Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1885-09-05
SEPTEMBER 1885
A NEWSPAPER FILE.

A NEWSPAPER FILE.
Il was two days after Aunt Priscilla.
! funeral and Sac and were sitting together
BY the kitchen IRE with that hush over our
spirits still which follows . death and Q
burial. All the afternoon we had besn busy
In getting the house to rights, not msddling
yet with the things which had bean hers and
were now OUR. bu. BY dint OF open win
dows. sunshine and furniture busted and 70.
arranged, trying to restore to the rooms that
familiar look Which they had lost during
these weeks Of anxiety and trouble. A few
. days more and We must face future which
was full Of terrors. Aeanwhils custom, as
well rs inclination. accorded brief respite
in which ~ think Of her who was gone and
OF each other with the clinging fondnes Of
those whose lives, never before parted, were
about to separate.
She sat On a low stool, her head against
the chimney jamh Il was the chimney Of
Aunt Priscilla's youth; she would never
alter it-One Of the wide, old-fashioned
kind, with pot hooks and blazing logs, and
. bake oven at one side. The soot-black.
ened bricks and faint red glow made q
background for my sisters bead, with its
great twist Of fair hair and lily like, slender
throat. Sue is very pretty, prettier than
anybody ever saw I recollect picture
as looked at her-a picture Of Cinderella
sitting in just such an attitude by the Chin
ney side. She was equally picturesque at
that moment; so far as looks 20, equally
worthy OF a prince; but alas! no fairy god
mother was likely to emerge from the ap-
ple-room for her benefit Aunt Pris. who
in q small way had enacted that part to-
ward us, was gone, and her big rocking
chair, which We had no heart to sit in,
| swung empty in its accustomed place type
OF like emptiness which we were conscious
Of in other things and would feel for a
| long time to come
Neither Of us spoke for awhile. We were
tired and spirftless. and John Slade was
coming presently to look over things, SO We
saved our words
Dr. Slade-John-was Sues lover Their
poor little engagement had been formed
two years ago. How many years it was
likely to last nobody could guess, but they
held on to it bravely and were content to
wait. Pretty soon, rs we sat waiting, his
step sounded without on the gravel, and
with a little tap-courteous, but unnecessary,
for the door was never locked-he entered,
gave Sue a gentle kiss me another, and sat
down between US in aunty's rocking chair
1t was q comfort for him to do that The
house seemed less forlorn at once
well children, how has the day gonsr
be asked
Pretty WELL" replied Sua 1--WE have
been busy and are tired. tonight, think. /
am glad you are come. John. dear. We arc
getting lonely and dismal Cree and L.
Lucretia is my name, but Sue and Aunt
Priscilla always called ms Gree"
John adjusted a stick on the embers AMI,
with one daring poke sent a tongue Of bright
flame upward before he answered. Then he
took Sues hand in his broal palm, and,
patting it gently, said: Now let's talk over
matter. We ought to decide what we are
to do, We three"
That three" was very comforting to me,
but John always is q comfort He was |
made So" Aunt Pris said. And he Ger
tainly carries out the purpose Of his crea- |
ton.
did your aunt leave any willF' be went |
OH.
"Only this" and brought from between
the leaves Of the big Bible, whero we had |
found il, half sheet Of note-paper on |
which dear nunty had stated in her own |
simple form that she left all she had to be |
equally divided between her nieces, Susan |
and Lucretia Pendexter. Squire Packard's
name and Sarah Brackets, our old washer
woman. were written below as witnesses.
very well, said John That's good in
law, ! fancy; or, if not, you are the nearest
relations, and it's yours anyway. What |
property did your aunt own besides this
houses"
She had an annuity Of $3.50 q year. and
$50 more from some turnpike stock That's
all, except the house and furniture, and
there is a mortgage Of $500 on that Squire
Packard holds it The annuity stops now,
doesn't iti'
John looked - though he wanted to
whistle. but refrained
@Your aunt was clever manager" he
said-"a capita! manager She made very
little go q great way, didn't she! don't
know any one else who could live on $500 q
year. with mortgage interest taken out
You have always seemed coy and COM
Portable"
I'VE always have been. But we had the
garden. you know, and the COW; that gave
rs tvo-thirds Of our living Aunty was
wonderful housekeeper, though Isn't it q
great deal cheaper to feed women than
meni She always said 50"
Il suppose it is Men are carnivorous. A
diet Of tea and vegetables doesn't suit them
very we'll; they are apt TO grumble for
more solid. Well, my dear girl,
our summing up isn't very satisfactory.
Even without tho mortgage you couldn't
live on $50 year"
mo. And I've been thinking what we
c ould do So has Cree, though We haven't
spoken to each other about it might
teach district school, perhspa And
Cree"
Il could take q place as plain cook. There
isn't anything else could do so we'll Plain
cooking, with dipping and soap fat by way
Of perquisites;" and gave a laugh which
was meant to be merry
at is hard" said John, with moody look
on his face which was foreign TO its usual
frank brightness "How much little money
would sometimes do for people who can't
get it, and how little it Is worth to other
people, who fling it away without thought
Of its value! A thousand dollars now. Any
rich man would consider it q mere bagatelle
in his expenses; but IL could command the
sum it would make Us three comfortable for
life.n
@How do you meant What would you
DO with II, 900 if you had it. Johni7
an tell you. Langworthy is going to
sell hh practice"
4Oh!"
1T Is large practice, for the country, ,
you know. 1t brings him 1900 or $500 a year
som etimes more. He has a chance to 20
into partnership with his brother out vest
somewhere. AMI he'll sell for a 81 ,o0o.'
But John, some people like you better
than they do Or. Langworthy"
YES, some people do But the question
is will they like me better than any other ,
man who buys Dr. Langworthy out, II
we're that man I should command both ,
practicea 1t is a chance, don't you sect !
But o new man coming in has his chance to ,
,ut me- out
Il see What can be doneF
Nothing" with q rueful glance. That's 7
he worst Of it I can only keep on and ,
hope for the best But it is hard when with !
his miserable 1900 I could double my !
,hances and make a nice home for You two
Sue, darling, don't cry \
She had laid her check down on his arm, ,
out she wasn't crying. only looking sadly !.
INTO the fire.
III We sold everything. all this which
lunty left us-the home. everything q
,ouldn'; We get the q, oOor asked desTsr> O
,tely. '
John shook his had Il couldn't let You ,