Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-01-08
ARRANGING the folds of the worn old

tllOhNu W NtlliN aooop ~ AsSAS
on a cane. He soon grew weary of the
cramped limits of his room.
81 will go out into the hail." ne
thought. ga turn up and down will
not hurt me-"
And as he hobbled slowly and pain
fully back and forth, the soft, iiute-like
voice of Oracle Trillard talking in the
room above reached his ears.
81 told them I could not go, of
course" she said, II had no dress to
wear"
my poor Gracie!" murmured the
widow.
"It's very silly of me to cry, I know"
added Oracle, with a little falter in her
voice. 81 don't feel SO very bad about
it now, although | did at the time, be-
cause l felt that l was young, and no
worse looking than the other girls. And
they were all going to Aunt Chisholm's
to receive calls on New Years day; and
I couldn't go because we are so poor.
And Milly jennings says it's so pleasant
to receive calls at a house like DR..
Chisholm's. They are all to be dressed
in white, with real flowers in their hair;
and the rooms are to be lighted with
gas, and-oh, it must be like fairy land!
But then, mamma, dear, l didn't mean
to bring the tears into those dear eyes.
And I'll put it all out C my head, and
mend the stockings as cheerfully as l
can. Only, mamma, darling, it is so
hard to be poor!"
"Humph!" said old MIR. Vanbrugh to
himself. $50 this angel of mercy, who
has lifted me on her white wings out of
the valley of death, is poor! Yes, yes;
she sacrifices her comfort to buy the old
man luxuries, becausefher heart is ten
der towards him! Very well. Hence
forward she shall be my daughter in
very truth as well as in name!"
Mrs. Juggett came to Mr.. Vanbrugh's
room that evening. She was very sor-
ry, but she required his apartment for
another gentleman. And as he had not
paid her anything lately
GLOW much do you want?:" crisply
inquired the old gentleman.
Mrs, Juggett named the sum.
"Hand me my check-book," said Mr..
Vanbrugh, impcriously, motioning to a
desk on the table.
Mrs. Juggett's respect for him in
creased forty per cent. at that moment.
eff you would like to keep the room,
sir" she began. obsequiously.
"Keep the room? What should 1
keep it for?' said Mr.. Vanbrugh. eff
you want it, you shall have it this day
week. In the meantime, be so kind as
to tell II OF your people to send an
easy carriage around from the livery
stable tomorrow. I've a fancy that L
should like to take a drive. A close
coupe, please"
Mrs. Juggett stared.
"But this day week is New Years
Eve, sir" she said.
"Then tits all the better to move in,"
said the eccentric old gentleman.
Mrs. Juggett began to regret her pre-
cipitancy. How was she to know that
Mr.. Vanbrugh was Cresus in disguise?
The old man had only %sojourned in her
house a few days before that unlucky
fever set in. He had come hither with
no voucher or recommendations what
ever. Was it possible that she had
made a mistake? If so, it was past rec
tifying now, the more was the pity.
Mr.. Vanbrugh took a long drive the
next day. At least he was a long time
absent. but he came beme cheerful and
in good spirits.
"My dear" he said to Mrs. Trillard,
:'you said, the other day, that 1 was to
consider you as a daughter. Now l am
going to take you at your word. You
and little Oracle there must come to
live with me-"
''You are very kind" said Mrs. Tril-
lard. ''Mrs. Juggett has given us no.
tice to leave these rooms, and"
Eyes, yes, exactly" said the old gen.
tleman with a chuckle. sMe also!
Well, we'll see if we caa'tsuit ourselves
better elsewhere, daughter-for that"
with a kindly pat on her down-droop-
ing head, "is whatI intend to call you
henceforward. I've taken a house my
SELF
ga whole house?" exclaimed Mrs.
Trillard.
why not?" said Mr.. Vanbrugh.
''And vel move on New-Years-Eve."
On New-Years-Eve-a delicious, crisp
winters day-the carriage came to the
door, just at dusk; the most discourage
ing OF all hours to those of a sensitive
temperament.
81 would rather have seen the house
in the morning glow, or the afternoon
sunshine" said Mrs Trillard. 81 am
afraid it is rather desolate and undesir-
able, or MI. Vanbrugh could scarcely
have afforded it."
Never mind, mamma, said Oracle,
brightly. '.My hours will be cheerful
when you and I and dear old Grand
papa Vanbrugh be together. And
only think! what a thing it will be to
get away from old Juggett's tongue!"
A brown stone palace on Fifth Ave.
nue., lighted up as if for some llumin-
ation-marble paved halls, with glow
ing Turkey rugs, laid here and there
a carved, oaken staircase, leading up
into gallcried perspectives above-the
scent of dollhouse flowers, the softened
CLEAN OF marble statues-Mrs. Trillard
thought she must be dreaming! Oracle
uttered a cry OF amazement as she stood
on the threshold.
ooh, Grandpapa Wainwright" she
cried, "the man has made a mistaken
'.No mistake at ALL" said Mr.. Van
brugh. ''We are to get out here. This
is home. My daughter, my little
Gracie.h turning with a smile. from one