Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1885-06-05

NOW w JOu Or,
tout as usual. Do take off your
things an set down"
The visitor had a prosperous look;
she was richly dressed to country ewes.
n had a large, mastery, middle-aeed
i,just heard some sad news" said
she, laying aside her shawl.
You don't say so?"
I'D Mrs. Powers was found dead in
her bed this morning."
Nancy's face took on an anxious
look; she asked many questions about
the sudden death of Mrs. Powers. She
Kept recurring to the same. topic all
the evening, Strange how sudden
1olks go nowadays" she often re-
peated.
AT length, just before Mrs. Holmes
went, she stood up with an air of reso-
LUTON, "N1is' Hoimes,n said she. with
a solemn tremor in her voice, II wish
you'd jest step in here a minute"
Mrs. Holmes followed her into the
bedroom. which opened out of the
slttlng-room. Nancy pulled out the
bottom drawer in a tall mahogany
bureau.
look here, Mis- Holmes. I've been
thinkin' of it over for some time, an
wantin' to speak about it; an hearin'
old Mis- Powers was took so sudden.
makes me think meDbe I'd better not
put it off any longer. In case anything
happened ONE, you'd probably be one
to come in an see things, an you'd
want to know where everything was,
50 you could put your hand on it.
Well, all the clothes you'd need are
right there, folded up in that drawer.
An, Mis- Holmes: you'll never speak of
this to anybody?"
mo, I WON'T"
SIN this corner, under the clothes,
You'll find the money to pay for my
buryin'. I've been savin' of it up, a few
cents at a time, this twenty year. /
calculate there's enough for everythin'.
l want to be put in that vacant place
at the end OF the Pingree..lot, an have
a fiat stone, like the others, you know.
If 1 leave it with you, you'll see that
it's all done right, won't you Mis-
Holmes? 1 feel pretty p%erticklar about
1T. I'm the last of the hull family, you
know, an they were pretty smartfolks.
It's all run out now. 1 amt nothin',
but I'd kinder like to have my buryin'
done like the others. I don't want it
done by the town, an I don't want no.
body to give it to me. l want to pay
for it with my own money. You'll see
to it, won't you"
"Of course I will. Everything shall
be done just as you say, if I have any
thing to do about it,"
Mrs. Holmes was rarely shocked or
painfully touched; but the sight of that
poor little hoard of white clothes and
burial money called up all the practical
kindness in her nature. Every one of
Nancy's wishes would be faithfully car
ried out under her supervision.
IF they put the railroad they're
talking about through here, it'll make
us rich. The Deacon says it will go
through the south part of this land.
We'd have enough money for burying
and living, too" said Mrs. Holmes, as
Nancy shut and locked the drawer.
II amt no stock in the railroad; all
the money would belong to the Deacon
eff it was put through this land. I've
got all over carin' for riches. All 1
want is to be buried independent, like
the rest of my folks"
Flows the woman upstairs?" asked
Mrs. Holmes when she took leave
finally. Shehad %threepairs OF Nancy's
finished stockings in a bundle.
"She's pretty poorly, 1 think. She
keeps me awake nights coughin' so. 1
shouldn't wonder Of she dropped away
most any time"
Nancy did not go farther than the
sitting-room door with her departing
visitor. When she had heard the outer
door close after her, she went swiftly
out into the entry. She held the lamp
in her hand. and peered sharply into
the
eyes, she did," said she, and took
up a good-siZed covered basket from
behind the door eagerly.
She carried it into the sittingg-room,
and opened it; it was packed with eat
ables. Done up in a little parcel at the
bottom was the pay for the three pairs
of stockings.
This was the code of etiquette,
which had to be strictly adhered to, in
the matter of Nancy's receiving pres
ents or remuneration. Gifts or pres
ents openly proffered her were scorn-
fully rejected and ANONYMOUSLY car
fled Dack by the uOnOf. Nancy lii
gree was a proud old woman. People
called her 'Old Lady Pingree." She
had not a dollar of her own in the
world. except her little hoard of burial
money. This immense old mansion,
which had been the outcome of the an
Gent prosperity of the Pingrees, was
owned entirely by Mrs Holmes hus-
band through foreclosed mortgages.
''You'd better %foreclose, Deacon"
| Mrs. Holmes had said, land make sure
you've got the place safe in your own
hands; an then you'd better let the
poor old lady stay there just the same
as long as she lives. She needn't know
any difference"
Nancy did know a difference. Down
in the depths Of her proud old heart
ranked the knowledge that an outsider
owned the home of her fathers, and
that she was living in it on liberation.
She let some rooms upstairs, and re-
ceived the money for them herself.
Mrs. Holmes benevolence was wide,
although carefully and coolly calcu-
lated. All Nancy had to live on was
the rent of these rooms, besides the
small proceeds FROM her three hens and