The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-04-18

But she remembered that she wa
quick-tempared and tried to control her
self
She certainly preferred TO think nc
offence was meant, and swallowing the
rising III her throat, she walked to the
wagon and climbed in, and her escort,
mount ing TO seat beside her, ierked the
lean old horse into motion.
Was this the young man her father
had jestingly alluded to at parting.
warning her to break no hearts before he
saw her again? She thought not
Lima had never felt so utterly misera-
BILE in her life as,then, while she logged
along the lonely, darkening, muddy
road, replying in monosyllables to her
companions chat.
She saw that he was trying to enter
tain her and though she considered him
simply horrible, at length tried to be
correspondingly civil.
lis Aunt Dora well?"
''Eh?" sharply.
| alp
Never heard her called that before.
! However, | s'pose she is. Lawi she
don't have no time to be sick You'll
soon find that OUT meaningly.
AT length they drew up before low,
Imprinted, rambling farmhouse, with
| shutterless windows, bIeakly unshelter-
ed under the cherries sky.
Lima began to fear she should CRY and
cleared her throat briskly. The young
man threw open the door
/ Walk in. You'll find her.
Lima passed directly into rude, un-
painted kitchen as big as barn, lighted
only by single small lamp A great
dog growled inhospitably at her from
some dark corner, and if poor Lima had
known OF any refuge, she would have
turned and fled from the accumulation
of horrors.
As she stood silent in the gloom.
door Enclosed, and a tall scantily-dress-
ed woman came into the room and hay
ing both hands full, deity kicked the
door together behind her
''Ehi' she said, sharply, advancing
to small rickety table, and setting
down a milk pan and plate of brown
bread; $50 you've come have yep
How do you do, auntie?" asked Lima
forcing herself to approach the very I'M
savory-looking lady and kiss her smoke
dried cheek.
I'm WE'LL" answered Aunt Dora,
placing her arms akimbo, and sharply
surveying her little niece.
A feeling of faintness came over Lima.
She sat down, unlimited, and the very
ugly dog came up and smelled at her
dress.
I'D as lief you d be Notwithstanding, ="
remarked Aunt Dora, drily. as she turn
ed away
Poor Linai she had very hard strug-
gle with herself not to break into pas
sionate sobs; but at length she conquer
ed, and clearing her throat again, at
tempted conversation.
did YOU expect me to-day, auntie?"
Expect We? OF course | didt' [ sent
for ye"
Il know Papa hoped to make the
journey with me. but he couldn't. But
| did very well alone.
well, draw up to the table, eat your
supper, an get to bed. Pllwant you to
help me tomorrow"
Quite quenehed AS to sociabilHy, Lima
took of her things, handing her pretty
hat to her aunt, who surveyed the os-
trich plume with curiosity and an audi
bic sniff. and took q seat at the rickety
table, whereon was the sickly lamp, the
milk-pan, brown bread and some coarse
bowls and pewter spoons.
Take hold. -
And seeing that Lima hesitated, Aunt
OOId IIIttl u BO"1 WIFI lnilhy OIOAC n
slice of brown bread into it, and pushed /
it towards the girl.
The lady's hands were very dirty; the
bread was very sticky sand peculiar in !,
flavor, and Lima could only pretend to 1
force down a few mouthfuls. She was
dizzy and faint, and would have given
much for cup of her mothers delicious
chocolate.
Seeing that she did not eat, her COM
panion suddenly presented her with
cup of very black-looking tea
4 s'posc yer tired, F" she said not I'M
kindly
Yes, aunt, l am very tired. I'll go
to bed at once, if you ple:tse.
Mrs. Dora rose, with an energetic
alacrity peculiar 10 her, and seiZing the
lamp, led the way Up.a cold, dark stair
way to bedroom, with damp, bare,
white walls, and a great feather-bed,
piled with homemade quilts.
She sat down, with no apparent idea
of giving offence, watched Lima undress,
openly examined her skirts and stock
ings, and when the girl had shiveringly
took the light away.
III call YOU in the morning, she
said
If the evening. had been unpleasant,
the night was torture. 1t seemed to
Lima that she should perish with cold
and dread of her forbidding surround
in@s.
But not one moment all night did she
forget her sutlerings. just before dawn
she lost consciousness of her misery,
when rude hand grasped her shout
der.
Goodness mel This is pretty be-
ginning! Going to sleep all dayp It's
past five O'Clock! I've called We already
twice. -
Such a terrible day as that was! Mrs.
Dora instructed her,~in as few words as
possible, in washing stack of milk
cans and pans, aud the soft soap and
scalding water were anguish to her
hands.
Then she was set to pairing apples for
pies. and an indelible stain OF apple
Juice was set in the poor little fingers,
which she regarded SO ruefully that
Mrs Dora took notice.
s.Oh. We can't keep yer hands white
herei I didn't get we for that.
Poor Lima! She stumbled about In her
aunt's long calico dress ironed, swept
secured knives and forks. brewed yeast,
and churned. She could not eat the
breakfast of salt fish and potatoes or the
dinner of fried bacon and eggs. the lat
ter being cooked to the consistency OF
sole leather; and trembling with fatigue
cI,a WIG ot lanrfh narlahf with two great