, our old wash
were written below as Wit
lesses.
s.yery WE'LL" said John. "Thats good
h law. fancy; or, if not, you are the
nearest relations, and it's yours anyway.
What property did your aunt own besides
this house?'
..She had an annuity OF $3.50 a year, and
ffty dollars p,ore from some turnpike
It lck. That's all, except the house anu
furniture, and there is mortgage OF $3Oo
on that. Squire Packard holds it. The
annuity stops now, doesn't it,"
John looked as though he wanted to
whistle, but refrained.
"Your aunt was clever manager" ne
saidL.'a capital manager. She made
very little go great way, didn't she!
don't know anyone else who could live SO
nicely on three hundred year. with mort
gage interest taken out. You have always
seemed cory and comfortable" q
"We always have been. But we had the
garden. you know. and the COW; that gave
us two-thirds OF our living. Aunty 'oas
wonderful housekecper. though. Isn't it
a great deal cheaper to feed women than
men? Size always said So.
II suppose it is. Men are carnivorons.
A diet OF tea and vegetables don't suit them
very well; they ar: apt to grumble for
more solid Well, my dear
girls, our summing up isn't very satisfac-
tory. Even without the mortgage, you
couldn't live on fifty dollars . year.
mo. And I've been thinking what we
could do. So has Cree, though We haven't
spoken to each other about it. | might
teach district school, perhaps. And
Gree"
IL could take place as plain cook.
There isn't nything else can do so well.
Fain cooking, with dripping and soap-fat
by way Of perquisifes;'' and gave laugh
which was meant to be merry.
ut is hard, said John, with moody
look on his face which has foreign TO its
usual frank brightness. '.How much a
little money would sometimes do for pec-
ole who can't get 1t, and how little II is
wort to other people, who ding It away
WITHOUT I thought Of it, ysiuel Atios-
sand dollsrs, now! Any rich man would
coasader It ! mere haaatelle h his sxpensss;
but & could command - suln, h woald