The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-10-22
IN A GARRET.

ANdsA'AS NAeehSS AllCO, lldNlllE
lived twenty years beyond his allotted
time, the neighbors were very curious
as to the existence of a will. For If
there were none "the girls" would
have to give up their home and "do
something for a living" The little
tarm, whicn had yielded comfortable
living for three persons, when sold
and its proceeds divided among ten,
would give but a pittance to each. Il
was generally conceded that sit would
come hard on the girls"
Squire Marcy was always a good
provider," said Mrs. Denison to her
husband, who hoped to "administer"
the estate if no will was found. "Sa-
bra nor Cynthy, neither OF 'em have
ever been stinted- They'll feel it dret-
fully If they've got to give up their
comfortable home and come down to
earning their own bread and cheese"
III shall advise the girls to bring in
bill" said Mr.. Denison, "a bill for
their services. The probate court will
allow it quicker'n lightning"
"The girls won't bring in no BILL"
said his wife; "SaLra told me that if
her father didn't set enough by them
to provide for them she should not
make any claim on the estate"
That's just like woman" said
Mr.. Denison, testify.
But no will, and no evidence that
the old gentleman had ever contem-
plated making one, could be found;
Mr.. Denison received the coveted ap-
pointment, and the settlement of the
estate by law went forward.
Cynthy and Sabra were the children
OF their fathers third wife. A delicate
creature she had been. who accepted
Squire Marcy's offer because, home
less and triendless, the prospect OF a
home tempted her. But her home was
made wretched by eight children, sons
and daughters of her predecessors,
some of them nearly as old as herself,
coarsely organized, quarrelsome, but
agreeing upon one point-to make life
as intolerable for their young STEP
mother as possible. She could not
bear up under their petty persecu-
tions. In few years she was laid to
rest with the other wives, leaving her
two little girls to fight their way as
best. they could. 1t had been a hard
life for the children at first. but one by
one the older ones had drifted away,
and finally the western fever seized
upon them all, and they went, one
after another, to make homes on the
broad, fertile prairies. So for many
years the sisters had lived happy.
peaceful lives in the old homestead
with their father.
They were quiet, gentle women, in
heriting a poetic temperament from
their mother. They loved the old
house and the woods about it. They
knew where the earliest spring flowers
grew and where to find the brightest
autumn leaves. They would not have
dared to let their neighbors, who dis
approved openly OF their "traiping
about all over the woods" know
what treasures OF pressed flowers and
leaves they had carefully put away
Not for worlds would Miss Cynthy
have told OF the timid attempts at
fower-painting she sometimes made
III the solitude OF her own room. They
They had not felt much sympathy
with their neighbors heretofore, but
now that real trouble had come upon
them, every one was kind, the sisters
found they had many warm friends
where they had least expected to find
them. They were middle-aged women
now, well advanced in their fifth de-
cade OF their half brothers and sis
ters they knew little, but it was GER
tain there would be no mercy from
them. They would grudge the sisters
the Giving" they had had, and each
one would claim every penny due, Gag
erly. Once Mr.. Denlson ventured to
suggest his idea OF "bill" but an ON
ineus gleam in Miss Sabra's eyes
warned him and he left his sentence
unfinished.
"Cynthy," said Miss Sabra, one
bright September morning, MIR. Deni-
son said last night that he thought
brother James would be here pretty
soon. Don't you think we'd better
look over the things in the garret be-
fore he comes? l don't feel as if / could
have any one but ourselves touch
mothers things"
"Just as you think best, sister Sa-
bra," answered Miss Cynthy meekly.
The coming change was an even great
er grief to her than to her elder sister.
She loved her old home with an al.
most passionate tenderness, and it
seemed to her sometimes that leaving
it would almost break her heart.
The two sisters finished their morn
ing task in silence, and without word
climbed the marrow stairs that led to
the old garrett. Such q treasure house
offamily relics as it was! Not a child
of the ten whose developement could
not be traced in cast-of clothing and
old school books. There were boxes
and trunks carefully packed standing
prinnly against the wall. Old gar
ments dating back to old Squire Mar
cv's first wedding coat hung above
them. Near a window was O broken
looking glass, with gilt and ebony
frame, the upper portion filled with q
cav flower piece, and Miss Cynthy in
3 snbdued tone asked Miss Sabra if
she didn't remember hearing tell snw
sister Jammie broke that glass just
before mother died?"
The timbers OF the old roof were
enormous, suggesting an abundance
of lumber to which we, in these mod
ern times, are strangers. Many pegs
and nails were driven into them, from