Kimball enterprise. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1883, 1883-04-13
FALSE %PRETENCES.

after the winter was passed.
mo, you are not" said Papa Weston,
trying to speak very positively. "You are
going to nanny if she will consen. to
receive you, and l want you to come home
with rounder redder cheeks {Here the
cheeks had to be pinched) "And mind,
there nus: be less of this folly about going
out when mex winter comes"
Then if our home is to be converted into
q hermitage" laughed Erma, az mean to
prepare for it by learning to cook, so that l
may cheer my solitude with clear soups and
perfect puddings.'
81 only wish you were in earnest, : replied
her father.
A few weeks later Erma was installed
in the home of her old nurse, Mrs. Webb
-''mamnly," Erma had called her.
The next morning after her arrival, she
astonished Mrs. Webb by entering the
Kitchen at six O'Clock, arrayed in a cotton
dress and apron.
She laughed merrily al the look of won
der On the good woman's face, and won
her respect forever by declaring, " l intendto
pretesd am your daughter while Ian here,
and learn to bake bread aud wash Clothes"
You may not get 'em so nice the first
tihAe, but it'll be wonderful pleasant to
have you help about the work with me-"
And remember 0 are not to address me
as Miss Erma,' but only 'Erma'; and I
want to begin now" she said, with q glance
about the 0 in quest OF employment.
at seems like q pity to spoil them pretty
hands. | remember how / used to love the
touch of EN- when you was a baby, an yer
poor mother allyn in her grave.'
'Never mind my hands. fancy yours
might have been beautiful had they not
been so ~usefnl."
Then you might peel these taters an cut
EN- up, while ] go out an milk"
When Mrs. Webb returned with her pail
of foaming milk, she remarked, There's a
youngish-lookin' Teller comm this way.
with a valise in his hand. l wonder, now,
if amt the rev schoolmaster? Ye see, the
scarlet fever broke out in our district last
April, an broke up the school. The school
missus she got married, an we had to git a
new teacher"
The "youugish-lookin' feller' soon made
his appearance at the kitchen door.
"My name is Harris said the young
man. 81 have engaged to teach your
school, and would like to board here. 1
trust you will be able to accommodate me.''
Come In an take a chair. You can stay.
though the last teacher did make a lot
e'work, what with pickin' up things she'd
leave about, an carryin' water up the step
to her room. This is my daughter Erma.
Mr.. Harris"
~ Ar-1 Mo INa1L ,a,a E.-..
glance as she thus introduced her.
"You have a very handsome daughter,
Mrs. Webb. Will she be one of my pupils?'
you would not dare thus insult me if
-" began Erma, with a flash in her
brown eyes.
"Erma!" interrupted Mrs. Webb.
And the girl smiled quietly, and was 81
lent.
If the sfy on the window had suddenly
buzzed about his face, and shown a capaci-
ty for singing, Mr.. Harris would not have
been more astonished.
81 thought people of this class liked
plain speech was his mental comment, as
he gazed on Erma's flushed cheeks and
flashing eyes.
"Forgive me, Miss Erma; l have been
too frank, l fear" said he, with grave
sincerity, bnt with a suspicion of uncon-
scious condescers;on that was a new expe-
rience to i high-bred heroine, who was
accustomed to receive homage always and
everywhere.
eyes," she replied, II will forgive you il
you will try to remember that the humblesl
roof sometimes shelters a lady,
Her tones were SO naughty that he was
startled into taking another look at he,
face-he mad been gazing past her, out Of
the window; and he answered kindly, with
a half-fermed smile lowering around his
lips, II have been very remiss not to have
thought of that before. l hope you will
not take revenge on me by sailing my
COTE and serving up pebbles with my
vegetables"
mo; I could not be content with 50
slight a vengeance"
And Erma swept from the room.
AZ Mr.. Harris watched her receding
form, he only wondered whether her bean.
tiful eyes might not prove more torture to
ones peace of mind than salt and pebbles
to the stomach.
why did you introduce me as your,
daughter" demanded Erma, when she
found herself alone with Mrs. Webb.
II thought girls were fond of such sport
replied the good old lady evasively.
"Well, perhaps I shall enjoy a mas
querade; but it is surprising that you
thought OF it. l shall soon be found
out, at any rate. Mr.. Webb will be sure
to say something"
perhaps not. Mr.. Webb is nearly deaf
you know. an so taken up with bis sui.
len spells that he don't take notice OF any.
thing goin' on around i'm"
Mrs. Webb did not think it polite to
tell Erma that, having failed to secure a
prize in the matrimonial market herself,
she dreaded a similar fate for her ~favorite,
and doubted not that Mr.. Harris would be
after her fathers money. should he become
acquainted with her position in life. Sc
she planned in her own way to save he,
darling from q possible calamity. Indeed,
Mrs. Webb regarded marriage as a calam.
ity under any circumstances.
Bay followed day, week followed week
and yet, Mr.. Harris failed to make Erms
his friend. BE tried repeatedly to engage