Omaha daily bee., 1888-03-11
A WESTERN GIRLS STORY.

'A1r9lu!' cr1eu OUT l., Will d iduS IL.
"Why on earth should l be afraid?'
And suppose my face must have mir
rored forth the careless independence
of my spirit, for my brothers rugged
countenance frightened as spoke.
We lived alone upon solitary road,
miles away from any human dwelling
place, in one OF those antique gable
ended farm-houses which look so pic
turesque to an artists eye in the sum-
mer time, and so indescribably desolate
when November gales are bowling
around the chimney-tops, or winter
SHOWS heaping up their feathery pearl
upon the door-stone. We-that is, the
old bed-ridden aunty, my brother Rob-
ert and myself. AS for a servant girl
dear me, when became rheumatic, or
lost the use of my limbs, 1 might need
one, not before.
"Well, mind you don't let any one in,
unless it is a neighbor," said Bob, but
toning up his shaggy overcoat, and low
ering his voice, so that Aunt Jemima
should not hear his words. For Aunt
Jemima was apt to be seized with fits OF
nervous apprehension at the most incon-
venient times. Because, you know,
there's only two women of you, and
$50 along with yourself, Bob, and
don't talk nonsense" said l, with an air
of dignity. "As if l wasn't quite able
to take care of myself without your ad-
vice. Nobody has been here in week.
and don t think the rush is going to
begin tonight"
10 hn fnr
shelf next to the bag of hops and the
paper of dried catnip," added Bob, "and
the big stick"
''I'll take the big stick to you, if you
don't clear out" said 1, merrily-and Sc
Bob mounted old Nanny and urotted
away.
We had just received hundred dol
lars from the railroad people for the
years wood which Bob had cut and
hauled to the junction-a hundred dol
lars, all in nice, clean, cracking tens
and Bob and l, and Aunt Jemima, all
agreed--for once entirely unanimous
that so much money ought not to remain
over night in the house.
said l.
Suppose a gang of masked burglars
should break imp" suggested Aunt
Jemima, who had been reading the pa
pers.
s'Suppose the rats and mice should
gnaw their way intothe old hair trunk?''
faid Bob.
So Bob was taking the hundred dol
lars to the Ottarsfield bank, twenty miles
away, over a rough and uneven bride
road! And and Aunt Jemima were left
all alone.
''Dear me, ;" said Aunt Jemima, "that's
twice the needles dropped and stuck
in the floor. We're going to have COM
panyl"
II hope not" said |, "with nothing in
the house but corn bread and pork, and
dried-apple sauce"
"And there's winding sheet in the
candle" gloomily added Aunt Jemima,
who was addicted to harmless little
superstitions. Somebody's going to
die.n
II think it's extremely likely,n l OBJ
served, with philosophy.
I've had creepy feeling down my
back all day." said Aunt Jemima, 'just
as II some one was measuring me for my
shroudl Are you sure the doors are all
bolted, Gertrudep
quite certain, aunt. l bolted them
myself"
And nails over all the windows?"
Every one of them. Come now,
aunty, dear, let me fix your hot drink,
and tie on your night-cap nicely.
We're just as safe as il there was hol-
low square of soldiery around u.s."
But in spite OF my reinsurance, Aunt
Jemima persisted in going to sleep with