Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1894-02-08
CHAPTER XII.


about twelve miles from Codhngton,
in the midst OF a fiat, fat county, stood
a farm house. 1t was a two-story red
brick house, with n slated roof, and
small square windows. 1t had a listle
formal garden in front and n farrlyard.
and stabking, and barns, and granaries
In the rear. 1t was unpicturesque. tiiy
and dull. There was a monotonous
series OF wire-fenccd fields all around it,
and the only relief to the eye, In ali the
landscape within range of vision, was a
little tangled wood, full of nut trees,
and brambles. and gnarled old haw-
thcrns, and elders now laden with
punches OF dark berries.
The inside of the house was unscru-
pulously clean. Yet, nevertheless, it's
atmosphere was not agreeable to nose
or lungs, for the occupants of 1t had
a mortal aversion to fresh air within
their dwelling, and only e~njoyed--Cr
partook of without enjoying-that luz
ury under the open sky. Only ole win.
dow In all the house was opsr through
out the warm autumn day. II was a
window on the second tiocr, and a
wlite curtain fiuttered backward and
forward there, and a pot of flowers
broke the monotony Of the series of
square glass eyes which blinked at
the sunshine all along the front of the
house. This was Mrs. jacks chamber
window. Here she had installed her.
self with popsy for a month, lodging
with the farmers family, who were
relatives of Mr.. Mills, the compositor.
Ms. Jack had been dissuaded from
removing her few goods and chattels
her pianoforte, her work table, Pop
sy's little sleeping cot-out to Beck's
Heath Farm, until she should have tried
the life there for n few weeks. Mrs.
Petherick and Barney, having carried
this point, felt little doubt of Mrs.
Jacks return to Old street. She would
certainly be very duh and lonely at
Beck's Heath, and would be glad, by
and by, to return to her old quarters
and her old friends. Mrs. Lilly, of Per-
cival House, when she learned that the
arrangement with the faSd!er's people
was but temporary, came to the sanlc
conclusion. Depend upon IT." said she,
in tie bosom of her family, 1--WE shall
have Bell back here very soon. The
place will be too quiet for h: aItogcth-
en-"
1T will be terribly dull for a person
with so few spiritual resources as poor
Bell" said Rebecca. Sea = Ny any oan
to speak tor
OR to firt with" added Emma,
spitefully.
II do not think you should say that,
Emma" returned her sister, II did nat
like your saying something Of the kind
to Mrs. Boddlngton. Bill IS frivolous,
but she is not false. And Il flirt must
act lies IL She speaks none"
Bell is awfully vain. RebccCa. She
is ravenous for admiration
Indeed, l think not. l never knew
any one so pretty so free from vanity.
She has none Of the little tricks of dis
play, which vain people can no more
help than n patient with st. Nitus'
dance car help t~witching."
This was a telling hit NJ Miss
Emma Lilly, who could never keep
her eyes off n LOOKING glass
IL there was one within sight,
and who was perpetually contemplate
ing her hands and her feet and her curls
and her figure after the ann COM
mon Il persons afflicted with the NAL
ady Of vanity in excess.
1T will be seen that the Lilly family
was not quite at one with regard to
Mrs. Jack. Rebecca had begun TO feel
that the poor young widow had not
beer treated fairly. And she even went
SO far as TO say that many things
might have one better. If they had
used a little more kindness and a good
deal less GOODNESS in their behavior To
Bell. The others dissenting from this
view. But they all concurred In be-
lieving that Bell would not remain
many days at Beck's Heath.
In this however, they were mistaken.
A fortnight passed yer, during which
the second-ioor window In the ugly
brick house stood open, and the white
curtain fiuttered. and the pot Of flowers
was TO be seen on the sill. Mrs. Jack
remained In her solitude. The place
was very cheap. She found that by con-
tinuing 10 board and lodge at the farm
she could pay what she owed in Cod
lington. and have wherewithal to live
on for the ~<mainder OF the year. fop