The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1880-01-29
TED.


Amherlcy shook slightly the glossy folds
o! her grey travelling dress.
\ trivial remark, but her husband
glanced quickly at the half-avertcd face.
"Iou are dlspicascd 1.aurc.'
Young Mrs. Aml'cr!cy bit her beau
,iiu, lips in a moments silence.
Il think might ave my choice, AL
ycrnnu.''
1T docs seem i;ttic hard, doesen't it,
dear lifting lightly the little gloved
hand and kissing it,
Certainly .Alye,ion wished to indulge
his bride OF :, month. but he continued !:
In taxing one Of these children Of
my dead hatt:sistcr, wish to make a
choice which will be the most benefit to
the family. The cider girls can earn
their own living. The younger is very
pretty, and will be adopted by Il good
and wealthy family if we do not take her
away, while Tcd--'
Fed interrupted Laure, 1mpaticntly.
Ted is at an undesirable age, and not
particularly brilliant and interesting; but,
rs he is one vino stands most in need OF
help, l think we ought to take him."
"Such q shock Ut tnw-hair, and so hor-
ribly bnshtul.' pouted beauty flowing
Laure.
Il know the little girl would please
you, best, but perhaps the boy Will de-
vclop better than the girl replied Am
herly, in the tone of decision his wife had
already learned to know.
He was so certain he was right that
the poor fritndless, uniformed boy was
most in need of protection and training
that he could not allow his wife's fan
cy to decide this important matter, much
us he regretted her disappointment.
The Younger child--thc little Nellie
was pretty as picture, and ut the cham
ing age of three. He could not but
sympath;ze with Laure's wishes, but his
young wife was short-sightcd.
He was older than size, and felt Oblig-
ed to decide the matter according to his
best judgment.
They were on their wedding trip.
From Niagara it had extended to Chi
cago; from that city to a lonely tract of
rolling prairie, where resided this remote
connection OF the Ambcrley family
The father OF these orphan children
was a coarse, hard man, who was already
casting about for second wife and the
probability was that the expected step
mother would be little bcnc6 to the
two young and helpless little ones.
Laurc regarded this man with feel
ing little less than horror. The rude
and primitive living was distasteful to
her refined scnsibilitics.
1t was only when she walked alone
ocrocc Tho rrr.o< l,;l1Dxy, ~ ~..,o,> oo<l
standing IN SOLITUDE in the silence, be-
held stretched before her countless
leagues Of luminous sunset, that she said
to herself that the West was grand and
beautiful.
They were driving now along the
smooth prairie road. n silvery creek ran
along its edge, b,i ght and bank full
Here and there Judus bush showed its
crimson among the bush greens. To
right and left stretched away the bound
less prairie.
Laure had requested the driver to get
away from the uninvitlng home; but 70,
the first time there was shadow between
herself and her husband.
In justice toyoung Mrs. Arnbcrley, lei
me say that she tried to reprcss her dis
content, hut this only made her dlsap
pointment more apparent tc her husband
More and more it troubled him, loving
his young wife most tcnderely, and at las
he said:
"lf you really cannot give up the lit
tie girl, Laure, you shall have her."
'Algernon,' she cried, ut isn't that
like the little Nelly so very much, bu
l don't see anything to like in Ted, who
came bashfully out to take the horses
He always stared at Laurc. "Certainl,
she was the most beautiful creature he
had ever seen in his life.
Secretly he adored her as she fingered
moment now. Having descended from
the carriage, and being loath to 90 int
the house, he addressed her:
"Be you going to take me2''
"No," said Laure, quickly; ~ think
shall take Nelly
''She noticed that the boys heat
dropped as he turned away. leading tn
horses; but she took little notice of that
The next merning her husband Wa.
called to Chicago alone on business. Sh'
endured the uncongcniai surround
ings as long as she could, then caugh
up her hat and her shawl and went gu
to walk.
She strolled half 4 mile, found the
fordlng of the creek, and still went on
The emerald of the bush-grass wa