The Red Cloud chief., 1880-06-17

TDa mag AstAAh NIL q ~ VIZ
absurdr' / said. laughing. and put on
my hat.
50 ! went home TO nv classes in en-
broidery and drawing. and wax work
t. making Aunt S~-sannah's caps and
grandfa.her's coffee. Ny life was full
of monotonous work in those DAYS: and
sometimes i had a strange. uncomfort-
able impression of a machine wound
up and running without any act Of its
own.
One evening when l was putting
away the silver after supper. and feel
ing the crcak and crank Oi the wheels
more than usual. - though the machine
needed oiiing, the front gate slammed.
u steps came along up the walk.
Il knOwcd some one was coming.
| We knowed all DAY some n was talk
ing Of coming said GItty Pullen. who
Ito accommodate a. she often told
us. had kindly consented Ia rule oycr
our kitchen aud us with 4 rod Of pine
tin the form Of a crutch.)
As City had no home, no money,
and only one foot Of her own. but as
good "a four ears and two tongues. 1t
might seem sometimes that the accom-
mediation was two-sidei. However,
things are not WHIST they seem.
." knowcd it was Mr.. C0rliss,'' pur-
sued City, triumpkantly. rs grandfather
opened the door and disclosed the iig-
urcs of our minister and his wife. IL
can tell his step a. far off ~ ! can hear
it. Did YOU ever notice his cyes?' She
continued. They look ike two holes
burned in n blanket. And he holds his
head just Ike Deacon S~hackelford's old
white horse"
And then she disappeared into the
kitchen with her crutch and the cat,
while Aunt Susannah put in her teeth,
put on her black silk apron, and went
with her meeting step into the parlOr.
When followed her Don after, / found
her talking in a steady q flow a the
waters came down at Lodorc, TO Mrs.
Corliss. who sat bv the woodbine win
dow, with hands folded in black Melted
mitts across her lap, and her te~a-cOlorcd
curlS shaking their heads, aS il were. At
the world and its vanities; while grand
father, who had been senior deacon for
fifty years. and who had no idea even
the church cdilice could stand without
him, vas already in deep discussion
with Mr.. Coriiss upon the question
then absorbing and disturbing us, "a To
whether our Sabbath School should
hereafter be called Il Sunday School.
IL can never consent Ia have a RELIC
ious organization known by a heathcn
name grandfather WAS saving, as |
heard him say half a hundred times be-
fore.
And Mr.. Corliss, with his serene
white head bent toward him. was think
inn bow he could braid in one the fossil
lied fathers and the versatile sons Of
the church.
SO there was nothing for me 10 do
but Ia sit and smile and listen; for
grandfather and Aunt Su>annah were
not the persons to yield the floor when
it was once theirs by priority.
Mr.. CorliSs. is it not time for us TO
go?' said Mrs. CorliSs, at early star
rising, with her measured dignity.
Certainly. my dear" replied Mr..
Corliss, rising At once, with his head
still bent 10 catch grandfather's last
sentence.
BELLA, put on YOU hat and walk
out with us Il little way. Ii i 4 charm
ing evening said Mrs. CorlisS, turning
TO me after taking "A c~eremonious leave
of Aunt SllSannah.
OF course | went for nv hat. !
should as soon think of insisting of
breathing in IN exhausted receiver, aS
of refusing To follow n suggestion of
Mrs. C0riiSS. Or so | supposed then.
But trembled in nv heart, aud began
To run over in nv mind all nv little
Av.- 50 49,. Il O. II
such a Lady Superior way that. though
| really loved our minister's wife. | al
ways felt "A sense of guilt, and never NJ
home with her.
But it seemed il was not that | had
been late ut church or absent from the
Sewing Society this time. Neither had
! a bow too many or a bow too few on
my Sunday bonnet. Worse, though;
Mr. Brodhcad had been to her.
My dear" she began, as sweet and
as cold and As stiff as a dish IF frozen
cuStard, II want to have a serious talk
with YOU on a serious subject. and per-
hapS may Is well say ut once MIR.
Brodhead has solicited the good offices
of Mr.. CorlisS and myself between YOU
and himself. He seems TO be n very
earnest admirer. but a very diflidcnt
one. What should YOU say TO the idea
of entertaining "a proposal of marriage
from him?'
"Icouldn't think of such a thing for
a moment, Mrs. CorliSs. have no ~
pectation or wish ever To marry any
one" said |. feeling very much an
noyed.
Mrs. Corliss sighed severely. Mar
rage is a dIvincly-appointcd inS,itu-
ton SAID she. land not To be lightly
set aside without due consideration and
PRAYER. iou are not now prepared to
give 4 final answer to SO important a
matter. 1t ome upon You suddenly.
Take time. my dear friend. to think il
over carefully. prayerfully. and with a
view TO what * your duty"
Mrs. CorliSS shut her lips tight. as
though to keep her teeth in. and then
kissed me goodnight soft. clammy
kiss, which made me feel rs though |
wanted a lump of sugar. Accordingly.
| went in the house and ate one. and
thought no more about Mr.. Brodhcad
for a month and a day.
Al the end of that time Aunt Kent
asked me 10 go down and do up her
LAPS. AUNT htnl was 4 dear CooU OH
lady, who lived in Il little yellow and
white cottage At the end of the grave
yard, where her husband and seven
children were lying in one pathetic
row.. under the beds of hcart's-eaSe and
forget-me-notS. But when they went
she adopted all the world into her
warm, motherly heart. So though she
lived alone, with 4 little cream-colored
greyhound, she had a large family. and
whoever was sick, or sorry. or needy.
went to her, as well rs whoever wished
for sympathy in health and gladne>s.
Dear Aunt Kent, when [ went in
there she WIS knitting a checked sock
for young Mrs. Cables first baby. with
such a look of peaceful repose on her
face that one would be willing TO 90
over the same weary path of suffering.
if it should lead at last into such a land
of rest.
Il don't know when I've felt sor-
rier.' said she, when | was settled AT
my work by her side. THAN | did fH,
somebody who came TO me last week l.