Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-10-10
mother have nothing" said she to hor-

But when Inez, with the crisp red
oow at her throat, followed her escort
awkwardly through the lighted hall, |
and sat by his side listening tothe crys-
tai notes of the bell-ringers, the worry
abolt the ribbon and the weight of the
mortgage seemed to slip for a moment
from her young, bowed shoulders. She
thought Of them, only to look at
other girls with ribbons, and to
glad that she had one, too. She
was making a grasp for a few minutes
at the girlhood She had never had.
The concert was Wednesday,. Sat-
urday she and her mother drove to
Bolton to sell their butter and eggs
again. When they got home, lnez
opened the parlor, which was lever
used, and swept and busted 1t. 1t was
q grand apartment to her and her
mother. 1t had never been
opened since her fathers funeral.
When she first Enclosed the door to-day
she seemed to see the long coffin in the
middle of the floor, where it had rested
then.
She shuddered a little. s.Folks that
have had troubles do see coflins after
ward, even when they're happy, l sup
pose," muttered she to herself.
Then she went to work. There was
a large mahogany bureau in one cor
ner OF the room; some flag bottomed
chairs stood stifhy around; there was
an old-fashioned card-table, with Mrs.
Hemans' poems and the best lamp on a
bead lamp mat on it, between two front
windows. A narrow gllt-framed look
ingg-glass hung over it.
Mrs, Morse heard Inez at work, and
came in. ''What air you dom on,
Inez?" she asked, in wonder.
IL just thought I'd slick up here a
little. Willy Lintield said--he might
drop in awhile Sunday night" lnez
did not look at her mother. Somehow
she felt more ashamed before her than
she would have before a smarter
woman.
''Aly sakes, Inez, you don't say So.
You have got a beau as sure as preach
in. Your father kept right on regular,
after we once set up OF a Sunday night.
You'll have to put q new wick in that
lamp, Inez."
'.Ill see to it, mother" replied Inez,
shortly. She was delighted herself,
but she felt angry with her mother TO.
showing so much citation; it seemed to
cheaper her happiness.
Sunday, Inez went with her mother
to churchin the morning and afternoon.
She went to Sabbath-school after the
morning service, too. She was in a
class of girls OF her own age. She had
never felt. someway, as if she was in
the least one of their kind. She never
had the things they had, or did any
thing which they were accustomed to
do. To-day she looked at them with a
feeling of kinship. She was a girl, too.
Three or four of them had lovers. Inez
eyed them, and thought how she had
one too, and he was coming tonight as
we'll as theirs.
She bad work to do Sundays as wei.
as weekdays. There were cows to mill
and hens to feed. But she changed hel
dress after supper, and put on thu
new red ribbon bow. She picked a little
nosegay of cinnamon roses out in thu
front yard (there were a few OF thes'
| little dwarf roses half buried in the tai
grass therc) and arranged them in al
old wine-glass Oh the parlor mantel
| When she heard WHY'S feet on the SLATE
| walk and his knock on the from
| door, her heart beat IS it hat
before.
"There's your beau, Inez!" cried he:
mother; ''he's comet"
Inez was terribly AFRAID Willy would
hear what her mother said; the window
were all open. She went to the doc
trembling, and asked him into TIN
garnished parlor.
Mrs. Morse staid out in the kitchen
The twilight deepened. She could hea
the soft hum of voices in the parlor
s.Inez is in there courtin','' said she
"Her father an me used to court
but it's all over. There's somethin!
queer about everything"
Willy Linield came many a Sunda.
night alter that. 1t got to be said al
around that VIII y Iinfield was Ego
ing" with Inez Morse. Folks wondere,
why he fancied her. He was a pretty
rather dandiied young fellow, and Inc
was so plain in her ways. She looke'
ten ear older than he, though she wa
about the same age.
One Monday afternoon she told he
mOCnCr UIldt why Guo uiSAo poIohO h%
asked her to marry him. The tw
women sat at the kitchen window rest
ing. They had been washing, and wer
lust throu Oh. The kitchen floor wa
freshly secured; everything locke
damp and clean.
"You don't say SO, Inez!' cried he
mother, admiringly. ''What did 20
tell him? Of course you'll have hin
he's q real nice teller; an l don't be
lieve you'll ever get anybody else"
Il told him I'd have him if he'd wa
three years for me to pay OIL the NOR
gage" replied Incz, quietly.
2 9Did he say he would?"
'.Yes.'
..It's a long time for a Teller to wait.
said her mother, shaking her head al
biouslv. ''I'm afear'd you'll lose hin
: Inez:'
, "Then I'll lose him." said Inez. 81
r going to pay off that mortgage before
. marry any Mother, look here,
she went on, with a passion which W;
= totally foreign to her, and showed no
+ deeply she felt about the matter. "lt
: know a little how | feel about tn
: mortgage. 1t amt like any commt
;, mortgage. o kno" no" lather le
e about it,
eyes. I know, Inez," said her mot
- -,;%L a cnh