The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1881-02-17

| was epflnplng INTO tie light wagon.
"Oh, Prissy, il you only would"
Wait until / get my bonnet and
shawl and tell Aunt Martha. ! won't
lie gone q minute" and Prissy rushed
into the kitchen, where her aunt was
ironing.
Go, by all means" eaid Mrs. Bald.
win, when she Ind grasped the meaning
Of the girls incollerent explanation.
"Stay rs long Ms you are needed, and
don't worry about me-.
Miss Silence made no remark when
Prissy entered her room with Tom. She
was in great pain, and was thankful to
see even this member Of the hated Bald
win family.
For three weeks Prissy was chief di-
rector at the farm, and managed SO clcv-
erly that Miss Silence had no chance to
find fault. But the grim spinster had no
word oil commentator for the young
girls untiring industry.
II calkerlate to pay you for what you
have DONE" she said one day, rs she
watched Prissy making bread. You
needn't think you're workin' for moth
in.
y don't want any pay. Miss Silence"
il
only too glad to do what l can, be-
cause" She hesitated md turned
scarlet.
Because you're in love with Tom,'
finished Miss Silence. "Oh, you needn't
blush; l know all about it, ind, il lie
chooses to break his head agin stone
wall, l amt a-goin' to stop him.
AT the end Of three weeks Miss Silence
was able to be about again, and prissy
went home, declining the $40 bill for
her services. But she had not been
gone three hours when the hired man
came from the farm, with two large
baskets, which he sat down OIL Mrs
Baldwin's kitchen floor.
Compliments Of Miss Silence, and
she sent these in place OF the money!"
and WINS driving of in the spring wagon
before Prissv could recover sufficiently
from her establishment to ask him any
questions.
The baskets were full Of good things
Of every sort, and there was q royal
Christmas dinner for the Baldwins the
| next day, much to the Joy Of the chill.
dren, who had contemplated, ruefully,
dining on mush and potatoes.
Prissy sent note OF thanks to Miss
Silence by Tom, but she never received
| m answer.
Time moved on, md Toms law bust
ness improved 50 much that he persua-
ded Prissy. against her better Judgment,
to marry him.
Miss Silence did not grace the impor.
tant occasion with her presence.
Txya tina - 1N, II; x,T
weddings" was her excuse, when Tom
reproached her for this slight.
"She is such peculiar woman, We
must not expect her to act like other
people; but she has good heart in
spite Of her queer ways" said Prissy,
when Tom tried to make excuses for his
cousins remissness.
But her greatest peculiarly lies in
her not liking You, Prissy," said Tom,
kissing his brides soft cheeks. "And /
can't quite forgive her lack Of TASTE"
All went well with the young couple
for moro than year. They began
housekeeping in modest cottage Tom
was paying for by installments, and were
so prudent that they managed to gather
about them many little comforts that
made their home pleasant.
But fortune seldom smiles long ut a
time, as We oil know, and reverses will
come to every one. One bitter night in
December Toms house caught FIRE and
burned to the ground, nothing being
loft except few clothes belonging to
Prissy and the baby.
OF course Mrs. Baldwin opened her
house to them ut once, though it neces.
stated much crowding. Prissy sug-
gested an appeal to Miss Silence, but
Tom emphatically declined to make it.
He was far too proud to ask for the help
which he thought should have been
earnestly offered. His last books and
papers had all been destroyed in the
fire; for he had used room in the cot
tage for an Office, and getting living
was rather uphill work. Christmas was
dreary enough that year, and even Pris-
sy's courage sank at the thought Of the
future.
"Tom Lowey will have chance to
show what kind of stuff he's made Of"
said Miss Silence. HE burtlene.lhim-
self with wife and baby, and he'll have
to look out for EN-. told him Id never
give him y dollar of my money, and I'll
keep my word. no matter what hap
pens"
Miss Silence had thought herself proof
against the weakness Of falling i'll but
in March she caught severe cold, and
pneumonia ensued. She felt she never
should get well again, and the doctor
told her frankly that in all probability
she would live but a few days.
- want to see the lawyer at once, If
that is the case. she said. Il must
make new will"
Toms law practice. as yet. was not
very exacting, much to his regret and
he had more time on his hands than
| pleased him.
but. now. do promise You'll send
Mrs. Baldwin something for Christmas,
Cousin Silence" said Tom. returning to
the attack.
Mr.. Simons, who had managed her
business for years, came as soon as he
received her message, and the will was
made. He hardly left the house before
Tom called.
I'm worse" said Miss Silence, iceb.
II, but I'm not afraid to 60. Per-
haps I'm peculiar in that rs in other
things. Deacon Bonney and the minis
ter. Mr.. Craig and Mr.. Darby have all
been here . nrgin' Of their several
claims. l told each o. en- Id consider
the matter"
WIN they be disappointed, Cousin
Silence 7" asked Tom.
Poor fellow he was in such sore
strait that he could not help q desire to
have some small help from his cousins
hoard. He hardly dare hope she had
left him . cent, and yet he Was her only
relative.
THAT remains to be seea," was the
unsatisfactory reply he received to his
question. But don't you cherish no
hopes, for / amt left yon cent"
A bitter smile curled Toms lips, but
he made no reply.
II suppose you think me peculiar in
not leayin' you my money, seem you
arr the only kin I've got" went ON Miss
Silence. "bnt you've taken such pre-
cious care to convince me that you don't
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