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

glance around; there was hardly a SEQ
ond's time. In the corner Of the kitch-
en- was a great heap of herbs which she
had taken down from the walls where
they had been drying; the next day she
had intended 20 pack them and send
them off: She caught up Myrtle and
covered her with them. 'sLie still, dar-
lmgn' she whispered. "Don't make q
bit of noise, OF your grandmother will
get you again" Myrtle crouched un-
der them. trembling.
Then the door opened; MIR. Simonds
stood there with a lantern. 'Ihat lit
tie girls away" he began-''slip-
ped out while the old lady was out of
the room q minute. Beats all how
such a little thing knew enough. She's
here. amt she?"0
"No," said Aurelia, s'she ain
"You don't mean it,"
"Yes."
'Ain't you seen her, thought"
Mr.. Simonds, who was fat and
placid. began to look grave. ssThen,
all there is about it, We've got to have
q hunt" saidhe. "'Twon't do to have
tlttU " ouO III I'LL 1lSlu-SON IL
long. We hadn't q thought but she
Aurelia watched him stride down the
yard. Then she ran after him. ''AIr.
Simonds!'. He turned. 81 told you a
lie. Myrtic's in the corner OF the kitch-
en- under q heap Of herbs"
'.Wny, what on earth"
81 wanted to keep her so tonight"
,,,,o1 l,,,,.% ,,~l,+ @,,f i, lo,,s -~l-,
"Ihere, there, 'Relia! It's a shame.
You shall keep her. I'll make 1t all
right with the old lady somehow. L
reckon, as long as the child's safe,
she'll be glad to get rid of erto-night.
She wouldn't have slept much. Go
right into the house, 'Relia, and don't
worry"
Aurelia obeyed. She hung over the
little creature all night, asleep in her
little crib. She watched her every
breath. She never thought of sleeping
herself-her last night with Myrtle.
The seconds were so many grains Of
gold-dust. Her heart failed her when
day broke. She washed and dressed
Myrtle at the usual time, and gave her
her breakfast. Then she sat down
with her and waited. The child's sor-
row was soon forgotten, and she played
about as usual. Aurelia watched her
despairingly. She began to wonder at
length why they did not come for her.
1t grew later and later. She would
not carry her back herself, she was re-
solved on that.
1t wa ten o'clock before any one
came; then it was Mrs. Simonds. She
had a strange look on her face.
'Relia," she SAID, standing il the
door and looking at her and Myrtle,
''you 'ain't heard what's happened to
our house this mornin', hcv you?"
"No," sad Aurelia, awed.
cold Mis- Sears is dead. Had her
third shock; she's had two in the last
three years. She was took soon after
Mr.. Simonds got home. We had q
doctor right of, but she died bout an
!, hour ago"
oh" said Aurelia, 81 have been a
wicked woman"
"No, you 'ain't, Aurella; don't yor
90 to feeling so. There's no call 10,
, the living to be unjust to themselve:
, because folks are dead. You did the
5 you can help the child; you can't he'll
IL. L IObSAo VI = AAyoSiL IAS Liz
thing"
: "Oh. I was such a wicked woman t.
think of it myself" said Aurelia. I
I could only have done something TO
s the poor old soul! Why didn'tyou cal
me?:"
81 told Mr.. Simonds 1 wouldn't
you'd had enough"
/ There was n thing which Aureli'
c.... D. IL 4lo,,l, ,:~,-1o M.
/ touching thing, though it probabl,
s meant more to her than to most c
those who knew of it.
: On the day of the funeral the poo
. old woman's grave was found line
: with fragrant herbs from Aurelia's gal
den thyme and lavender and rose
mary. She had cried when she pickle
them, because she could not help bein
glad, and they were all she could Civ
l for atoncment.-lNory e. Welkins, i
L Harpe2's Magugine.