Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1892-12-29
ALICE WYNDHAM.

On the outskirts Of a small town,
within a hundred miles OF Chicago,
stood an old farmhouse; Although II
had been built nearly a century beforsi
vet it was well preserved, and except.
ing a certain ~barfenness of look from
its plain exterior and glaring white
paint was a pleasant and homelike
place. The farm belonging TO IL
stretched away on every Side and wss
well divided into woodland n
meadow, garden and growing grain.
The flowers were not forgotten either,
for where they did not grow wild they
we're carefully cultivated in the little
beds close TO the house and along the
paths. Altogether ii was a picture OF
a well-kept, successful farm.
The period at which our story opens
was at the close Of a bright July day
and the golden sun,fast sinking behind
the tops Of the forest trees, was giving
place to that portion of :he approach
ing night SO delicious in the country
twilight.
On a uncovered porch running In
front of the house sat a woman, rocking
greatly. with eve half closed, as il
already on the borders of dreamland.
On her lap lay an open letter which
had a short time before been brought
from the village ard which, had
evidently put her in a contented frame
of mind. The large house-dog, blink
ing lazily at her feet, completed the
drowsiness of the scene, save when he
made a vicious snap at the flies buzzing
near.
She was a kind; motheriy looking
woman, with hair Just turning to silver;
and a face, though showing the cares
and trials of q well-rounded life, still
fresh q smooth.
Mrs. Osborne. for such we shall call
her, was a widow, having lost her hus-
band but a few years before; and
though this loss had brought its sor-
row and loneliness, still with the atfec-
ton and companionship of her only
child, q son, now a man of nearly 80,
she was happy and %eohtented.
AS the twilight deepened on this par
ticuiar day she was arobsed from her
reveries by a hasty step on the gfaveled
path and a CHEEKY voice exclaiming:
"Well, mother, what news? Are
your boys coming?"
"How you startled me, Frank! / be-
lieve ! must have been doing. Yes,
my boys are coming, anil do hope
they will enjoy their country week! !
wonder what sort of a person their
mother is"
= puzzled look.
why, the boys mother, She is COM
ing with them"
Mother" exclaimed Frank, vehe-
mently, show could you do it, knowing
as you do how l detest womenP"
listen to me a moment, my son."
said Mrs. Osborne, quietly. This
Mrs. Durand is a widow, like myself.
!. She is a poor dressmaker, supporting
|, by unceasing toll herself and her two
|, boys. For some time she has been i'll
and, ! guess, has been thrown on the
charity of the public. She needs whole
some food and fresh air to enable her
to take up again her battle of life, as
we'll as the boys. How could | refuse
TO do my share when we have so much?
For shame, Frank! thought you had
got over your f~oolishness."
1.-The wound may have healed
growled Frank, "but the sting is still
there. At any rate, / won't have any.
thing to do with her. will take charge
of the youngsters, but ! will keep out
of her way. Bah! A woman around,
and a young widow at that"
! Angrily tossing his head, like ar en-
ragged bull, and muttering to himself,
he strobe off in the darkness.
Mrs. Osborne sighed at the storm she
had raised, but she knew that the best
thing to do was TO let him alone and
} await developments.
Frank Osborne, an only child, was
somewhat spoiled when he had beer
sent away to college at the age of 20,
Kind. loving and generous us he was
he was impetuous, even to ]ticrceness
strong in his convictions and unable tC
brook serious disappointment. Tn
known TO his parents he had fallen in
love with the winsome daughter of 8
public official in his collegiate town and
had been led to believe that she re.
turned his affection. At any rate, they
became secretly engaged and Frank
basked in the sun of loves young hopes
until the middle of his first year,
Then came the shock. Without a WORD
of explanation she broke the engage
ment and left him In despair. Vowins
never to trust womankind again, be
threw up his studies and returned
home. Since then ne had remained
quietly at the farm and when his father
died took the management of it. BY
degrees he had become cheerful and
even coutented. but he still avoided the
fair sex and still retained his aversion
To them. Mrs. Osborne, who knew hi
story. trusted to time to soften thil
: feeling, but as yet she saw it had thu
mastery over him.
) The morning was fresh aud brigh'
on which Mrs. Osborne drove to thu
> village station to meet her guests. She
knew them the moment they stepped
from the train, and her kind heart wen
out to them in tender sympathy whei
r she saw the evidence of privation ant
sickness in their faces.
Mrs. Durand was young and NIGH
have been pretty, but her face was pal
and wofully thin, and her large blu
; eyes had such an appealing expression
that Mrs. Osborne was almost moved Il
, tears. She was dressed neatly bu
!. plainly in black, and her manner wa
sweet and refined. The boys were lik,
her, white and pinched, but they Shove,
more life, and evidently were spirited
and affectionate lads.
By the time they reached the farm
house Mrs. Osborne had become yer,
well acquainted with her guests, AM
they in turn felt very much at cas-
) with her. After a slight luncheon il
the cool, pleasant dining-room the boy
were turned loose out of doors, Will
Mrs. Durand was shown to the coz,
room which was to be hers, and haC
been pressed 10 lie down and rest afte
her tiresome journey, for she was still
very weak.
Mr.. Frank was nowhere 20 be found
nor did be put in an appearance unit
late in the evening, after the stranger
had retired On the morrow, however
he made the acquaintance of the boy
and kept them with him nearly a
day. He soon became much attache'
to them But, true to his word, h
avoided Mrs. Durand aud was SO adroi
in his movements that q whole wee
passed before he even saw her face
During this time both she and the boy
had greatly improved in health an