The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1886-02-05
MILLY.

without his supper Io-lllShI' o""
ow Hosmer, as she peered anXiouSly
out into the bleak, rainy twilight. ''Pete
has sprained his leg So, slipping down
out of the hayloft, that he can't take
step on it, and l suppose you and will
have to finish the chores, Milly."
'All right, mother; / can milk OLD
Speckle as we'll as not, and then we
have only to close up things for the
night. Pete managed to get the hay
down before he got himself down, but l
do think he is the most awkward, un-
lucky creature that we ever had on the
place. Here it isn't a week since he
almost emf his thumb of, and it's a
mercy he didn't burn the house up yes
terdav when he went and started the
great fire in the fireplace without ever
taking the boards off the chimney!'
Eyes, that's so; he does seem a bit I'M
balanced; but l feel sorry for the poor
fellow. He is grooming dreadful with
his leg, and won't let me do a thing for
it; says he has got it wrapped up and
thinks it will get easier after he gets to
bed. l gave him some liniment for It,
and he went to his room. And now
comes this despatch from Jim. and no
one to 60 to the station with his lunch"
Never mind, mother, We'll fix it
somehow" answered pretty, brown
eyed Milly, as she hustled about, put
ting on her waterproof and Overshoes,
preparatory to finishing the chores, and
the darkness hid the rosy flush with
which she said, as the first tinkling
streams of milk made music in the pail:
Mother, l believe l can carry Jim's
lunch down to him myself
Mercy, Milly! I'd dare to let
you!-the night so dark and the road
so long and lonely! No, indeed, child;
Jim would never allow it,"
II know, but it is too bad for the
poor fellow to GO without his supper
this cold, bleak night, and know every
inch of the way with my eyes shut
Mrs. Hosmer shivered a little as she
drew her shawl closer against the keen
autumn blast, and one could see that
her resolution wavered a little.
"a cup of nice, hot coffee from home
would seem kind of cheerful to him."
she said, in a meditative tone, land it's
proper kind of you to make the offer,
child; but l doubt its being safe for you
going so far alone"
etNobody would be likely to be out
such a night as this, unless it should be
some of the neighboring farmers, and
even if there were, the darkness would
hide me-"
"Tm afraid to let you go, Milly. I've
heard of tramps, and"
"In tell you, mother; I'll take Jim's
revolver. He left it in his room the
last time he was at home"
"Wen," began Mrs. Hosmer, doubt
fully, though you'd v dare to use
It."
yes / would, if | really needed to-"
responded MiIly; $50 let US call it set
tied, and 60 in and get something nice
put up for lunch"
Really pleased down in her maternal
heart for this regard for her sons COM
fort, Mrs. Hosmer gave a reluctant con-
sent: for Jim was her only and almost
idoIized child, little Milly being only the
daughter of a dear dead friend whhose
child Mrs. Hosmer had gladly taken to
her home and heart.
The farm WIS small and Jim detested
farming; so a man was employed on the
place, while ambitious Jim risked life
and limb as an engineer. He was now
a handsome, stalwart fellow of twenty
six whose broad shoulders, bronzed
face, and merry eyes were secretly en-
shrined in Milly's heart as her ideal of
stthat was noble and manly. As for
Jim, he, too, had an ideal, and often as
he sat waiting on his engine he pictured
. future fireside TO which he could turn
for rest instead of his barren boarding
house, ard Che womsn's face that al
ways smiled his welcome in its light was
wonderfully like the little picture Of
Milly that he always carried in the
pocket Of his blue flannel shirt. Many a
time the engine light shone over the
sweet face as it lay on his grim palm in
intervals of work, and Jim would whis.
per, softly, ''by and by, little GIRL as
he carefully slipped it back where il
beat with every beat of his heart.
Working faithfully and steadily, Sc,
cretly laying the foundation of tina
ideal home, Jim had gained the respec
and confidence Of his employers ant