The Warner weekly sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1885, 1884-03-07
ABOUT H%OUSE.CLEANING.

DullACCa TT OAiNN AN NlC yOat
Why don't you answer me when /
call?"
Eyes, Aunt Leah am coming in a
minute"
SIN q minute" sarcastically repeated
the old lady. Its always in a min
ute with you, Saideel But / suppose,
because I'm old and helpless, my com-
fort is a matter Of no consequence what
ever"
"Dear Aunt Leah, you must never
think that" answered q bright CHEEKY
voice; and Saidee Lynn came into the
room with a little tray, where were ar
ranged on a snowy napkin some tea bis
cult, half dozen pink radishes, a few
thin cut shavings of smoked beef and a
little pot Of tea, with a cup and saucer
of old blue china which would have
been invaluable to a collector. "You
see I had you IN my mind all the time,
Aunt Leah" she said merrily. 81
gathered the radishes from our own
garden. Don't they look niceY
Aunt Leah, a withered little old lady,
in O dress of worn black silk and gray
ayes peering through gold bound
,pectacles, tasted of the tea and shook
Ter head.
"It's too weak" said she. 'It isn't
&c to drink.
ct put in all the tea there was in the
a~nister, Aunt Leah, /" said Saidee, with
distressed countenance.
Aunt Leah pushed away the cup with
n expression of distaste.
sit is as / might have expected" said
ne. "My nieces have too little thought
Ay)r my comfort to study my poor and
w necessities. Never mind the tea; /
IN drink cold water, / dare sayF"
Saidee wrung her hands In despair
low could she tell this weak, feeble old
Idy, above whose declining years hung
he threatening Damocles sword of
cart disease, of their narrowing cir
instances, of the empty exchequer,
le clamoring creditors, the pitiful
rats to which they were reduced.
"What shall i do" she asked herself,
she went slowly back to the kitchen
the ruinous Gothic cottage, which
ley had obtained for a ridiculously
wv rent because it was ruinous. 1--WE
proved of the ~rector's wife twice,
I'D I'm ashamed to go to her again, I've
I'D everything / can lay my hands
a." But glancing up at a picture
hich hung in the. hall beyond, there's
le Velasquez still. A v~elasquez is
ways worth money, Belle will scold
bout parting with it, and Aunt Leah
i'll morn, but we can't live on air and
ew like the fairies. I'll take it down to
In. Bruner, the artist, this afternoon
nd ask himto get IS a purchaser. Poor
eople such as we are can't affordto re-
ain old family ~reclic." And so, when
lunt Leah was indulging in her after
loon nap, and Belle, the beauty of the
amily, was ironing out the fiounces Of
Ter white muslin dress for the NOR
ows picnic, vsliiiaI1t 56aidee ciimbed on
chair, took the unframed picture
Town lit was the head Of some old
spanish grandee, with a stiff pointed
'uf and an evil leer in his eyes,,
wrapped it up in q newspaper and
sreeped across the meadows with it to
the village.
Mr.. Bruneal was in his studio, q griz-
zle-headed blunt old gentleman, in a
belted linen blouse, and q velvet cap.
he nodded kindly at Saidee, who had
dice saken a few lessons from him, but
when she displayed the canva he shook
his head.
How much do you think it is
worth ?" asked Saidee, wistfully.
.Nothingr7 said Mr.. Bruner.
but" cried the girl, sit is q Velas-
quesn
THAT a V~elasquez? n said Mr.. Brun-
en-, contemptuously. MY dear, there
isn't a picture-dealer in the country
who would give fifty cents for it. Its q
mendacious imitation, and q wretched
one at that n
Saidee tied up the poor picture and
vent home again, shedding a few tears
as she walked under the whispering
trees.
MY last hope gone she thought,
but I'll not tell Aunt Leah or Belle
that IT is an imposture. They have al
Ways taken snch an innocent pride IN
the Valasquez.r
AS she came past the old brick house
~ the foot Of Locust lane, o load OF
furnlture was being carried in, for IT.
was the second week in May. Wicker
chairs, twined with blue ribbon, q cot
fa8e piano, cases Of books, engravings,
things.
saidee paused and looked at ther,
lOt without interest