Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-01-08
'.1t is precisely what I would have ex-

III IS prcclScly what l would have OK
pected," remarked her Gather, severely,
for he did not enjoy being laughed at;
and Argyle, catching q glimpse of the
cooks resignd air, as she waited at the
half-open door for orders about dinner,
caught up her tiny key-basket with a not
unmusical little jingle of its keys,
and left the table, dropping q light kiss
on her fathers forehead as she passed
by him.
But though Argyle's mind was re-
1ieved in regard to Captain Dupont, an
other much more serious trouble arose
in its place. Her father owed a great
deal of money, and had mortgaged the
homestead heavily. The interest on
this mortgage had not been paid for
several years, and Mr.. Meriweather sank
into a deep depression whenever a letter
from his creditor-now beginning to
threaten a foreclosure-arrived. 1t
made him more fretful for several days,
and gave a'bitter flavor to his remarks
about some of his more prosperous rela-
tives, but it did not occur to him that he
could do anything to prevent their be-
did it occur to Argyle either, though
OF taking in sewing, of trying
to get a few scholars among her neigh
bors' children-only feeling that it would
be quite impossible to do or UNDER
take anything which would necessi-
tate her going away from her father,
and leaving him without M one
to attend to the little things on which his
daily comfort so largely depended.
Summer with its long joyous days seemed
to have been left a great distance be-
hind, as the weeks went on bring
ing short dark days of colder weather,
and she tried to economic in their fuel
and food and clothing. and to devise
something she could sell instead of hay
ing the row of purchases grow longer
and longer every week.
OF course she made little Roadway.
Her experience was very small, and
Aunt Dilsey, the cook, like most ne
groes, had an invincible dislike to
economy, and could not understand
there was any real need for it with s'hcr
ole marster's folks" ''Jes' one dat
chile's whims!' she grumbled to herself
for though she was perfectly devoted
to Argyle, she could eve realize that
she had grown beyond childhood.
So Argyle's efforts were generally
bafied by: ..Now, honey, yo' know
dcre amt nebber been any anti-mois-
ture 'twixt yo' folks an dcre neighbors,
an wc'se got to receive dem all with
coming hostility. Needn't talk to me,
chile, bout indignant circumstances!
Yo' is young, an yo' mustn't sturb
yo'self, Lief It all to Dilsey-sheM vide
yo' wild dinner dat old marster kin
eat-yo' see now!"
But Aunt Dilsey, willing as her heart
was, and broad as were her shoulders,
made a very Intellectual dyke against the
threatening flood.
cit is all over" said Mr.. Meriweath-
er, feebly, as he came in from the Post
office the last evening of December, and
drawing his chair close to the small fire,
tried to warm his cold hands. .'Argyle,
my poor child, we will have to leave
our home next month"
"Papa" cried Argylc-she had ex-
pected the blow a long time, yet it
seemed to her when it actually came,
as if it had been a surprise. After what
seemed to her an endless interval, she
asked, doubtfully: "Papa, where are
we going then?"
II don't know" he replied, with a
mixture of resentment and fretful per-
plcxity in his tone, which ut once
brought Argyle to his side to caress, and
comfort him with vague words of hope
and cheer that sounded woefully hollow
to her own sinking heart.
sit is very strange ut last observed
her father, querulously, "that it has
been five months since your cousin Sam
has entered the house. He used to he a
frequent visitor-in and out of the house
like my W son-but now I suppose he
is like other fair-weather friends and
fears being called upon to help us in adj
versity.
ooh, no, papa, I don't think that
would keep Sam away. Besides, you
know, he is with his regiment, and ma7
not have been able to got leave of ab-
sence."
"Hc has been at home for the Christ
mas holidays" replied her father, short
ly. tom Chadwick met him the day
he arrived a week ago."
Argyle did not reply.
"Has he written you one line?n asked
her father.
.'No,' answered Argyle, feebly, "but
I don't believe Sam has forgotten"-she
was interrupted by a brisk knock at the
door.
"Come,in," called MI. Mcriweather,
and Argyle stole a little farther back in
to the shadow of the door, intending to
make her escape unnoticed. She had
burned the front breadth of her alpaca
and torn the sleeve, in her efforts to re-
strain Ann Dilsey's culinary %extrava-
gance, and her hair had tumbled down
in a confusion of curls from it's coil.
Sans CHEEKY voice replied, and the
familiar comfort of the sound brought q
throb of delight to Argyle's heart.
"Are you ALL by yourself, Uncle James?
I have been trying hard to get a bit of
business done, in order that I might get
here in time to wish you q Happy New
Year, and give you some proof I had re-
membered you. You must let me have
the pleasure of it in my w way, un-
cle," he said a~ffectionatcly. Then he
poked the embers into Il bright blaze,
and added eagerly: "Where is Argyle?"
''Why, she was here only Il few min
utes ago." said her father, looking
around uncertainty. =