The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1894-02-09
CHAPTER XII

hoUllb Twelve }illlcS Ii0Hl ltaiatl. Il Oh.
in the midst Of a flat. fat coun- ", stood
farm house. 1t was 4 two-story rcd
BRICK house, with Il slated roof, and
small square windows II had hctle
formal garden in front and far1 lyard
and stabling, and barns, and granaifes
Ill the rear. 1t WIS unpicturcsui,e. ii ~
anu dull. There was Il moaotonnLs
series Of wirc-fenced fields all around it.
and the only relief to the eye, in ali the
landscape within range Of vision, was 4
little tangled wood full Of nut trees,
and bramhles, and gnarled oil haw-
thorns. and elders now laden with
bunches of dark berries
The inside of the house was unscri-
pulously clean. Yet, nevertheless, its
atmosphere WAS not agreeable TO nose
or lungs, for the occupants of it had
mortal aversion to fresh mir within
their dwelling anu only enloyed--cr
partook Of without enjoying lux
uly under the open sky. Only ole win
dow in all the house was op, through
out the warm autumn day. 1t was d
window on, the second floor, and Il
WI ite curtain fnttcred backwarl ana
forward there, and pot of flowers
broke the monotony Of the series OF
y w
the sunshine all along the front of the
house. This was Mrs. jacks chainber
window. Here she had installed, her
self with Popsy for 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 chattals
her pianoforte. her work table. Pop
sy's little sleeping cot--out to Becl1's
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
Bccks Heath. and Wou.u be glad, by
ana by, to return to her Old quarters
and her old friends. Mrs. Lilly, of Per-
clval House, when She learned that the
arrangement with the farmers people
was but temporary, came to the same
conclusion. Depend upon it." said she,
in the bosom Of her family, I've shall
have Bell back here very soon. The
place will be too quiet for he. altogcth-
cr"
1T will be terribly dull for person
with so few spiritual resources as poor
Bell" said Rebecca. "Scl ely any OK.
to speak to-
''Or to flirt WITH added Emma.
spitefully.
Il do not think you shoull say that,
Emma returned her sister, Il did Mt
like your saying something Of the kind
to Mrs. Boddinston. Ball IS frivolous,
but She is not false. And flirt must
act lies il she speaks nome
BELL is aWflIily vain. Rebecca. She
Is ravanous for admiration"
Indeed, I 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 patient with st. Nit.s'
dance car help tWitching"
This was telling hit n. Miss
Emma Lilly, who could ncye. keep
her eyes off lconing glass
and who was perpetually contemplate
Ing her hands and her feet and her cllrls
and her figure after the manner COM
mon TO persons afflicted with the mai
ady of vanity III excess
1t will be seen that the Lilly family
was not quite at one with regard 70
Mrs. Jack. Kebecca had begun to feel
that the poor young widow had not
been treated fairly. And she even went
50 far as TO say that many things
might have gone better, ii they had
used little more kindness and good
deal less GOODNESS In their behavior to
Bell. The others dissenting from this