Sturgis advertiser. (Sturgis, Dakota [S.D.]) 1887-1???, 1891-09-10
IN MAD FOLLY.

erected long ago, there hangsa portrait
of woman-a ark-browed, wonder
fully beautiful woman, whose red, ripe
lips are parted slightly, as though she
had a story to tell. In little ebony
and gold cabinet there lies bundle of
papers, yellow with time, and tied by a
broad ribbon that once was red (; in these
yellow papers is written the story of
that dark-eyed woman, as she wrote it,
years ago.
And this is the story of Valera
Chantrice, copied from those yellow
papers that are marked by the tide of
time:
My sistel& voice comes ringing up
the broad stairs, calling loudly for me
to descend; am otherwise engaged
just now, and shan't answer her, for my
letters are more interesting than the de-
tails of the dress she is to wear at Mrs.
Gorgeson's. But she will take no de-
NAL, and so I run down to find her
standing in the doorway, most goodly
picture, framed in by the climbing roses
and honeysuckle; on her delicate form
fits the palest of pink muslins, and in
her brown hair lies pink rose, that
seems to blush at its own beauty.
"Val, I'm going for little walk, and,
as there's no one in, you'd better stay
downstairs.
Eyes, but aren't you dressed r&ther
nicely for morning walk ?" / ask, sus-
piciously.
Rather; but I forgot to tell you that
Johnny Carthwait is home for the sum
mer, and he generally takes walk in
the morning."
This treasures me, for it is well
known that Maud is an outrageous firt
and / watch her trip down the "broad
straight path that leads to" the gate
looking half-enviously at the trim. neat
figure.
just after she turns the corner by the
gate I see tall young gentleman lounge
along the path; he glances around him
and, seeing me at the window, prepare!
to take a leisurely survey, but 1 droI
the curtain, and when it is raised ht
has passed on. OF course, it was Mr.
Carthwait, for there are no other young
men around whom we do not know
He must have thought l looked inter
esting. say, looking down at my greer
gown-one of Maud's made over, ant
which gives me a beautifully bilious
appearance; and then, taking book.
go out of doors, thinking that if burg
lars should come they could not leave
the house much poorer than they found
it. 1 soon reach my own particula
haunt, q little messy place, shadowet
by tall trees, and throw myself care
lessly down, falling into an attitude
more comfortable than graceful.
The flowers nod invitlngly, and, max
ing an effort, gather an armful of but
tercups, with which / adorn me, ant
then fall to musing over the sins of tn
world in general and Maud in particu
lar. wonder If she has met Mr.
Carthwait yet. and what device she ha
had recourse to to attract his attention
and from that I think of Cyril Dan
forth, and take out his last letter, whicl
I carry as near my left side as it can b
got, without swallowing it, and rea'
over and over one sentence whicl
pleases me greatly:
"Je vous Anne du mon coeur."
| 1t is pleasant to have that said t.
one, and 1 know that he means it. w
are to be married in a year. and. iron
pleasant thoughts of him, glide int
a gentle slumber, and, among m
peaceful dreams, have vision of ho1
rible monster bearing down On me, fol
lowed by long array of ghosts of tn
outraged proprieties; the monster
about to engage in the pleasant occups
ton of swallowing me, when, with on
wild yell, awaken, and discover th
horrible monster playfully scratchin
my face in the shape of Maud's pet xii
ten.
brush away tho cat in disgust, an
60 into the orchard, and wander amoni
the cherry trees for half an hour G
more.
When return to the house Maud
there, and she Immediately gives me
graphic account of Carthwait.
II hadn't been gone ten minute
when I heard him coming. and SimI
kins dog was looking through th
fence; threw q great stone at hin
and hit him square in the nose; it mus
/ have hurt him, for he yelped horribl,
Carthwait came running up, and as
Was Al IalHtluB couultAuH no I0StOIc
me. He's real nice. and I asked nil
to call.
"Did you?' / say, carelessly enough
and Maud, thinking / am not intereste
enough, instantly flies off at tangen
and for about ten minutes hot words q
to and fro. and finally Maud goes o,
into the garden, and moment Late
she is gathering roses, her pretty fat
wreathed with smiles.
/ turn to the window, and pensiyel
contemplate the cabbages growing
the kitchen garden, and am about
go out among them, when there come
rolling over the white floor q vel
straight, very shiny tall hat; it is TO
lowed by its owner, who makes mar
apologies, to which I listen in stony 4
lence, painfully conscious Of . crimst
face, which, contrasting with my We
dant gown, must make me look like
sweet little rosebud.
Really. Mr.. Carthwait, quite an a
expected pleasure, says Maud, comir