The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1894-01-11
CHAPTER XII.

CHAPTER XII.
About twelve miles from COdlmgton,
in the midst of a fiat, fat county, stood
a farm house. 1t was a two-story red
BRICK house, with a slated roof, and
small square windows. 1t had a little
formal garden in front and a farrlyard
and stabling, and barns, and grauaries
in the rear. It was unpicturesque. tily
and dull. There was a monotnnoUS
series of wire-fenced fields all around it,
and the only relief to the eye, in ali the
landscape within range of vision, was Z
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 unscrrl-
pulously clean. Yet, nevertheless, it's
atmosphere was not agreeable to nose
or lungs, for the occupants of it had
mortal aversion to fresh air within
their dwelling, and only enjoyed-Cr
partook of without enjoying-that lux
ury under the open sky. Only ole win
dow in all the house was open through
out the warm autumn day. 1t was a
window ON the second floor, and q
WI lite curtain f1uttered 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 q month, lodging
with the farmers family, who were
relatives of Mr. Mills, the cOmpOsitor
Mrs 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
Heath Farm, until she should have tried
the life there for a 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 dull 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 faSEer's people
was but temporary, came to the same
conclusion. Depend upon it," said she,
in the bosom of her family, 1--WE shall
have Bell back here very soon. The
place will be too quiet for hat 1tOgeth-
er."
1T will be terribly dull for a person
with so few spiritual resources as poor
Bell" said Rebecca. "Sca :oely any one
to speak tor
''Or to tiirt With" added Emma,
spitefully.
Il do not think you should say that,
Emma" returned her sister, II did not
like your saying something of the kind
to Mrs. BoddingtOn. Bell IS frivolous,
but she is not false. And a fiirt must
act lies if she speaks none"
BELL is awfully vain, Rebecca. She
is ravenous for admiration"
Indeed, I think not. I 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 a patient with st. Vitus'
dance car help twitching."
This was a telling hit nS Miss
Emma Lilly, who could never keep
her eyes off a looking glass
if there was one within sight.
and who was perpetually contemplate
Ing her hands and her feet and her curls
and her figure after the manner COM
mon to persons afflicted with the NAL
ady of vanity in excess.
II 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
been treated fairly. And she even went
so far as to say that many things
might have gone better, If they had
used a little more kindness and a good
deal less GOODNESS in their behavior to
In 9Th ,ic
view, But they all concurred in be-
lieving that Bell would not remain
many days at Becks Heath.
In this however, they were mistaken.
A fortnight passed over, during which
the second-fioor 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 to board and lodge at the farm
she could pay what she owed in Cod
lington, and have wherewithal to live
on for the remainder Of the year. Pop
>sy was quite content. A good deal to
her mothers SURPRISE she took the part
ing from Biddy very cOOIly, just as
Barney had prOphsied. The child was
not more unfeeling than most young
human animals of her age. But the
new impression quickly effaced the old
in her malleablc little brain. She made
acquaintance with all the live stock on
the farm, and grew fatter, brownel
and roster day by day.
The same wholesome result did not
| accrue to Mrs. Jack from her rural
residence. Rebecca Lilly drove out tc
see her sister-in-law when the latter
had been three weeks at the farm
The visit was made against the advice
Of the others, who opined that the more
completely Bell was left to herself the
! sooner she would return to reason and
| Codlington. However, Rebecca carried
her point, and returned to Perciva
House, bringing very poor account Of
| Bells looks and spirits.
''Rhe meyer was stout, said Rebecca
"but new she Ii rniserably thin" EN-
ma glanced at the reelection Of her owl
I wcll-rounded figure in the glass, "Ant
she is losing her color, and there arc
| dark circles round Ter eyes, which looi
rs If she cried a good deal. really
| do not think she Is well at oil; but thu
child L. 1ourishing."
| Henrietta inherlts altog ether TIT
| constitution of her fathers family,
observed Mrs. Lilly, with much dignity