Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1880-05-13
Ted. .[''

sits very dusty" and Mrs. Laura Am
berley shook slightly the glossy folds of her
grey travelling dress.
A trivial remark, but her husband
glanced quickly at the half-averted face.
"You are displeased, Laura"
Young Mrs. Amberley bit her beautiful
| lips in a moments silence.
81 think | might have my choice, AL
gernon."
''It does seem little hard, doesn't it,
DEAR" lifting lightly the little gloved hand
and kissing it.
Certainly Algernon wished to indulge his
| bride of month, but he continued:
SIN taking one of these children of my
dead half-sister | wish to make q choice
which will be the most benefit to the family.
The older girls can earn their own living.
The younger is very pretty, and will be
adopted by good and wealthy family if
we do not take her away, while Ted"
Tied! !" interrupted Laura impatiently.
lied is at an undesirable age, and not
particularly brilliant and interesting; but
as he is one who stands most in need of
help. think we ought to take him."
"Such a shock of tow hair, and so hor-
ribly bashful!" pouted beauty-loving.
Laura
81 know the little girl would please you
best, but perhaps the boy will develop bet
ter than the girl," replied Amberley, In the
tone of decision his wife had already
learned to know.
He was SO certain hewas right--that the
poor, frien5less, uniformed boy was most in
Of Nd hot ha
could not allow his wife's fancy to decide
this important matter, much as he regretted
her disappointment.
The younger child-the little Nellie
was pretty as picture, and at the charm
ing age of three. He could not but sympa-
thize with Lauras wishes, but his young
wife was short-sighted.
He was older than she. and felt obliged
to decide the matter according to his best
| judgment.
| They were on their wedding trip. From
Niagara it had extended to Chicago; from
that city to lonely tract of rolling prairie,
where resided this remote connection of the
Amberley family.
The father of these orphan children was
coarse, hard man, who was already cast
ing about for second wife; and the
probability was that the expected step
mother would be little benefit to the two
young and helpless little ones.
Laura regarded this man with feeling
little less than horror. The rude and prim-
tive living was dlstasteful TO her refined
sensibilities.
It was only when she walked alone
across the great pillows of green, and
standing in solitude in the silence, behelc
stretched before her countless leagues ol
luminous sunset, that she said to berselt
that the West was grand and beautiful.
They were driving now along the smooth
prairie road. A silvery creek ran along
it's edge, bright and bank-full. Here ano
there a Judas bush showed its crimson
among the bush green's To right and lef
stretched away the boundless prairie.
Laura had requested the driver to ge
away from the uninviting home; but fol
the first time there Was shadow betwee1
herself and her husband.
In Justice to young Mrs. Amberley, le
me say that she tried to repress her discon
tent, but this only made her disappoint
ment more apparent to her husband. More
and more it troubled him, loving hi
young wife most tenderly, and at last HI
said:
'Gf yon really cannot give up the LITTLE
girl Laura, you shall have her."
''Algernon, ''she cried, 'it isn't that.
like the little Nelly SO very much, but
don't see an, thing to like in Ted, " VIII
came bashfully out to take the horses. I'll
always stared at Laura. Certainly she wa
the most beautifully sscreature he had eve
seen in his life.
Secretly he adored her as she fingered
moment now. Having descended from tn
carriage, and being 10th to 60 into tn
house, he addressed her:
s.Ra Won going to take me 70