The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1890-08-14

world an altogether better style II tho
gentlemen don't bother Us, /" she laugh
= Inc result OF this conference was that
the club was formed then and; there.
And such gossip as followed The
young ladies, all of them of high social
distinction, who had taken up the cross,
as the Daily Advocate put ii were the
observed Of all observers. But the, club
prospered for all that. For five years
they kept together, and the members
made fame and money, all but poor
Miss Beck, who plodded on nursing her
numerous ailments - :. 5HS
For five years, I said, then like a
thunder-clap came the announcement
but will. not anticipate.
The club had met one.s night in! the
|tesHy sutsmer Of 1884,, 81 Mother Bon
ner's. Mother Bonner prided herself
on having been the, first white settler in
Missouri She was pretty old lady,
with AIRED and white complexion, which
long years OF hard labor had not spoiled,
and blue eyes as bright and frank as
those of q baby. What Mother Bonner
did not know about her adopted
state and the country round about, was
not worth knowing. She was always to
be depended on by the neighbors In
times of trouble, and often declared
that she had lain out more corpses'
than any other woman in the place.
Frontier stories with her were always
In order. She pointed with pride to an
old battered gun that had been used
more than once in defense of their
wilderness home. The marks of Indian
bullets SCARED the timbers of the little
log cabin at the back of Squire Bonner's
pretentious new house. The cabin was
used now as store and lumber room,
and. as Mrs. Bonner often said, was
''chuok full of Stories"
Miss Beck had grown thinner and
homelier than ever. The doctor had ex-
hausted all her skill over this refrac-
tory patient, who obstinately persisted
in being sick. While busy with her
school duties, Miss Beck often averred
she felt middling: we'll, but nights and
mornings she was at full liberty to
nurse all her chronic ailments, and doc
tors could do her no good.
| Pearl Davenport had written two
charming books, and Herewith earned
herself home. Nelly West had be-
come famous as an artist all through
the State, and her pictures were in de-
mand. Florence Benson, the origin
| ator of the club, had been practicing
law to good advantage in a neighboring
| city, and was now home for her vaca-
ton.
A merry party they were, in spite of
Miss Beck and her gloomy forebodings
They had just arisen from bountifully
spread table, when Squire Bonner came
! in and handed his wife letter.
''Deary me!' said the old LADY,, in
plying is, after reading the first
page; IF that poor, dear Hetty Sands
hasn't got on the war-path again. It's
only my way of saying that Hetty's a
goin' to break up and travel, my dears,"
she continued, addressing the society.
'It's sort of protegy of mine, is Hetty,"
she added, looking over her spectacles.
The poor thing has moved twelve
times In as many years, always trying to
run away from that cough OF hers Now
she wants to try Missouri, where she
started from. and l s'pose Glenn Sands
III bring her on. He's always humored
her. No sooner does she say go than
he up stakes and goes. If she told him
to take her to Heaven, it's my opinion
he'd jest try his best to do it. But bless
me!' she added, after another inspec-
ton OF the written page, 80 much
movin' makes people kind o. shiftless,
too, an there's eight children, all girls,
but the boys; there's two Of them, be-
lieve."
Eight childreny' cried the club, SIM
ultaneously.
Eyes, and every blessed one of them
as handsome as picter, too, like their
mother" said Mrs. Bonner.
They're poor, of COURSE" said Miss
Beck, after swallowing a powder sup
posed to aid digestion.
''Poor as pipe without bowl" said
| Mother Bonner. How can thew help
it? Some Of their furniture has to he
sold every time they move, and they
| are coming here with the barest neces-
stiles, she writes-two beds, a stove, a
kitchen-table and three trunks. Now,
| as to the trunks, they can't hold sofys
and chairs in them, you know, so l
s'pose I've got to help them. Well, Pm
thankful can. There's some old fur
inter in the cabin that don't do me any
good, but bless me, eight ;children!
and sick woman, and father that's
had all the sperit took out of him,
! movin' about SO much! They'll want
constable lookin' after, that's fact"
II should think she'd rather STAY
there and die" said Miss Beck. Pm
sure l should; l often do, any wav,
when l think how sick and useless
am"
"You useless!" and Doctor Ada shook
her wise head at her. halt savagely.
'You have done better work, perhaps,
than any of US, in teaching the young
idea how to sheet. How can you tell
what big guns may be the.conseq uence?
For all you know, ayousmay be training
the to-be President of the United
States"
81 hope he'll remember It," said Miss
Beck, grimly, ''and be grateful"
J. '''Why, of course he will, and make
you postmistress of the town, perhaps,
who knows?'' laughed the doctor.
IL was JUST one month from that time
that little wild-rose-covered, quaint,
coy cottage on the outskirts Of the
thriving Western town was riotous
with blooming little maids. and noisy
with sweet, laughing voices. At the
windows, the doors, among the flower
ing vines that ran of their own sweet
will up to the swallows nests in the
chimneys the children swarmed.
'Gracious goodnessw cried Miss Beck,
when they all marched into the school,
room, the twin boys coming last, one
ploaaant nnor~ins, and ~+hen aho WOO
kissing their rosy cheeks and untying
scarfs and hats and sun-bonnets. Nor
could the woman keep her eyes off of
them. The lovely, laughing faces fas-
cipated her. She forgot her medicine;
her aches and pains disappeared as by
magic.