Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1886-01-09

East street, and described how he hac
furnished it with IN eye to dodgers
and a wife-begging for an answer OF
the spot.
With her eyes roaming over tn,
largo house, Mary Purke plighted hel
troth, and promised to take possession
in three weeks. The three weeks were
only half spent when she was sum.
moned to her lovers sick-bed. Her feel.
ings prevented her presence there be.
ing at all beneficial, and the physician
(who lived at Nawr only in the season.
forbade her attendance; when little
Matte, in the kindness of her heart,
took her place. The poor sick man,
dim-sighted and wandering half his
time, guessed the change, never
doubted the presence of his betrothed,
though the sisters we're much unlike;
and. in his appreciation of her atten-
ton, kept marmuring his assurances of
obo INV LO iOP1J
her. So one day he beggei Mary"
as he called his nurse, 80 leave him
with his lawyer, and to him ho coEfided
his orders for his will-ths house in
East street and al it contained, with
his savings, TO be left to his dear Mary,
who had been SO good and fender to
him in his illness. Who was 70 dispute
the old mans beqaest? And Mary
Purke's eyes glittered considerably be-
hind the ready tears when she. heard
of the disposal of the Eouse whish had
won her hand.
Martha went back to her dres mak
ing, steadfastly refusing to join her
companions in any fu tEey wIshod to
make of her sisters anciCnt lover, and
then years went on ap ace, t~hinninl.the
heavy locks on Mat tie's head ynd
bringing a little weerin ess Of her work.
there had bee n d little 70
nance even in this quit t., sharp little
dressmaker's life; but, If SO, no one
ever told of it.
The rooms in East sire OF did not let
very well, perhaps becaut o Nawr wac
\ poor place in those ds. 3. and but
title known; perhaps be cause there
YES q cold incrtness in TIN 4, household
always some confusit n about a
servant; perhaps there was truth in the
whispers upstairs when til o Ba was
ooked at or the cold meats appeared.
Anyhow, Miss Pnrke turned it over in
Ter mind slowly, and came { D the con
lusion that things We're IN u bad way,
nd that the only remedy { ne could
hink of would be 10 bring VI attic here
o fill up all the gaps. So 81 ,ng letter
forthwith written, full OF grief at
continued 20 lDsa ~, a nd offer
ne her q home fer this fuswrt , simply
sewing could not be- pleasant
1t her tinAe of life. The end o { it was
hat Matte cana to her nem homo,
and from that day the asnioeI here of
the house was changed; and, though
sharp words wsre lR0re often heard,
there was no complaining fr om the
But all this time We have 10 It Miss
in the doorway. Matte turned
her bright, dark eyes to- her sist or with
q glance that had . good deal OF latent
fun in it, and p good deal Of latent
else that seemed but SELDOM
drawn out; hat she saw at once that
poor old Dirah had escaped her sis
ter's sight.
Martha" SAID Miss Purke, coming
close up to Aer and speaking softly aud
mincingly, "go and show the room
There are two ladies waiting"
why didn't you show them your
self?" asked Matte, hastily. She Al
ways asked it in just the same tone.
perhaps with d faint enjoyment in tb
aggravation, or it might have been in
pursuance of q vow; but she knew as
we'll as her sister knew how well Ia was
for the dodgers that it was always with
tho same result.
mo, Matte" replied her sister,
with dignity; ''you are moro accus-
toned to these matters of pounds,
shillings, and ponce. and arc more tit
to battle with peoples meaunesses."
Are these ladies mesn?" asked
Matte, coolly.
II only saw them for q moment"
answered Mary, sitting down in her
easy-chair--the only easy n in the
room.
But you should have asked them
il they were mean," observed Matte,
unmoved. ''You know you don't take
in any but near ones"
Il would rather a great deal not
have to take them in at ALL sighed
Mary, from her chair. lit is a great
trial to me-"
"Tnen don't do it any more; or if
you do. don't groan to me that they
take you in"
tut: -~..;,- oLot Nartho lat Ny