Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1883-02-28
RUNNING THE TOLL.

atherbee. demure rs a little Quaker
sweet as wild rose, looking up
m her Kensington stitch.
Grandma overheard her and answer
ed with u smile that made her piercing
black eyes sparkle like diamonds.
Il don't think uou will ever run the
toll, Peace and Plenty" she said. That
was the name she had given Lily when
she was baby.
.'No, indeed; one in the family Of
that sort is quite enough" laughed the
girl; "but here is Hattie waiting to be
amused, and you must tell her about it."
"Well, how shall l begin, chatter
box?''
why, tell her about the old house
with the gray moss clinging to the raft
ers. and the haunted window and the
great barn, first"
''Ihe haunting was easily enough ac-
counted for" said grandma, rolling up
the stockings she had been mending and
taking off her spectaclcs; "that was the
tapping of the old horse-chestnut when
the wind blew, but it was long time
before found out the meaning of the
three mysterious knocks-always three
and when did. what fun had at the
expense of Miss Silena Cross, our dress
maker, who had taken infinite pains to
prove that l WAS favored with spiritual
visits! Poor Miss Slena! l never saw
creature more disappointed. As for the
barn, it had originally been built for a
Westinghouse. but never having been
finished On account of lack of funds, nv
grandfather took il for debt and turned
it to very good account. That old barn
was great institution, and was rcgu-
larry farmcd out during winters for
revival meetings. dances, husking frolics
and sundry other things. One night
we let tramp sleep there, and the
consequence was that by noon next day
there was nothing left of the barn but
smoke and ashes. Poor father! 1t had
been source of income. and nothing
could take its place. Everybody mourn
ed the destruction of Uncle Hiram's
barn but nobody offered to rebuild it.
1--WE were poor, not that We suffered
for the necessaries of life. The farm
kept our table, but my father worked too
hard for an old man. and his boys were
all giris. The fact of our poverty never
troubled me, however; was too happy
Only give me plenty of fun, plenty of
sunshine and nothing seemed hard to
me. My genns at improvisiny all sorts
of amnsements made me general
favorite in society. Nobody looked
down upon me because l wore calico
and worked from morning till night. In
fact. Jack was always in requisilion;i it
was Jack who took the lead at our
merry gatherings, who filed the gap
with some audacious gossip when no.
body knew what to say. who was afraid
of nothing-who was, am rather sorry
to add, careless of consequences, SO that
she had good time.
''But l was happy; nobody can ever
take that consolation from me. ! never
sighed for what was unattainable Fair
weather or foul, washing or baking, at
home or at the countryside parties.
was always at peace with the world.
though my one best muslin gown had
done duty for several years.
"Oh, grandma! what would you have
thought then of a pink satin reception
dress, and everything to match, like the
one l am having make?" exclaimed
Lily.
!.Shouldn't a been bit happier. my
dear; couldn't a been," was the calm
response. Besides, young girls never
wore satin in those days. bless you!-
plain white null was considered dressy
enough, with flowers which to my
taste, are prettier than jewels any day.
And now am coming to how ran the
toll. Ned Hamilton was considered one
of the best young men in town. lie
would a. been handsome but his nose
was too thin and his eyes were too close
together. though they were fine eyes.
At all events, he was great favorite,
and the girlwh secured him for a part
ner considered herself fortunate. No
body treated him just exactly as | did.
for would tell him to his face that he
was conceited, though secretly l did
feel flattered by his attention. sup
pose the great Rosedale farm had some
thing to do with il, and two grays and
the handsome carryall. Perhaps was
ambitious and didn't exactly know it;
| for to tell the truth, when did think Of
him at all seriously it was the big farm
that loomed up, not my liking for him.
| To be Mrs. Hamilton-the name was q
good one--to step from our homely one.
story house into grand old mansion.
where the furniture had stood for q
hundred years---that was something fol
a poor mans child to achieve. was
very proud and happy when he showed
me any unusual attention. 1t did stir
what vanity had to see his team at oul
cottage door, to pass our acquaintance
seated beside him, to be singled out al
par,ies-me in my plain dress, with
perhaps only rose at my throat and
another in my hair
..Now confess that you were hand
some. grandma" said Lily.
THAT'S lot for me to say, my dear
though / believe they did call me rather
pretty. One day Ned Hamilton invited
me to go with him to Silver Spray, {
beautiful waterfall. six miles away
was particularly pleased with tht
invitation just at that time. for mat
tiers at home were complicated. and tbs
atmosphere was not agreeable. Father
had been paving money on y mortgage
and that always made him cr0ss-no
cross exactly, but very, very miserable
The sight OF his sorrowful face and thu
sound of his depressed voice caused u
| all to feel more or less wretched.
/ THAT night there was TO be part,
at the house Of Judge Mills. They onl.
gave one year, on the occasion Q
Meeny Mills birthday. Poor Meeny! 4
homelier girl never lived, but the Judg
was rich, and she wore all the lates
fashions, so perhaps she never realizes
how vary plain she was had beea