The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1885-12-04

dressed, was running to the doorevecy
minute watching for the carriage.
1t came at last, and Walter handed
out a lady. Poor Elsie felt fairly sick,
as the guest tottered, rather than
walked, into thereon. She was white
as ashes, her hair, Elsie remembered
black as a coal not one year. before,
streaked with gray, and her eyes sunk
en- as If with long illness. When the
waterproof cloak fell from her shout
ders, her shabby dress was most unlike
Aunt Julia's habitual neatness. But,
the first shock of surprise over, Elsie
had no words too loving to welcome
her aunt, while soft, tender kisses fell
fast upon the pale face.
"She is very tired, Elsie" Walter
whispered, seeing how vainly the white
lips tried to frame words. sect her
to rest, dear, as soon asyoucan."
So Elsie, tearfully loving, made her
aunt lie upon the lounge, and brought
her the most tempting of tea trays,
stopping the broken words of thanks
by kisses and caresses. Walter, too,
by a hundred delicate attentions and
few spoken words made the guest feel
that she was most cordially and glad
ly welcome.
In her own room Aunt Julia told
Elsie something of the horrors that
had aged her more in one fortnight
than in any previous two years Of her
life. She had slept upon the ground
in a drenchingrai for two nights, then
in a tent with no change of clothing,
and the memory of the fire terrors to
haunt her. She had begged the paper
and stamp to write to Elsie. Then
she told of Walters tender care for
her in the long journey, when she,
racked by pain, often could not speak
for hours, how like a son he had cared
for her comfort. 1t was a sad story,
and Elsie's tears fell fast.
"But now" she said, "'you are at
home. / have put underclothes and
loose wrappers in here, Auntie, until
we can have some dresses fitted. Let
me undress you now"
Gently and tenderly the shabby
clothes was removed, the weary feet
bathed, thegray streaked hair smooth
ed, and snowy linen put on for the
night. Then, utterly tired, Aunt Julia
sank in the bed, whispering:
think, Elsie, / have not been in a
bed for twelve nightsl"
But alas, she was not soon to leave
it. The haven of rest once gained,
Aunt Julia lay for many long weeks
danger ously i'll with rheumatic fever
brought on by exposure, while the tor
tured brain, in widest delirium, raved
of scenes that chilled Elsie with horror.
All through these weary weeks Elsie
was nurse, while Walter supplied every
delicacy that could be found to tempt
the invalid, patiently endured the dis
comforts of a house haunted by sick
ness, and proved himself, Jennie de-
clared, ''the nearest to an angel OF any
man ever she seed"
Winter was nearly over before Aunt
Julia was able to leave her bed, Grip
pied for life. The rheumatism had so
twisted the JOINTS of her hands, legs
and feet, that they were useless and
most of the time intensely pain
full. She fretted over the prospect of
being a burden upon Walter and Elsie,
with all the despair of a proud woman
who had always maintained her own
independence, and tearfully begged to
be sent to some charitable asylum,
where she would be only q public ex-
pense. Elsie told Walter OF this
wish, and he went to Aunt Julia's
room.
Taking the crippled, helpless hands
in his own, holding them very tenderly,
he said:
"Aunt Julia, Elsie has told me how
hard these little hands worked for her
for seventeen long years. Hove Elsie
so dearly that to grieye her is my
greatest sorrow. Doyou think could
bear to see her panied if her second
mother was sick and alone, nursed by
hired hands while we are able and
willing to give her love and care? Do
not speak again of leaving us. have
not seen Elsie's face so sad as it is to-
night since you came to u.s.
"But, Walter, ] may live foryears."
~ sincerely hope you will"
"And | can never have any use OF
my hands and feet more than ] have
now. | al scarcely feed myself or
hobble across the ROOM"
The more reason you should have
loving care. Why" and Walter
laughed while his honest brown eyes
proved his sincerity, 'do you think all
the love here is Elsie's. | want my
share too, auntie, for love you as |
do my life. / ask you to stay because
/ want you here. / have not heard
Elsie sigh over long, long days since
you came"
Ittook many more loving arguments
but at last Aunt Julia yielded. 1t was
but truth that Walter spoke when he
said she had won his love as
well as Elsie's. She was very patient
under excruciating suffering, and very
grateful for all the loving care lavished