Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1886-01-16

termination.
IL shall cultivate her, Lena. / shall
sketch her just as she looked when
that wet blanket downstairs was send
ing her away, and we came in sigh:
like a haven. Little ono, l shall be
very strict with you here; but, for my
self, j must cultivate the characters,
and enjoy myself"
"And why not lP"
because you are apt to DO led
astray. You might some day give a
poor young nan a shilling when he
really was not so very deserving. You
are easily Influenced by young men,
Lena. wonder where your friend in
the white streamer went, and who he
is, and whether we shall ever see him
againP"
"Whyp"
Don't ask me direct questions. l
object to being brought to bay. Now,
come to the window; for though we
cannot see him-because at this nom
ent l picture him staggering across the
pier at Kingstown. feeling very un-
comfortable-we can look upon our
future feliow-citizens. DO you see
well from that low char, dearp Let
me move the cushions for you. There !
now we will contemplate humanity. /
guess five pretty girls will pass in the
next five minutes. Look out; but,
strange to say, take keenest interest
in the cabs. and intend to examine
their contents"
Downstairs the Tea had not been
such a merry one. Matte Purke was
unusually thoughtful, and Mary's one
sided conversation was ct the best mo-
%notonous. 1t was not until the meal
vas over. and Matte came down with
the tray from the drawing room, that
her tongue seemed loosened; and when
she stood in her large apron, washing
the plate, she burst suddenly into a
lively discourse.
They're a queer couple upstairs,
Mary; they laugh as if things were
quite pleasant"
II wonder at it," sighed Miss Purke.
''To see the Grape on their dresses, it
would more beseem them to show some
grief within"
~ didn't see Within" observed Mat
tie, carefully sorting the spoons and
forks.
Laughter comes from the heart"
asserted Mary, in a tone of intense SUI
perioritv.
That's a blessing to hear. l have
sometimes felt a doubt about it. They
are very young to be here unprotected.
Orphans, / SUPPOSED"
"Are they richp' asked Mary, inter-
ested.
'It's rather soon to inquire in the
first hour of our acquaintance; they
might also go so far as to wonder what
it could signify to us. The plate
they've brought looks rather like it,
though, and | never saw sucn lug
gage"
II wonder they have no maid if they
are real ladies'"
"lf they aren't, they're no ladies at
ALL" answered Matte sharply; 'for
they're no pretended ones"
''Did they say anything abont a maid
following them," asked Mary, ignoring
as she always did, her sisters satirical
little speeches, which she seldom more
than half understood.
II did not ask them about follow
ers," said Matte with a keen little
relish for her own pnn. "You see l
was not SO much engaging them as
they were engaging me-"
81 hope no maid is coming, Martha.
for we shall have her p%erpetually pry-
ing into everything"
.'She may even be suspicious enough
to mark the tongue, like the Minton's
did; eh, Maryp"
81 will not stand it il she does. /
will give them notice at once"
"How shall you put it too them? 1t
will sound odd to tell them their maid
sees things she ought not to see. But
you need not fear; no maid is follow
ing, I'll wager. l expect they want
quiet hare, as well as the sea air."
81 hope so. We shall get on much
better"
AS the twilight deepened in the little
back parlor, which the sunset light did
not reach, the two sisters put their
work and accounts away, and Miss
purke took the big Bible, which gener,
ally stood on o little round table by
itself, with q mysterious fabric of
crochet-work over it, like the net over
Christian, and read q chapter from the
New Testament.
.'Now," said Martha, when her sis
ter had finished, take your forty
winks while l lock up"
Meanwhile Helena and Georgia, in