Kimball enterprise. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1883, 1883-05-11

AAo poor cnlid tlad rolled up her
apron as a substitute tor a pillow, ard
made a footstool of my bag. She looked
much younger than she had done awake,
put her expression was even sadder.
and her whole attitude one of profound
WEAKNESS.
l was about to rouse her when I heard
steps on the veranda outside, and some
n fumbled at the lock.
l understood then why Margaret had
ve&ed with me Tor supiposlneg That size s6e
was waiting up %purposely.
l retreated. A loud, thick voice called,
Margaret" and instantly the child
started to her feet. went to the door
n admitted atall man. shabbily dressed
and too evidently intoxicated.
what the dickens do you mean by
keeping your old father waiting?" he
demanded, angrily.
make a noise. | was asleep and I didn't
hear you. Sit down there, now, and
let me take off your Shoes" hall. guild.
ing him to the chair she. had vacated,
she gave him a little push that sent him
into it safely, though rather askew, and
kneeling down, she rapidly Invested
him Of pair of dusty brogans.
'Thank you,. my dear child, thank
you. You are the handsomest of all my
children, Margaret, much the handsom-
lite" remarked the father, with vinous
impressiveness, attempting to embrace
her as she rose to her feet.
Yes, pa, l know | am a beauty; but
hadn't you Letter come up ~stairs?" said
she, avoiding his arm, but giving him n
kiss of her own accord on the forehead.
"Make me a bed here, my dear. l
don't care where | sleep, and l can't
bear to give trouble" suggested Mr.. Rea.
"Pooh, pa! don't be ridiculous. 1
can't do that. Come along!" and with
this, Margaret helped him up and pro-
PEELED him toward the stairs.
Take care, pa, you'll fall" she cried,
as he tripped on the first step, and to-
gether they slowly mounted to the floor
above.
Their footsteps died away; l made a
second and more successful attempt to
get my bag, took my medicine, and after
thinking Yer the little scene ! had Just
witnessed. dropped into a sleep that
lasted well toward noon of the following
day.
Margaret awoke me, by bringing in
my breakfast, and sat down near me
while l ate it.
II am surprised to find how late it's"
| said: What have you been doing this
morning, Margaret"
Wen; J l"1Ms The tal,y'ssrms. an
heir breakfast, and then 1 went to the
butchers for Aunt Stubbs, and came
home and put the feathers in mas bon
net, and sewed the buttons on pas coat.
and gave Miss Jeanret her pills, and
then ] made your chocolate, andbrought
your breakfast"
"And how is my frierd?" I asked,
unable to restrain a laugh at the gravity
with which she ratified off this extra
ordinary list of occupations.
"She says it most cures her to hear
that you've come, ami she sends her
love. Have you known ner long?"
"Yes," | said, "she was my governess
ever since"
"Aunt Stubs says she hopes you will
get up early" Margaret continued, "be-
cause Miss Waring is coming back and
will snort if she finds you in her loom.
But don't you hurry for that. The
boarders are all dying to see you, and
ma is going to put her best dress on for
dinner"
expressed as best / could my appre-
citation of this compliment.
"You haven't eaten your meat" she
went on, presently. "Nobody ever
eats it after the first day. Mr.. Smith,
one of the b~oarders, says he hopes it
will be better now you've come. But it
has any money, and the butcher says he
can't stand it. hate that man!'
l laughed again at this, and Margaret
rose.
81 must go now," she said. and left
the room.
AS soon as I was dressed, I went to
see my dear old governess, whom l
found very weak, though convalescent.
Her delight at seeing me knew no bounds.
"Ah," said she, ~ have made no such
friends since | am in America as your so
kind family. And l have suffered, yes.
But for a la petite, cette drole Marguer-
lite, Ia niece de Madame Stubbs-you
have seen?-I would now be not here.
conseils, ellie ma %soignee, as if l was
been her own mother. Cest une angel
/ was soon established in a little room
that opened into hers by Mrs. Stubs in
person. She was a frowzy. subdlled-
looking woman, with g wondering ye,
and a %chronically apologize manner, and
was dressed in brownish black mourn
ing and a cap that was never straight
during the six weeks it came under my
notice.
She was of a reminiscent turn ofmind,
and as she had adored herlate lord, JIG.
B. Stubs, she told me rather more about
his brilliant talents. and striking appear
ance, and remarkable peculiarities than
[ cared to hear. But she was a good
soul, and worked like a beaver, and
sheltered her brother and his family
under a roof, every shingle ofwhich was
mortgaged.
John had.fxed up the place splendid
Iy," she once told me, land when he
was elected to the Legislature, he said
to me, maria, we must have a door
plate" and he got it, and a week after it
was screwed on, my poor John. was
taken out right past it and buried"
The first day. at dinner. l was intro
ducedto Margaret's parents. Her mother
was a peevish looking woman, with
tremendous p~retensions to gentility.
Everything with her was either "gen-
teel," or "ungenteel."
Her best dress was very bad, indeed.
1t was cheap silk, most deliberately
made, and surmounted by a dirty lace
collar, fastened with a pin very nearly
as large az the Stubs door-plate and
made of the same metal.
She had evidently once been pretty,
and was determined to be so still, if
rouging, and powdering, and frizzling,
and furbelowing could accomplish that