The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1880-11-18

the big Crawford Garage was seen
dashing up the road. She grew very
pale and shrank back. The girl had
always been afraid of her brother Will
liam; and his wife, she suspected, would
be as hard a ruler and more vulgar
one.
But Mrs. fancy led her to the porch.
"You must welcome them, Lefty"
she said.
The bride watched them from the
carriage window with keen, jealous
eyes, Her father had given her a hint
as to her future course.
"You'ye made good match,
Suphy," he said. "Bill Taney's got as
long purse as any man in the coun-
try, and his old farms comfortable.
But the old woman an her da alter will
be drawback. They'll try to run over
you roughsho6, likely. Just take your
stand at once. Let 'em see you will
be mistress in your own house."
"Trust me for that, pappy," said Miss
Sophy.
The whole Crawford family had ac-
companied her to see how she would
hold her ground.
When poor Mrs. fancy stepped for
ward, therefore, her thin face REDEEM
ing, and her hands held out, the bride
received her welcome with a careless
nod
Il hope you will be happy in your
new home, my DEAR" said the gentle
lady.
ooh, no doubt, ma'am! l generally
hold my own pretty well. Come in,
pappy. Come, Sue. want you to see
my house before it is dark. Here is
the living room. Bill must fit that up
into a parlor-double quick, too.
Dye hear, Mrs. Taney?" laughing
loudly "You needn't trouble yourself,
a'am, to show the way. Come along,
all of YOU" .--.--.r.
William stopped and looked with
sudden pity at his mother, then follow
ed his wife, who went talking loudly
up the stairs.
Mrs. fancy and Lefty placed the
supper on the table. The bride came
in, the noisest of the noisy party. She
went hastily to the head of the table,
saying: '"This is my place, I believe"
William gravely motioned his moth
| W d sedt aiming VIC oCid!SC1H' AAi'
wife bore herself as though she had
been mistress for years, and found fault
freely when the humor seized her.
The bread was dry as chat, the butter
was bitter with salt, she said.
'That's your idea Of cooking, moth
er fancy, ell? III give you a hint or
two tomorrow We young people
have progressed, you know"
mot that mean to take the work
off their hands" .she said.to her sister
aside. No, No! five feed 'em, they
got to earn their bread"
Lefty overheard the whisper, and her
scared face grew a shade paler.
Every nice old silver, William" said
the bride, directly, weighing the spoons
on her finger. and then reading the
mark.
"Cleveland, eh? You must have that
altered, please, to our initials. l can't
use spoons with strange names on
en-"
William glanced uneasily at his
mother. But the latter did not speak.
every we'll, my dear, it shall be as you
please" he said.
As the days heightened into weeks,
the bride found her sway becoming
more absolute. It occurred to William,
sometimes, that she might share in
the work But like most farmers of
his class, he used to see his mother
drudge, from morning until night, and
vaguely supposed it was her natural
condition Of life Sophy carried the
keys, and dealt out the provisions. Her
rudy, animal beauty pleased him
it was pity, he thought, to mar it with
hard work.
Meanwhile, Mr.. Burke had taken
lodings with neighboring farmer. He
kept close scrutiny on Lefty, solely
for her mothers sake, he told himself.
She met the "beery fellow" twice, and
took long walks with him; she received
letters from him by mail. The geolog-
list found this matter interested him
more than his fossils, even.
One morning, Lefty came into the
room, William stood joking with his
wife, before going to the field. They
looked at her with establishment, for
the girl was always silent and shy.
Brother, I want to speak to you,"
she said catching her breath.
"Well, go on" said Sophy impatient
ly. "What are you afraid of"
Lefty spoke directly to William, ig-
noring her "The potatoes and apples
must be picked over, and the cellars
are damp. Could one of the hands do
it?'
"Good gracious! Do you want har-
vesting to stop" cried Sophy. "You
and mother fancy can do it at your
leisure. Do you suppose your brother
| pays men such ruinous wages to wait
on a lot Of women?'
| "You have always done it, said Will
liam.
Mother is not we'll, William"
"Well, manage it as you like. l
can't be bothered with the kitchen
| work, i" he burst out.
Lefty left the room hastily.
''That's right, William. The truth is,
you're too open-handed. You can't af-
| ford to keep parcel of able-bodied
women in idleness, if you ever mean to
| buy the meadow lots"
"That's a fact" The mention of the
lots keyed his courage.
When he came back that afternoon
he found Sophy resplendent in a pink
lowered muslin, entertaining half a
dozen girls in the parlor. He stopped
to joke and romp with them. The
next moment the door opened, and
Lefty stood like a ghost on the thresh-
old
Come to mother!' she said.
what is the natter"
"You have killed her, I think, "qui-
city.
The poor old woman had sunk down
on the floor of the cellar, and lay as if
dead.
William trembled as he lifted her.
The doctor of the village happened to
pass at the moment
"No, she is not dead" he said, after
examining her. "Great exhaustion. 1t
will be long illness. She must have
rest and careful nursing"
Lefty stepped forward "She will
have both. Mr.. Burke, will you carry
her to Mrs. Wright's, across the road?