Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-11-07
A GATHERER OF SIMPLES.

ua'idP az was uioWiHS up, anu Cuo
frogs were beginn' ng to peep. The
SUI was setting in a low red sky. On
both sides Of the road were rich green
meadows intersected by little canal-like
brooks. Beyond the meadows on the
west was q distant stretch of pine
woods, that showed dark against the
clear sky. Aurelia Hover Vas going
along the road toward her home, with
Il great sheaf of leaves and flowers IN
her arms. There were the rosy spikes
of bareback; the great white corymbs
OF thoroughwort, and the long blue
racemes of ]obelia. Then there We're
great lunches of the odorous tansy and
Tcnnyroyal in with the rest.
Aurelia was o tail, strongly-built
man she was not much over thirty,
5ut she looked older. Her complexion
had a hard red tinge from exposure to
sun and wind, and showed seams as
uureservedly as granite. Her face was
thin, and her cheek-bones high. She
had y profu.ion of auburn hair, show
ing in q loose slipping coil beneath her
limp black straw hat. Her dress, as a
matter of fashion, was execrable; in
point of harmony with her surround
ings. very well. though she had not
thought OF it in that way. There was
n green underskirt and q brown over
skirt and q basque of an obsolete cut.
She had worn it for q good many years
just so, and never thought of altering
it. 1t did not seem to occur to her that
though her name was Flower, she was
not really a flower in regard to apparel
and had not it's right of Interchangeable
ness in the spring. When the trees
hung out their c%atkjns, she Haunted her
Door greens and browns under them,
re, oicing, and never dreamed but what
shev looked all right. AS far as dress
went. Aurelia was a happy woman.
She went along the road tonight at {
good pace, her armful of leaves anc
blossoms nodding; her spare muscular
limbs bore her along easily. She hat
been over Il good many miles since
noon but She never thought OF being
tired.
Presently she came in sight Of he:
home, a square unpalntcd building
black with age. 1t stood back q littl
from the road on a gentle slope. Thel'
were three great maple-trees in front o
she house; their branches rustle'
against the roof. On the left was
small garden; some tall ioles thickl
twined with hops were prominent IN II
Aurclia went round to the side doc
Of the house with her armful OF greer
things. The door opened directly int
the great kitchen. One on enter
ing would have started back as on
would on seeing unexpected compan
in II room. The walls were as green a
lady's bower with punches and fes
toons of all sorts OF New England herbs
There they hung, their blossoms tur1
ing gray and black. giving out stran2
half-pleasant, half-disgusting odor;
Aurela took them in like her native ali
otis good to get lome." murmureds 81
TO herself. for there was no one cls'
she lived alone.
She took oil her hat and disposed
her burden: then she got herself SON
supper. She did not build q fire in IL
cookinm-stove, for she never DRAM &c
in warm weather. Instead, she had
.umbler of root-beer which she Ia
made herself. She set it out on Oh
end OF her kitchen table with 4 slice
coarse bread and = saucer OF cold peail
She sat down to it and ate with a 0
appetite. She looked better with l'
hat of. Her forehead was an ilnpof
ant part OF her face; it was white III
womanly, and reddish hair lay ROUND
i'll pretty curves: then her brown eye
under very strongly mchea PROV
showed to better advantage. laAen |
herself, and not compared WIN ON
women, Aureiia was not SO pa,-loo
mo: but she never was taken by ne st
in that way, and nobody had ever CIV
her any credit for comeliness. ~ Won !,
have been like looking at Il Iaek-lll-:'
pulpit and losing all the lmpressiII
that had ever been made on one
roses and hyacinths. and seeing an,
lutely nothing else but thai on? now "n =
line green and brown lines: it is dou'
Iul il it could be done. .,u
She had finished her supper anu w w
sorting her fresh herbs, when lhe ~
opened and o woman walked IN.
had no bonnet on her head; she "as
leighbor, and this was an uneefeino
Gus little country place: -, :,
.'Good-eyenin', 'Relia.' salo 81
There Was an important DOE On :
nlain face, as if Their 1as more ~ !