Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1891-12-10
THE DARKEST HOUR
is JUST BEFORE DAY.


wrapper and into scarcely less shah
by walking-lress.
"Not going out?" Abbie Draper re-
peated, in a tone of strong surprise.
''Why what put that into your head,
Aunt Ellen? Ihaye all my lessons to
give"
call yourlessons! Do you mean to
tell me you are going to teach, now?"
'Not after the holidays, perhaps.
But cannot leave all my classes at
moments notice. Think how kind
my friends have been in getting pupils
for me. Unjust keep my place until
they find another teacher. Them"
and Abbie drew deep breath, as if
some vision of rapture f1oated before
her eyes.
"Well, what them" asked Miss
Draper.
'Oh, cannot tell you! We will go
to Europe. We will have the prettiest
home we can find. We will live in the
life!''
She looked, in spite of the excite
ment with which she spoke, as if she
were tired. of everything-a sweet face,
not much past girlhood, four-or-tive-
and-twenty, but thin, pale, weary
looking, as if too heavily burdened.
Never very strong, though not sickly,
Abbie Draper had lived a life ofpetted
ease-the darling of her father and
Aunt Ellen-until she was eighteen.
Two events happened then, following
each other rapidly; Carroll Noyes, her
boy companion and dearest friend,
had left his home suddenly, she knew
not why; and her father had died,
after very brief illness, bankrupt.
Bankrupt! There was nothing left
of all the wealth he was supposed to
possess, and his sister and daughter
were thrown upon the world as DESC
late and helpless a pair of women as
ever struggled for life against poverty
and toll. Friends came forward and
found some scholars in German and
music for Abbie, and Miss Ellen kept
house on O. floor in a crowded tene-
ment house and did fancy work dur
ing the intervals between cooking and
sweeping.
DeIicately nurtured women, who had
lived in purely country air all their
lives, in the luxurious home at Sunny
dale, that John Draper called his Git
tie place" they sank slowly under the
burdens laid upon them, lost flesh and
color, appetite and sleep, and kept up
a forced cheerfulness only when they
were together.
Six years of poor food, close air,
steady toll and insufficient clothing
had made Abbie pale and thin, with
sad, wistlul eyes and pathetic lips, in
stead OF 81 bright, rosy-cheeked girl,
full OF animation, eager and impetu
Gus, as she had been in the old days
at Sunnydale.
Miss Draper sat idly looking at her
as she made her preparations to go
out, her hands, usually SO busy,
crossed in her lap, her head resting
against a corner OF the bureau.
Europe! Country house! Rest!
Quiet!" she said in dreamy way,
quite unlike her brisk tone. Itsounds
delicious, Abbie! But in the mean
time, dear, your boots are all broken,
your overshoes not much better, and
your ulster is a marvel of shabbiness."
eve will make that all right soon,
auntie, Mr.. Sanderson writes that he
will send me money next week.
Money! Do you understand, Aunt
Ellen? Think of it! No more worry
over the rent; no more scraping and
saving; no more twisting every dime
round and round to see how to get
the most out of it. We are rich!"
"And yet you will 60 out to-day to
teach in all this rain and slush; and
you look just fit to go to bed this
minute"
"It is only for little while, auntie.
will ask all my pupils to-day to find
a new teacher as soon as possible"
She pressed soft, tender kiss upon
her aunt's lips as she spoke, and went
narrow flights OF uncarpeted stairs
and out into the cold, raw, November
drizzle, with the pavements slippery
mass OF mud and snow.
And Aunt Ellen, still sitting idly in
the same place and attitude, was
thinking:
"It is lucky ones wishes do not
come to pass sometimes. Here [
have been for six years wishing John
had not sent Carroll Noyes away
without telling Abbie he loved her. He
might have given the child a home,
even if a poor one and | am sure she
cared for him. But now! Why, with
all her Uncle Paul's money, she can
marry anybody. Let her get back
her color and dress handsomely and
there will not be a more attractive
girl in society, And Mr.. Sanderson
thinks he can buy Sunnydale! How
our old friends will welcome Abbie!
Good friends they were, too, who
did not desert us in our poverty.
All, how glad I am for her! No more
poverty. no more freezing and starv-
ing! I'll begin to-day! There is the
rent money in my drawer,
and the child shall have a
good dinner when she comes homel'
Reused to activity by this thought,
Miss Draper hustled about, put the
room in order, and, taking a basket,
went out to purchase the materials
for substantial dinner-such din