The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1885-11-27
A NEWSPAPER FILE.

IL WaStWOd days alter Aunt PTlScll!aS
funeral, and Sue and Iiwere sitting to-
gether by the kitchen fire, with that
hush overourspirits still which follows
death and a burial. All heufternoon
we had been busy in getting the house
to rights, not meddlil.g yet with the
things which had been hers, and were
now ours, but by dint ofopen windows,
sunshine, and furniture busted and re-
arranged, trying to restore to the
rooms that familiar look which they
had lost during three weeks of anxiety
and trouble. A few days more and we
must facet o. future which was full OF
terrors. Meanwhile, custom rs well as
inclination accorded a brief respite in
which to think OF her who was gone,
md OF each other, with the clinging
fondness OF thosewhoselives neverbe-
fore parted, we're about to separate.
Sue sat on a low stool, her head
against the chimney lamb. 1t was the
chimney OF Aunt Priscrlas youth;
she never would alter it-one OF the
wide, old fashioned Kind, with pot
hooks and blazing logs, andbake oven
at one side. The SCOT blackencd bricks
and faint red glow made background
for my sisters head, with it's great
twist of fair hair and lily like slender
throat, Sue is very pretty, prettier
than anybody | ever saw. recollect
a picture OF Cinderella sitting in Just
such an attitude by the chimney side.
She was equally picturesque at that
moment; so far us looks go, equally
worthy OF a prince; but, alas, no fairy
godmother was likely to emerge from
the apple room for her benefit. Aunt
Pris, who in a small way, had enacted
that part towards us, was gone, and
her big rocking chair which we had no
heart to sit in, swung empty in its &C
customcd place, type OF q like cmpti-
ness which we were conscious otin 9th
err things. and would feel for a long
time to come.
Neither of us spoke for a while. We
were tired and spiritless, and John
Slade was coming presently to talk
y. 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 waslikely to lastnobody could
guess, but they held OIL to it bravely,
and were content to wait. Pretty
soon, as we ~satwaiting. hisstepsound-
ed without on the gravel, and with a
little tap-courteous, but umnecessa-
ry, for the door was never lockea-he
entered, gave Sue a gentle kiss, me an
other, and Shutdown between us in
aunty's rocking chair. 1t was q com
fort to have him do that. The house
seemed less forlorn at once.
"Well, children, how has the day
gomez" he asked.
"Prctty WE'LL" replied Sue. eve
have been busy, and are tired tonight,
think. Pm glad you are come, John
dear. We are getting lonely and dis
nal, Cree and l.
Iucretia is my name, but Sue and
Aunt Priscilla alwayscalled me Cree"
John adjusted a stick on the embers,
and with one daring poke sent n ton
que of bright flame upward before he
answered. Then he took Sues hand
in his broad palm, and patting it gen
tly, said:
'Now let's talk over matters. We
ought to decide what We are to do, we
three"
That ''three" was very comforting
to me, but John always is. Il comfort.
He was ''made so" Aunt Pris SAID.
And he certainly carries out the pur-
pose OF his creation.
.'Did your aunt leave any will? he
went on. liz
"Only this and I brought from be,
tween the leaves OF the big Bible, where
we had found it, a half sheet of note
p on which dear aunty had stat.
ed in her own simple torn. that she
left all she had to be equally divided
between her %nieces, Susan and Luere.
tia Pendexter. Squire Packard name
and Sarah Brarkett's S, eur old wash
erwoman, were written below as wit.
nesses.
VERY well, said John, that's good
In law, | fancy; or if not, you, are the
nearest relatives, and it's yours any.
way. What property did your aunt
own besides this house,"
"She had an annuity OF $3.50 a yeai
and $50 more from some turnpike
stock. That's all, except the house
and furniture, and there is Il mortgage
of $500 on that. The annuity stops
now; DOESN'T it?"
John looked rs though h ewanted tc
whistle, but refrained.
'sYour aunt was q clever manager
he said-"a capital manager. .Sht
-- l.lI.