Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1891-09-12
HER UNCLE'S LEGACY.
"Al;x, Alix, Where are youm

room at Amcscroft farm. She had
pulled up every tack in the weli-worn
ingram carpet--the one 'store carpet
that the humble establishment afforded
and had flung it bodily out OF the
window, where IL had descended with
crushing weight on the liery-red bios
SONS Of monster burning bush"
At the sound of her sisters voice shc
stopped abruptly.
'rm here" said she.
"What are you doing Alixp'
Pm trying to civilize things q
little"
"All alone by yourself, Alix'"
There's no one to help me-"
Ellen looked anxiously around the
room.
why, what have you done with
everything" said she.
Cleared them NIL out. II We are
going TO have summer boarders we
must get ready for them. Uncle Eben
occupies our best bedroom and Is like
Iy 10 for some time; consequently this
must he fitted up for boarders."
Ellen sighed deeply.
Il wish we weren't so poor" said
she. IL wish VIC could live without
filling our house every summer with q
crowd Of noisy strangers.
why don't you wish for Aladdin's
lamp or the Kohinoor diamond while
you are about itP" said Alix, scorn-
fully.
''Alix. why have you grown SO bitter
OF latep" pleaded the gentler OF the sis
tess. Il hardly know you!"
"Am | bitter?" AIix stood still and
hesitated for an instant or so. We'll,
perhaps / am. But is it not enough to
make any one bitter-this constant
current Of disappointment"
II don't know that we have any
more to bear than others. Alix."
You do. tool" cried Alix. spriuging
down from her wooden chair, with
burning cheeks and eyes alight. You
know YOU do. Ellen Ames! Here you
are engaged TO Heury Lucas and can't
marry until he can give you home;
here are we weighed to the very earth
with poverty aud care, and this old
uncle of ours, coming back from n
lifetime of shiftlessness in New Mex
leo. to place an additional burden on
our shoulders.
''He is old and poor. Alix."
Very well, I'm young and poor.
Where's the difference? or the two,
maintain that he is better off,"
Ellen looked at her stormy-tempered
sister with troubled eyes.
What have YOU done with the little
case OF butterflies and birds nests'"
said she. "and the cabinet of minerals
and the paper box of stonesP"
"rumbled them back OF the goose
berry bushes" said Alix. Il can't
have the room cluttered with all the
trash ho brought back in that wooden
chest of his"
Couldn't you have stored them
away in the old chest itself?"
"Nonsens'! Such stuff as that?
And. besides vt would have been quite
impossible. (, Il have had Billy chop
the old ark up into kindling wood.
He'll never know"
'Oh, Alixm
IL don't carew flashed out Alix. with
a reckless toss of her head. Its too
bad! Everything goes wrong with US.
and mother is utterly overworked. aud
I'm clear discouraged. and--and--"
All OF sudden her fictitious courage
broke down. She sunk in little heap
on the floor her head on the wooden
chair-seat. and her masses OF auburn
hair escaping wildly from the towel.
while her whole frame shook with sobs
and bright tears trickled down her
cheeks.
At the same moment Mrs. Ames'
soft, trcmulous voice was heard. call
ing:
ELLEN! Alcxia! Where are you.
girls? Your uncle is took dreadful
bad! Run. one OF you. for the doctor!
And fother one. come aud help me lift
himr'
Ellen flew to her mothers assistance
and Alix mechanically tore the towel
from her curls, exchanged it for a
bonnet aud hastened to summon DIR.
Dodd. who lived ut the other end Of
the village.
Late ia tho afternoon she pesped into
the sick-room. shy aud shrinking. like
u frightened child.
lis he worsep" she whispered.
Mrs. Ames came to the door.
slight. soft-eyed woman. like human
dove.
You needn't speak so low. daugh-
ter" said she. He can't hear you.
He is quite unconscious"
why does he keep nuttering SOP"
II think he Is wandering in his
mind-poor old Uncle Eben! Oh,
dear! And can remember him such
. portly. handsome man." added the
widow. wiping her eyes. He was the
youngest OF all the brothers. Come
In. Alix, aud see him. He's spoken
your name two or three times. Don't
look so startled. dear. He seems quite
happy aud composed. He's talking all
the while about those curiosities Of
his-the minerals. you know. and
things"
Inyoluntarily Alix's eyes met the
gently reproachful glance Of her sis
ter's. The sudden scarlet mounted to
her cheek.
'Oh. Ellen. don't look Mt me so!'
she exclaimed. Il brought them every
one back--yes. / did--and I put them
exactly where they were before. Do
you think could have come into this
room II 1t hadn't been for thatp"
And she went mp and stood by the
bedside. her eyes full Of tender tears.
her voice pitiful and low.
uncle Eben," said she. do you
know mep"
"It's Alix. amt it?" crooned the old
man. after moments silence. ALEX
auder's oldest girl. The prettiest one.
Yes. It's Alix-and she's to have my
curiosities--all of them. mind! Nell
has lover and that ought to be-
enough for any girl. But Alix is
alone. and Alix shall have my curios-
tiles"
Thank you. Uncle Ebenlr said Alix.
as the invalid paused. expectant Of an
answer.