Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1880-12-01
HOW CHERRY THOUGHT OF 1T.

Such head upon charger.
HOW CHERRY THOUGHT OF 1T.
SIZE was thinking so intently, this
little brown-eyed, brown n-haired teacher.
thai che scarcely noticed the group OF
girls on the steps until, as they moved
aside to let her past, she caught frag-
ment of their conversation.
"Melted lead is lots Of fun runs into
such queer shapes. You know, and tells
what his occupation is going to be-
''Oh. apple parings are better! They
almost tell the name." interrupted an
other. Throw 'cm over your shoulder.
and they'll fall on the floor all curled
up, and make the initials as plain as
can be. Why, saw-Hushr'
The last word was due to her own
near approach, and she walked on.
smiling family at the idea of consulting
such oracles to decide her future, AMI
settle the que stion that vexed her.
She had promised, rather wearlly,
when John Aston asked her the night
before that she would think Of It. She
might have thought with rosy bushes
and swift glad heart-throbs If 1t had
happened in different way-if he had
come as a stranger to Glennville. and
there had been the romance of first
meeting, the sweet surprise Of an ac-
quaintanceShip growing gradually
warmer and dearer until there came the
sudden knowledge that, though, 1.-Two
to the world, for the worlds work. 8
sake they were leach unto each. as
in Gods sipht. one.n
For, Cherry acknowledged to herself.
she "did like John, OF course" That
was the trouble-there was so much OF
course about it. Why she had known
him ever since she could remember.
They had built mud-ovens and hunted
wintcrgreens together, and he had
whitfield horrid wooden dolls for her
with his first jackknife. And now he
had asked her to be his wife. Asked
her in just one of their familiar COM
monplace chats by the little back gate,
without even the glamour of moonlight
over them!
She was keeping her promise mos:
thoroughly. Aunt Barbara helped her
to begin its ful6llment at the breakfast
table.
Heard some one come home with
you last night, Charity. Was it John
Alston?"
"Yes'm." said Cherry, meditativelv.
"Most folks think you two are keep
ing company"
"Most folks certainly thought correct
ly-last night"
"You amt dumb when you don't
want to be, Charity. You know what
mean well enough" said Aunt Barba-
ra, with sagacious nod of her head.
a. You two don't 60 together 50 much
for nothing"
Nom; it, for company, generally"
answered Cherry, serenely.
"Yes; and you've learned pretty
we'll how many it takes to make comps
ny. Well. l don't know but you might
Cherry's worn kid boot began to tap
uneasily on the carpet under the table
ITO be sure he's not ~ rich rs
some. but then no more are you,"
continued Aunt Barbara, considering
the matter in it's pros and
cons. "You'd have tn begin plain.
but that wouldn't hurt you; You're
both common folks. You could easy
make rag-carpet Of evenings between
this and Christmas; and unblcached
muslin has come down three cents ="
"Aunt Barbarar' interposed Cherry.
"Well, what now?'' demanded Aunt
Barbara. with an injured air. 81 didn't
know AZ it was any great crime to be
planning what's best for YOU"
my whole life has been nothing but
rag.carpet and unbleached muslin. I'd
like change" burst forth Cherry,
stormily. .sAnd there's NO use in
planning for what never win come"
"Dear me, what fare up! Many
better folks than you haven't Jared as
we'll all their lives, Charity Holmes."
That was true enough, but Cherry
was in no mood to hear It Just then.
She knew what Johns proposition OF
a little home' meant--A quiet we'd
ding in that quiet little village. the set
Ting gravely in some plain little house,
and then monotonous round Of home
" cares and duties. year altar year, for
a Lifetime. just the rag-carpets and
unbleached muslin that Aunt Barbara
had begun to enumerate in her dis
trcssingly practical way--the way that
often made Cherry rebelliously remark
to herself that she didn't believe she
should ever want to see paradise itself
| II once Aunt Barbara had described 1t
| to her. What other life did Cherry exc
pect1 She could mot have answered;
only there arose vague bright dreanas
Of far-oif lands s--Of grand old mbun-
| tains under the glow Of foreign skies;
days OF wandering amid rare old paint
! incs and marvellous sculpture. and glo-
| riOus nights filed with music, the tink-
ling OF fountains and odor Of flowers m
known.
There was one narrow door q p0ssl.
bility opening from Cherry's lie t0wAsd
these .skingdoms Of the World ead To.
glory a them" - door whick ~
EosiIbyss hand, yellow, witAered -
9liHerlnG With diamonds hald ~ -.
| Miss Fo6iiby, ~ at leose - nps1e !.g 49, ].
61aG statsly VA hIIelIn ki1h eets
| fnf1 - I41 Vn|60
y n n IA 11 D.