Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1884-12-11
A HEROIC LIFE.
Elzo Story Of q Disagreoabls and
Pussy Old Maid

Pussy Old Maid
~Oh dear. do wish aunfie would
ssay AZ homc.~ said Bessie Wilton one
ds,. as the door closed behind that
lsdT.
-Bsszia," said her mOshs-. reprOv-
hglg-
4 do" persisted die girl -She Is
o fnssy and 50 disagreezble. l don't
Ike her biz
Mr.. Wilton laid aside his paper and
sighed as ne said:
:. Bessie. mnst tel you a story. a
true one
..Do. papa interrupted Bessie. as
she b-orght 4 low stool and sat down
af his feet
= Il was many years ago. Bessie. \
cold. wef day In early spring A party
c>me forth from the church door and
stood rererently beside tie open grave
of their pastor. Dust Vas committed to
dust. and tie mourne-s returned 10 their
homes. leaving him by the side of his
wiz. who had died few wears before
Yes. the funeral was over. the last sweet.
sd rites had been performed. the
prison-Iike I'D had been Listened tightly.
shutting from gaze forever the cold.
PLACID face. and Nellie Warren sat alone
J. he desolate room No. not alone
BT her side were three trembling q J.
dren. dependent now upon her for sup
~eI g A. rrII-
cious relatives who wanted 10 plan the
dreary fufure FOR her.
- The farm VIII sell purfy uiddlin'
well, oughter get eight hHndersi dollars
<e- hat. but thar amt much else. Tbs
err furniture won't sell for much and
Uncle Silas Graspall laid his hand
Eprn the old desk in the corner A
huge, u1gainly article Of furniture, worn
snd scratched and defaced. but sacred
n he eyes Of the mourning girl Sell
for muchl Seilie's lip quivered- Per
haps Il was not worth much in the eyes
q the world. Suf 10 her Il was priceless.
Al the diamonds Of Africa could not
buy her fathers desk Even as she
looked At il. through Der binding tesrs.
she seemed 70 see her fathers form
sitting before il. Is he Eas wont to dc.
= .Ahemr began Uncle Sslas again.
.Hev yon thought whst you'd do vii,
Sellief sPOse he didn't leave We
rn7 money. did hes None to speak OFF
IL think not much falfered the
girl
. And I guess not Re never was
creaf FIR maxim money Nellie's eTes
flashed. and she shaf her lips tightly
together 10 keep back the answer she
fclf must come He was a master
good man. th0ngh. JOHN was Wal.
now. y5u hzins made no plans. s'pose-
In give YOU home. sich as IL Is
= 50 can ]. Interrupted Aunt Selma
.ScIli< is welcome TO stay with me as
long - size plczscs-' Which generous
e1cr IS Nellie wei knew. meant as
long n she pleases 70 work well
= ] think she had better come with
me. Uncle SIlas went On. What do
ron say. FelIies'
= Bun, buf-the children-it win be
too mach-you ought nOt'-fal,ened
Nellie
- On. a. ter ncm.' said the man.
hcsitzfinxly: ..Wili. there. can earn
h;s hoard Almost anywheres, and tother
tEo can 20 10 the 's,lum-
. Never said Nellie. fiercely-
.Bzf you can't expect one person TO
take en- all szid Aunt Selma .IfyOu
70 70 Silas' I'll take VIII myself
sp9sc he could do the chores Most
twelve. amt hes'
Yes answered Nellie, Is she laid
ser hand prcserfingly over his. an an
sEerr6 his imploring look with 4 sad
Little smile
And I'll take Charlie. He's big
c1uG ter pick I'D chips and DO little
chores. said Aunt Sabrina. who lived
1lone.
But who would take Annie. that
pale fragile. fiFe-year old girl, who
surveyed them all with such great.
uild eyes. n she clung closer
% fellIes Each one glanced
insfincfiTely towards n richly
zrcssed lady who sat apart from all the
,thers. clothed in the deepest mourning.
AIRS. Churchill was their fathers only
sister; a. such they certainly had claim
up1E her bounty She was = wealthy
Eidow and had recently buried her only
-h:ld Having known the deepest sOr-
NV she could the more readily pity
fhcirs- As vet she hsd not spoken
surely from her hundreds she would
sIIIingly spare little to tighten their
burisn- Cnconsciously Nellie herself
cad thought this. and she looked in her
lnce with grateful love as she now arose
and came f0rw<ud-
- Yes. viii take little Annie. she
said. as II answering the inquiring
ciances- viii take little Anne. and
he shall have everything that money
can bur. buf.' and she looked cOldly AZ
the Others. she must be mine alone
She must never have anything 70 do with
the reSt
= Nellie drew the trembling child
closer 10 her side. and a rcsOlute l9bk
bid fhe disappointment in her ewes
=. It's all settled then said Uncle
siIas. brisEiy- The farm and furniture
kin be sold; III see ter II. and the mon
rv Kin be put inter the bank and divided
rfxecn EN- when they ct older
= .Ion car give Il t. the three said
RIrs Churchill. as she attempted 70
draw the child 70 her. Annie viii need
nothing
s.-FerF generous in yon-' simpenei
Aunt Sztrlna- Well, vel. Nellie. what
do ror saFs
.srhc color flooded the poor girl face
- she felt AL eyes liked upon fher A
strange. choking se1sat'on prevented
her. tor the tine. from answering a
aord Then she saw. also, tie trust