Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1895-02-14
NUMBER q.

"Mis' Helena sent me TO- ter AK 20
would yo' come in, Mis- Elvie, r sh'll
she fetch 'cr wuck out dos an set?"
by all means out here, tell her,
Aunt 'Raney, please; the air is so deli
cious."
So we camped out there that rare
October aftern9oPs Aunt Helena Mars
ton and myself, ,pthe canary, two low
chairs, the mending basket and n tray
of flaming Tokays. We were on the
second gallery back and the sun en-
veloped us in a cloud of glory. So
torrid was it that Aunt 'Kaney came to
our relief.
"Hyurs yo' sunbunnit Mis- Helena,
an a pahsawl TO- Mis- Elvie. MN! de
sun dat hot lax hit come FUN de lime
kills"
Aunt Helena obediently donned the
bonnet; she did not dare do otherwise,
but assured old aunty that her kind
ness toward me was misplaced. 1.-The
suns rags won't harm my complexion,
<AU1L XulicJ IL lew luOiC lICChlc6 "
span OF cheek possibly"
Go on. Mis- Elvie!' she laughed,
opening the umbrella. "Jes' a-s'posin
all dem all freckles wuz ter run toged-
dab, den wEa'd o. be at!'
So I accepted the ridiculous sun
shade, but about four minutes retire
ment from the world sutticed me.
The canary shrieked ecstatically,
Il fhroy1rl,
swiftly that he looked like those rib
bons of flame that children make with
lighted sticks. And the Tokays-they
tasted like melted sunshine, the blood
Of the far-or sunshine, which they had
imprisoned in themselves, The city
streets below us lay like country lanes
that afternoon, so quiet were they, and
we saw almost no one, although near
by was Il great apartment house, a
church with open doors, st. Aubyn's
school and innumerable stairs leading
up and down the rear steps of other
houses and flats. Uncle Marston's fine
old mansion was set in beautiful
grounds. There was cottage close
by on the side, gray and white. which
In the bright sunlight shone dusty and
cobwebby. 1t was silent, too. On the
side next to us was a veranda, where
red vines chung to-day, and lilac
bush grew under the windows.
"No. 2S doesn't look like city house,
Aunt Nella," l said. II could imagine
it country cottage with a history. Is
it never occupiedY I asked, dropping
| for the third time the skein was hold
ing for her. Then my aunt, who was
woman Of considerable avoirdupois,
dropped her ball and, STOPPING to get
it, merely, touched it with her finger
tips and sent it rolling down the steps
and half way to the stables. After
returning it to her I sat down at her
feet with my embroruery.
"Thank you, my DEAR" she said,
gently.
mo, Elvie, NO. 2S' isn't occupied.
We intend to have it removed. AS
you've been so good." she smiled Il
will tell you something" then added
sadly, as she looked down onto the
lawn, II wish things could have turn
I, ed out differently, Eivie. Over there
was another Eden broken up" Aunt
| Helena sighed af if weighted with ac-
| cumulating evidence since Adam and
Eve.
"Who were they, Aunt Nella?"
'The Standens, child. I was never
so interested in any neighbors as l
was in those. Being city born and
bred makes one cold-hearted, fear.
but I found myself time and again
planning for them, actually watching
the outcome Of their very lives. All,
dear child, there must be finish some
where to the exquisite tapestries of
life so abruptly ended, compensation
somewhere and she folded and laid
away another garment.
do you refer to your neighbors at
| NO. 2S?"
II forgot, Elvie Parsons, that I was
| speaking Romanisch to you," and she
smiled, dropping her hands into her
lap in self-condemnatory manner.
Eyes, my neighbors for years-the
dearest of neighbors. When we bought
the cottage and let to a police officer,
| 'one Of natures noblemen.' Sheldon
Standen, came right into our midst
Tall and manly he had no peer on the
police force; always in the front ranks
the star on his breast shone a little bit
higher than any other. He was our
policeman our pride, and we came to
esteem him as dear friend. He was
gentle, lovable man, as we came tt
| huOW III CAAOoC vcdIS. LIZ stuu Ii
Marston were confidential and init.
mate, almost like brothers
why do people say almost like a
brother? Is there no record Of a per
feet confidence?' asked, rapidly dem.
onstrating such relationship with the
Tokays.
"Why, don't know, Elvic. Wheth.
er one will it or not there's an intangi.
bic something that keeps the family
tie sacred; it's law unto itself; ii
can't be heightened. broken or mendcd
even for love. Almost brother il
very strong, Elvena. and that was
what Sheldon Standen was to us. re,
member the day he brought his bride
to see the cottage. Can it be only six
years ago. my aunt unused and sighed
And they lived there all that time!
| ] asked.
More than five years. yes. Emily
was Il rare little woman, a painting
teacher from Cedar Hill. Dear, dear!
what wonderful resources and energy
| littln Emily RorlOw hodi IMov "a.