Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-07-18
MARRIED UNDER DIFFICULTIES.
A Western Sketch,

The Grahams we're a very good and
respectable family, and at the time of our
story consisted Of three sisters, Della,
Alice and Ellen, and an older brother,
Edward. Their prairie farm of eighty
acres was but little broken; and as it
was not yet entirely paid for, it yielded
them only a scanty, support. Their
home was a very u~npretending, wood
.colored house containing three small
rooms and an airy shelter or shed on the
back where the stove could stand in
summer, yet this structure was consid-
cred quite %aristocratic for the locality
of Barton, as it was the only house
There battened and plastered.
Then the large willows by the road
side, which their father had. planted
twenty-five years ago when he came to
Iowa, gave the place quite a p%atriarchal
look.
A.Don't feel so badly about it, girls"
said Alice to Della and Ellen, who
werc wiping their eyes as they packed
away the bed-quilts of many patterns,
and the sheets and rugs and other
household articles, that they had man
aged by most rigid economy and un-
firing energy to procure for Alice's
housekeeping. "You know I shall be
home every summer, and winters you
a come and see me, that is, after
Edward is married and Jennie gets
wonted to the house."
The sisters and brother were very
fond and tender of each other, and it
not without much sorrow and
many talks over the matter that Alice
had finally concluded to accept the
hand of Charles Goodwin and leave the
dear home.
Della especially took the matter seri-
ously to heart. She had been the
mother to her sisters for twenty-five
years now, and only a year ago they
had tearfully laid their dear father in
sehe grave, and now to part with Alice,
who was the Sunshine of the house,"
as they all declared, seemed hard in
deed.
-:Alice, it is four o'clock now, you
must. dress yourself at once as they will
soon be here" said Ellen, looking
at the clock. They then hastily
finished packing the box and lighted the
tire for tea, and it is doubtful if in the
trying and amusing experiences con-
nected with Alice's marriage there was
any more shedding of tears or particu-
larly sad thoughts.
Edward and his future brother-in-law
were in the meantime nearing Barton.
During the twenty-five miles ride from
fhe railroad station, MI. Goodwin
found much to delight the eye and
many subjects of common interest upon
which to converse.
''This is Barton. l dare say you
thought it larger and more thriving"
remarked Edward as they drove past
she Corners, boasting only a post-ofice
<n a country store and a blacksmith
shop, and a pretty white school-house.
"And that is your house," pointing
TO a house some four rods from the post
office. II know it by Alice's descrip-
ton"
Yes. we live just across the line, in
Wright County,"
'sBut don't you live in Franklin
County? l always directed my letters
60 Barton, Franklin County," said Mr..
Goodwin, looking suddenly anxious and
%nervously feeling for something in his
coat pocket.
''That is our post-offce, but we live
Just over the line, you see."
''Well that is a sorry joke. Here is
my license; 1 got it while waiting for
you, as / learned Hampton was the
county seat, but it is of no value now.
What is your county seat and how
far?" said Mr.. Goodwin, tearing up the
license and giving it to the prairie
breeze.
4tClarion, some thirty miles"
~'Whew! And such heavy roads!"
But they were then at the gate, OF
rather the opening in the wire fence,
dlat served as the place of ingress and
.egress, and the mistake was for the
time being forgotten in the happy
greetings and the tempting meal await.
ing them.
While they are at the table we will
give the reader a little better introduc.
ton to MI. Goodwin. He was a thriv.
ing young merchant in a town in North
y ern Illinois, and a great favorite OF
<'catch'' in society. Now the Grahams
+, had an aunt Geneva, and it was while
Alice was spending q winter there that
Nj. Goodwin first met her and was