The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1886-07-01

Amid their stern defies,
Leonidases and their men
Have marched to death with smiles.
Chicago Current.
THROUGH DEVIOUS WAYS.
The autumn wind was laden with
promise of a bleak and rainy evening.
The tenacious leaves OF the oak still
chung to the branches, but down the
paths of the garden the leaves from
the shrubbery danced their fantastic
dance OF death. At the door OF the
house the wind waited like u sheriff to
force an entrance. Within, four cous-
ms sitting together in the gray dusk
were talking on subject as full OF
matter to them as the evening was OF
damp. The stove had not yet been
put up for the winter, and muslin cur
tains hung limp at the windows. and
the colorless walls looked like mount
ing sheets of mist, shutting them out
from all warmth, and comfort and
sayety. A smell OF mildew came
up from the hay under the car
pet--a red and green carpet, polluted
by the touch OF feet only Sundays and
company days. A black-walnut cen
tire table, uncovered, with four pain
tully bowed legs, supported the lltera-
ture OF the household-a photograph
album, Bible carefully preserved, 81
collection o. ethical essays known as
the Golden Treasure of Thought, "
and supposed to be adapted to all
the needs and temptations OF the
human soul, and a volume OF miscel-
laneous poems which bore emblazon
ed in gold upon its faded blue sides
pearls from the Poets" In one cor
ner OF the room stood a black horse
hair sofa, which sloped SO violently
towards the front that any one trust
ing himself upon its slippery surface
was obliged to cling to the back as a
sailor does to rope in high seas. The
cane seated chairs placed geometrcal-
ly against the walls of the room, were
somewhat disarranged now by the
shivering persons, two OF whom sat
wrapped i'll plaid shoulder-shawls, with
their elbows upon the centre table. A
girl a little older than these paced up
and down the room with her arms
folded behind her. She did not look
DID, there were an activity and ANNA
ton about her that seemed to defy
even the encroachments OF an October
in the Northern Peninsula OF Mich igan
The last member OF the quartet was a
thin Young man with a patient, cadav-
erous face such as isolated farmers
roften wear.
"The land amt worth SO an acre, u
he was saying to his companions, land
| don't know as We'll have another
such offer as got now. We might
as well sell and done with it. | never
was no hand for breaking up wild lands
anyhow"
':Nor l." exclaimed the girl who
was walking the floor mischievously
But no one paid any attention to
her.
at might give Hattie and Nora q
start down in town in the millinery OF
dressmaking business or something
LIGHT and senteel. Neither of 'em ain't
much on farmin', an don't knows
blame 'em much" The girls referred
to sat silent, with that irresponsible
ness of which only an American WON
an is capable when she demurs. I"
don't suppose David cares much wha'
is done with the land, but 1T wouldn''
be right for us to close the agreement
till he gets here, and he'll be here to
morrow night at the latest: Though
sure he'd come tonight. My shar
will give me O. boost over the winter
for Pm not in a state to sneeze a
ready money. What Margaret vii
do with hers can't say"
81 shall endow an asylum for indi
gent cats" said the girl called Marga
ret. "It might 60 quite way if it j
expended for diluted milk, but l don
think there will be enough to do mucl
else with
The cousins all looked g little shock
J ed at her fippancy. She was tow
bred, and they had never gotten owe
the idea that she might be llttl
, dangerous, For long time after he
mothers death she had kept hous
for her father, but when he too die
she came to the country to live wit
: her cousin Seth. He and his sister
lived on q vast tract of land whic
their father had dignifed by the nam
of farm. When, worn out with hi
, fight g;th the elements and the sol
his narrow old soul had left his tot
worn body, his children found tina
l his farm was to be equally divide
between them, their orphan cousin
Margaret, and the son Of his younges
brother. This son was David, {
whom Seth had spoken, and he wa
s in his last year at Ann Harbor, havir
, taken the law course in the unlversit.
! None of the cousins had ever see
him, but they knew he had sufficier
money toreleive him from the pressul
J.. under which they labored.
J "You speak as If you didn't want t
:: sell, Margaret. Now if you don't, VIII
q Just pipe right out and let us know it
). 81 can't help wondering, COZ, whs
r makes this man So anxious to bu
s Pm sure the land doesn't present a
y attractive appearance at present.
+ can't get over the idea that there
y more to it than appears on the su
: face"
4 "Well, I amt no judge Of that, Ma
q garet. I'm y fair-dealin' man and
j. don't look for nothia' but fair dealt
e in Others" The two sisters looked !
Margaret rs much as to say, S
e there, now! Blush for your suspicio
:, But Margaret continued to look wis
: 5There's 10 use in waiting here Ion
; er for David. i he had come {
i. that train, surely hewould hayereac
n ed here by this time. I'm going to t.
n kitchen to pop some corn
|; But the brother and sisters still cin
% to the unaccustomed splendor OF t
j chest room," and Margaret was fore
}. to 90 to the kitchen alone. In Mort
erp Michigan one may lack mai
l. thin1s Inf nevey f;,a!. Margaret ii