Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1894-01-11
MISS VI'LET.
By MARY CHASE PERRY.

! The large hotels is filled to overflow
ing with guests who have hurried away
from the south at the first hint OF
oVer warm weather. At an early
hour IN the day, the piazzas are
thronged. Here and there are couples
strolling along, stopping only to in
hale to the full the invigorating tonic
OF the mountain air. Now and then
one comes across an invalid, costly
ensconced ia a steamer chair, and
he seems to glory in having the suns
warm rays wrap him fromhead to foot:
We hear a steady tramp OF feet and
as we move aside to let a gay troop
OF young people pass us, one calls out.
1--WE are on III ninth round now!"
They have estimated that the distance
four times around the piazza makes a
mile. Behind them, with slower gait,
cOnnes a pale faced man with bowed
head and hands clasped behind.
Doubtless his thoughts are upon his
northern home where, perhaps, he has
left his wife and babies. Possibly his
mind is filled with desire to clasp them
once more in his arms, the hope in
spring him with new zeal to make q
gr lter effort to regain his lost health.
He throws back his shoulders and as
he draws in q long breath or two, /
fancy his eyes brighten and he feels
new life surging through the veins.
A little figure approaches the en-
trance to the hotel. Her faded sun
bonnet lies carelessly on her shoulders
and leaves exposed a small, brown
face of unusual beauty. From her
bare arms hang various small baskets
fashioned curiously as only the Caro-
lima mountaineer makes them. "Well,
what have you brought this morning,
TOpsy?" an old habitue of the place
calls out.
She disdainfully ignores the ques-
ton and turns her small shoulders
squarely from before the young man.
then moves toward a group OF ladies,
Would youaH like to buy some baws-
kets?" she asks, holding up her wares.
The ladies take what she offers,
eager to have something to carry
home as souvenirs of the place. The
palc-iaced man approaches and she
chances up at him, holding at an arms
length the one remaining trinket.
"Only five cents, sah," she says
with a fetching little smile, showing a
row OF small white teeth. The stran-
ger bestows a glance Of interest upon
the child.
81 will take it," hesays, and as he
fumbles for the change he asks: "Who
weaves the baskets?"
Dad makes EN-" she answers, add
ing, with an assumption of dignity,
"bHt | takes de awdahs."
"You must be very busy" the gen.
tieman returns kindly, IF you always
make as ready sales as you have this
morning"
well, de wuk Stacks up w'ehdenorf-
ers go home, an den me an dad res
up" she says with the air OF an over
worked millionaire.
The young man who had greeted her
on her arrival starts around the
piazza. She gazes after him disap-
provingIy and then addresses the pale
man: my name amt Topsy." she
says c~ontidentially, ops Miss Vrlet."
Thereafter Miss Vi'let appeared
severed times each week and became
a familiar figure around the hotel.
She generally sought out this pale
faced man, who seemed to take an
| interest in her which she returned.
| One morning she brought her baskets
filled with trailing arbutus. The bios
SONS were speedily bought by the
guests, except one bunch, which she
iealously guarded. The dainty pink
| petals shone between her small fingers
| as she attempted to cover and as
| often as a purchaser selected tins par
| ticular cluster she shook her head
| decidedly. "Dis ERE ones served"
| she said; "I's keepin' it fer de gem
man."
When "de gem'man" approaches
for his survey OF her stock, che held
| the blossoms out to him. "Dey's de
! berry nices' | could fin, " she said, her
cheeks dimplIng deeply.
He put his hand in his pocket but
she intercepted the movement.
II Glib 'em TO you," she explained
and quickly a away.
~ on re very InSnis ia'oieo' "oS
| stander catled out lightly.
The pale man seemed to treasure
| the little gift and looked for the child
TO come again. She had saved a
snecial bunch for him as before. He
demonstrated with her.
You will ruin your trade, Miss
! VIlet, and | must insist on your al
! lowing me to buy you posies."
Her large eyes filled with tears and
her Iips trembled as she replied: You
kin buy de bawskets, sab; dey's Dads
trade, but de beauties is my gif'.
The gentleman said no more. His
room was ever fragrant with the early
| blossoms, but we noticed that he gave
most extravagant orders for basket
work and screen frames.
Miss Vilet is an amazing politi-
| cian." one OF the young men ventured.
One day | was out on one OF my us
ual rambles, sketch book III hand,
seeking whom | might devour," when
I came across q handsome young
oeoro mt work near a tiny log cabin.
| implored him 10 pose for me, but he
| declared he was too busy.
you'll make just as much money
by sitting still" 1 argued las py
wnrkiuo all day."