The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1884-10-23
MIRANDA.
Chicago Tribune Prize Story.

Chicago Tribune Prize STORY.
II was sunny evening in June, and
Romulus Corners looked it's best. Not
that its best was anything to boast Of,
for it was not much of place, consist
ing only OF q dozen orso struggling
houses, two general stores" and
meeting house, on line of the Bosnia
wa and st. Paul railway. All the
buildings were of wood, and most of
them painted dark and hideous brown
though here and there a verandah of vi
vid green Or brilliant blue doorstep
marked the dwelling OF some Unusually
ambitious Cornerer. Ali dwellers at
the Corners agreed that old Deacon
Tiffany's house was "the smartest in the
lot" and this certainly could not be de-
MED; it stood on small piece of rising
ground overlooking the railway
track,a somewhat conspicuous posi-
ton, where the eleven different
colors which ornamented it's front
could not fail to be observed of all trav
elers. These eleven colors were the
pride of the deacon's heart; he would
stand by the hour and contemplate with
placid satisfaction and modest pride
the green and yellow stripes of the We
randa, the slate-colored cornice, or, best
of all, the gorgeous new bow window
Ito Mirandy's room" The deacon GER
tainly had, as was said admiringly at
the Corners, ian eye for colors." Even
his bee-hives were all painted either
yellow or blue, and instead of being
clustered together in a corner, as is
generally the case, were scattered pro-
miscuously about the garden, according
to new and original plan received by
their owner, to whom their appearance
afforded the keenest satisfaction. It
was his greatest pleasure in life
to stand at the gate of sum-
mer evening, attired in striped
flannel shirt, palm-leaf hat and pair
of trousers depending on the apparent
ly frail support of one suspender, luxu-
rioussy smoking long stemmed corn
cob pipe, and contemplating with inno-
cent and profound admiration his many
colored domicile and it's surrounding
beehives. The prospect might have
been slightly married for some people
by the effect of Mrs. Tifany's "wash-
ings," which were invariably in full
view on either side of the house-it was
popularity of Mrs. Tiffany always to
have something con the line" But the
deacon didn't mind; on the contrary,
he rather enjoyed the sight of. few IL
lac calico gowns and rising sun" coun-
terprnes Tapping in the breeze. ut
kinder brightens things up, ye see," he
used to say. But fond as he was of
bright colors and generously as he had
been able to crafty his taste it did
ones heart good to see how careful
the deacon was of his less FORUM
ate neighbors' feelings. He would
stroll down to the village of an evening,
and, gazing mildly at the particular
dull and dingy shade of brown which
ornamented the residence of his friend,
the blacksmith, would hypocritically
remark that he "didnt know but what
such color as that wasn't best for the
eyes after all, and that ''ef it hadn't
bin for Mirandy's coming home he
didn't know as he would hevput tibet
thar shade of blue onto the bow-win-
dop; but gals generally has leanin' to
blue"
Miranda had been away for four years.
First at school in a far-distant eastern
city, and then without coming home
she went to Europe for a year, partly
as governess to the two little sisters of a
former schoolmate, partly as compan-
ion to their fussy invalid mother
Mrs. Tiffany strongly dissaproved of
these proceedings. She was not Miriam
da's own mother, and naturally her own
girls, Ag and Liz, took precedence in
her eyes. She didn't see why that
pale-faced Mirandy should have all the
book-larnin' and travelin' thar was goin."
But on this point the deacon, usually
mild and yielding, had been firm and
loyal to the memory of his first wife,
the pretty, gentle, eastern girl, whose
shook -larnin' had been almost her only
consolation in the pine soltitudes Of
Romulus, and who had begged of him
mot to let Miranda grow mp West"
And the deacon had promised and brave
~ kept his word, in spite of the scold-
ings and lachrymose complaipings of
Mrs. Tiffany the second and her girls.
Twice during the four years did the
deacon visit her at school, and now ut
last Miranda is coming home. It is the
14th of June, and she is to sail for
America the 18th, and the deacon
stands at the gate and lets his
pipe out half dozen times as he thinks
of his "little GAL" and wonders how she
will like the new paper in her room,
and whether "thet thar mosquity-cur-
tain hadn't oughter abeen blue instead
o'pink."
Far away in the smoke and noise of
London, Miranda is parting with Fitz-
gerald.
"You know" he says, II shallbe back
in New York next year, probably for
good-and then shall pay visit, to-
what is it?" smiling. "Remus ?-no,
Romulus, and carry you off like the
knight in the fairy tale, I hope"
"You won't like it-Romulus, I mean"
she answers, the corners of her mouth
trembling; "it-it is so different
hate i'll" with quick passion, "and yet"
dropping her voice, II hate myself
more for feeling SO. o, help me,
help me bear it ALT" she cries
suddenly, turning to him with piteous
little gesture. He soothes her half i'm
patiently-is it shade of annoyance
which crosses his face? And then,
"you must be brave. Miranda. he says.
She moves away from him, pushing the
hair back from her forehead and look
ing up steadily, eyes," she answers.
al L.