The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1883-11-16
THE OUTWARD SEEMING.
BY Y1oRsscE , nAILowELl

. peculiar expression of her thin l,ps. a.
she took her spectacles fro. her nose,
and slowly replaced IN its envelope the
letter she had besn reading to her frien,l
Miss Hepzibah Lackey. 81 think /
know my duty as we'll as most folks, an
eivin' helm to Susan Bayard an her chill
dren don't come under that head"
but bein' as they're your own kin, I"
said Miss Hepzibah, deprecatingly, tits
only natural for 'em to look to you"
'Let 'en look. They'll take it out in
lookin.' I told Tom when he married
Susan Bayard that the david come when
he'd rue it. She was alters spin lin an
sort O. helpless. But Tom was. that
nesdstrong he wouldn't listen to noboj y.
lie spent his last cent in b,y,n' that
farm over to Milford, an then had to
mortgage it before he could start his
crops"
cit was unfortunit his dyin' 80 soon. u
said Miss Hepzibah. who was kindly
old soul. "Ef he'd lived couple O
years more he'd paid for the place an
left Susan comfortable. shouldn't
wonder but she's had hard pull these
two years to get along with those three
children"
"Most likely she has. But don't see
as I'm CALI !! OH to shoulder her burdens
with her. Goodness knows l'vc enough,
already without lOokin' out for any
more"
Eyes. your hands arc pretty full.
that's II fact" said Miss Hepzibah. 81
hear folks sayin' every day that they
don't know what the minister would dc
without you"
II reckon I've labored pretty faithful
in the Masters vineyard" said Miss
Sarah, ''f do say it as shouldn't"
And you'll get your reward, Miss
JENKINS" said Miss Hcpz,bah, as she
rose to GO. "You can..a lers take co az fort
In ,hink,n' that. But do wish you
could see your way to help Susan bit >
"sne don't desarve hrlp," and Miss
sarah's tone was decidedly acid
Sized oush,er have taken my advice
i'll the first place. tod 'em how 1t
rs said. told Tom she WAS too ever.
lastin' delicate, an would break down
in lessen five years. But he would
have his own way n',malry her, an
now here she is laid up-iust as ] said
she'd be-"
"Pity they didn't listen to you" said
Miss Hepzebah as she went ont. but
Young foung folks is gener'Iy mortal
keadstrony."
Miss Jenkins often boosted
minutes; and there was always
work Of ono kind or another f9r
her to do; but after her visitor had gone
she sat for some time with er hands in
her lap, thinking over the contents OF
the letter she had Just received.
Toms marriage 10 Susan Bayard, the
orphan daughter OF q man who, to use
the expressions of his neighbours, had
never been "lorelandel," had not
pleased his sister, who Thought Susan
far too delicate and dainty to prove of
much help as the w:fb ola farmer of
slender means.
Tom, however had been very happy
in his welded life, and lad never re.
GREETED his clloica, as he took pains 10
say TO his sister whenever he wrose to
her.
And Miss Sarah who wasn't as good a
Christian MS sac thought herself. and
did not fancy being called Il false proph-
ct, resented his happiness and allowed
IL feeling oil enmlty 10 grow up i'll her
heart against Susan.
Toms death, seven years after his
marriage, wi,sa terrible blow to his
wife and children, who were left almost
pennies
But Susan, knowing the way in which
, she was regarded Ivy her sister-in law,
did not dream OF cali * upon Miss Sa-
rah for help.
Through the influence of a friend the
young widow secured the position of
teacher in Il district school, and tor two
years, on Il very slender salary, had
managed to keep Til, wolf from the
door.
Then the mortgage on her home was
foreclosed and Il long illness which fot-
lowed her removal IRON the farm TO u
small room in the village OF Milford,
made it necessary for the trustees of the
school to provide another teacher i'll her
place.
The sale OF the furniture of the farm.
house provided Susan with money to de.
Tray her EXPENSES during her illness; but
she found herself when convalescent ut.
terly penniless, and with three small
children looking to her for support.
1t was then that. with heavy heart,
she wrote TO her sister-ln.law. and it
was letter which ought to have called
forth only sympathy and pity from it's
ly q strange sort of pleasure in being
able at last to say, 81 told you 60"
As she sat in her kitchen that warm
July afternoon, the quiet broken only
by the ticking of the large eight-day
clock and the soft purrin, of the cat by |
tho stove, she was thinking what she |
would write in reply: in what words she |
would remind Su:aa of Toms declara
ton that "neither he nor his shonld
ever ask for favor or q cent ut his sis.
ter's hands,"
Tie clock struck focr with loud
whirring noise, which reused Miss Jen.
kIns with a start from her reyerie, and
size sprang up, surprised and shocked
to find how long she had been idle.
"I'll let her wait awhile for my ans.
wer.' she thought. "lt'll do her good |
to be in suspense bit. And reckon
it amt too late to go after them black.
berries in the medier-lot. First thing
know them pesky town-boys will be |
after Elm, an won; getn for JAM"
She put ON her snnbonnet, and taking |
4 large tin pal! from the antrv, went |
out. She paused on the path which |
led to the meadow to look back at the |
house, thinking IT was very like Susan
In calculated on being asked to take
mp her abode there.
1t was Il large, old-ashioned hou:e.
with roomy chambers. wide replaces,
md plenty of winiuws. Tie grounus
surrounding it were well shaded. and an |
abundance Of flowers bloomed in the |
front garden. 1t would have been q |
grand place for children to play, but
none !md ever played the since Tom
had been grown. The place had been
eft TO Miss Sarah by an aunt, and Tolu
had no share i'll it. Miss Sarah, how
ever, had cared for and supported her
brother. who was very much her junior,
until he was able to s'rlke out for him
self; and she made him present of five
hundred dollars when he attained his
majority. She thought she had done
more than her duty 10y hin, and size
desired that he should pay her some
in the matter of his mar
riage. She had never felt tile same
toward him since, though she tried
to heed the old MOTTO. DE mortuis nil
nisi bonum." whenever she spoke Of
him.
The blackberries in the meadow
were very ripe and large, anu 81 plent-
eols that Miss Sarah had no difficulty
in filling her pail in very short
time. 1t occurred to her as she walked
homewa~a that perhaps the minister's
wife might want to make jam. too, and