The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1885-12-11
THE SILK DRESS.

plank walk which lay along the front
fence. "Poor soul! T never see her
that I don't think of that verse in the
Bible which says that from him that
hath not shall be taken even that which
lie hath" and she sighed deeply.
looked from the window just in time
to see Annie Beldon before she turned
the corner of the next street. She was
a faded, careworn looking woman, a lit
tie past middle age, with dark brown
hair thickly sprinkled with gray. Her
dress was rusty black cashmere, her
black shawl was decidedly shabby, and
her Grape bonnet was shabbier still.
She looked neither attractive nor inter-
esting, aud l turned from the window
and took up my crocheting again, re-
marking only "that she looked as if she
had had her share of sorrow"
Sometimes I think she has had
good deal more than her share" said
Aunt Jane. "I know dozens of women
who have sunk INTO the grave under
only half as much. And the best of it
is, she don't 'tnever complain. She is the
cheerfulest soul that ever breathed."
"Does she live near here?" asked,
more out of politeness than from any
real interest in the subject.
"No! but she was my next door neigh
Dor for twenty-five years when this was
farmhouse. The towp lay two miles
off then, and we never looked to see it
grow right up to our very doors. An
ME wouldn't be wearin' such shabby
clothes if there hadn't been q mortgage
on their place. She could have sold
every acre at q good profit if it had
been free"
Tell me all about her, Aunt Jane, /"
l said, rs the old lady paused. you'll
have plenty of time before supper.
"Dear me, child, there isn't much to
tell, n maybe the little there is
wouldn't prove very interesting TO you.
1 know Annie looks shabby, N old, n
gray now, n not much like she did
thirty years ago. Wewas girls togeth-
er, n she was the prettiest n liveliest
! little thing | ever saw. Her eyes was
as black as Goals, N her hair hung in
long curls to her waist. She hal a
laugh n good word for everybody, N
more beaus than she could tend to.
There was only two of em, though,
| that she favored at all. One was Tom
Layton"
"The owner of the Layton Mills ?" ]
interrupted.
"Yes; but he didn't own the mills
then. He was only superintendent
then, n though he was saving indus,
trious young man, no one looked to sec
him get TO be 8 millionaire. But he
had good salary, n his father was well
to do, N he was reckoned gooG
match for Annie. For while folk'
thought she'l marry him. but he warm
n professor, n Annie set deal by hel
church. She allowed that if she mar.
ried man who never went inside of one
she'd be false to her principles, for the
Bible says the righteous shall not b.
yoked to the unrjghteous, you know
Tom took it real hard at first, but h,
didn't bear Annie no i'll will, n whel
she married Tntber Beldon he sent he
handsome nresent T,nthar. he was
roal steady voune man. but somehow .
other he didn't lave no luck. He ba,
good farm, but, work as he might, Ii
never made nothin more'n bare livin,
m Annie had to pinch n screw to keeI
clothes on their back. She was a mas
fer hand at manaoi,,,' M she worke,
like n horse bnt ye9r after wear wen
bv ~ tbev didn't net no bel
ter Off Drounht NJ early frost },
TOO mnch rain ken EN- alters he
bindhand. 'n'iest when they was thinkir
they was goin' to do better thera'
come something that would put'er
back arain.