Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1885-07-17

was very delicate, that was true. and
wnen she was herself she was as sweet
ana aiectionate az possible. and we all
Pested md spoiled her. And then Rob
would walk home from the choir meet
lhs with the soprano (nearly old
enough to be his mother), or sing
duets with May Flemming (and she en-
gaged), or pick up a tired mill girl in
his buggy, and there was Lefty in tears,
the house shut up, and the doctor
sem ior' and Mrs. Dent on guard. and
NOD on his knees for sins he never
dreamed OF, and we indignant, and
sure, sooner or later, to show it, and be
banished from the sacred sick room.
vi course, being all she had, Mrs. Dent
was very fond Of her, but between her
pride and Letty's jealousy poor Rob
had a life of it.
"There'n be no peace in the family
till Mrs. Dent dies,' said Pamela, our
eldest.
"Or is married." added /. "There's
as much hope of one as the other. She's
fair aud forty better chances of life
than you or 1. Pam"
"Oh, she'd never marry" Pam de-
clared. She would never leave Lefty.
If she would, there would be some
hope for Rob; and he is such a dear
good fellow, if they didn't expect I'M
possibilities; for, because she don't
care for music, is he never to go to
concerts or come over here for an
evening of sipging-hc with the best
tenor in Rockdale5 Oh, it's all very
well to say it's because she is ailing,
and I'm sure 1 hope it will be better
after the baby comes; but Idon't think
it's a nice prospect for Rob"
They say the first year is always the
hardest" Annie said. "It's just ex-
cess OF affection on her part, you
see. She loves him so much that
she can't bear his loving any one else
not even us, his own sisters. When
she gets something else to love"
But if it was better for a rapturous
month after baby came. it was only a
truce. She was the lovel;est young
mother in the world, and Rob adored
his Madonna. clasping his boy with
an ardor that satisfied even Mrs. Dent.
But when she was we'll again, over
the baby's name, and the baby's
medicines, and the baby's clothes,
and the baby's nurse, there were
chances enough of disagreement be-
tween the proud grandmother and
and the prouder maiden aunts. We
were homeopathic, and Mrs. Dent in
sisted on al old school allopath when
ever the baby sneezed; and we couldn't
help saying one day, seeing the shelf
of medicines he vas accumulating,
that twas a mercy he had the Ora
ham constitution. We wanted him
named for his grandfather, a good
Scriptural name that had always been
in the family; but he had to be Harold.
straight out OF a novel Lefty had read.
And whom we called him Pet and
Blossom and Princeling, half to avoid
that detestable name, half because he
was so sweet, Lefty declared that we
despised her and her baby. and he
wasn't worthy, she supposed, to be
tho heir of the Grahams unless he was
called Mark, and presently we were as
badly Oft as ever. 1t was absurd, O.
made our miseries; but it was no triiie
whom, with only a block between us,
she wouldn't let Rob come Ia see us FOL
o month. 1t ended in our going down
to the mills mornings when he was
there, and SO getting to know the new
superintendent. Presently Pam asked
him to the house, in the Lady Bount;.
full way she had toward frlendless PEG.
pie Of all sorts and conditions. She
never thought that he was NO match
for our Annie, the youngest and pref
test OF us, and though she called her
self an old maid, actually only twenty.
five, and not looking that. But Wher
she saw what she had done, and thai
something serious might come OF it.
though nothing had yet, for Frank
Truman was as proud as he was poor
she put the blamn where it belonged
on Letty's shoulders.
For if it hadn't been for you, my
dear, we should we have known
him. l never before knew a superin'
enthusiastically, l mean"
81 don't know that it's so deplora
ble." 1 said. Its the family way, anc
we can afford to overlook his poverty,
since he's really very much Of a gentle
man, I'm sure.' And / smiled a
Lefty. for we were reconciled now, ant
she had run in to show us how tn,
baby was learning to take steps.
s!That must be such a consolation
Sdu 1cIIy, AuoA ~, oAa C0NAS -
wrong as l might have known sh'
would-"to Annie, l mean-that sh'
is only following in her brother
steps; but l should think, out of re
gard at least to him, and courtesy Il
me-"
, ..Why, 1 V meant to reflect o.
you," l cried. ''We never disap
proved -"
You never had a chance; and j
wouldn't have done the least good j
YOU had she CT ed, detantly.
mo, indeed" Pam said, coming t
/ nv rescue. t'Rob was too thorough.
in love to mind if we had talked aida
[ at HIM. 1t was a clear case OF be
witchment.'
I'm much obliged, I'm sure" Lett
!, said, picking up Harold; ''but if yo'
!, mean to intimate that L tried-that W
, tried--to capture my husband"
Il only neal to intimate Pan
said, sweetly. ''that you were then
as o are still, SO very pretty tina
} Rob"
| '.Oh, then, I've nothing but my prett
face" -.
(Which baby has Inherited pu
" 1~-1l 0No