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

range; and oh, Elvie! that gray parlof,s
NIL gray and gold, with just one single.
scarlet1lraped chair! The pictures she;
painted herself, an0 they were beauti-s
full" s
Aunt Helena, you have such n happy
way of looking at things, it's worth &
fortune" M
but it's all true, Eivcna Parsons
Just as tell it to you. All. me. i don't
see why it couldn't last--their hapDi-s
ness. used to watch Sheldon coming
home ut luncheon time, Tor isn't FAR
to the relieving station, a1lfrde sonle-5
times ran, in his boyish light-hearted-
ness. can see now the dainty table
and the exquisite etiquette that was,
their daily custom. And, Emily, little,
delicate woman, how proud she was Of
1t all, Elvie. how Industrious and eco
nomical; how brave, too, worthy to be-
IN officers wife, always alone but for
her father, patiently Waiting while her
boy walked his midnight beat all
those long. cold, doubly dangerous MIDI
night hours. l loved Emily Standen,.
Elvie, and you know I'm not senti-1
mental. There's picture Of her as
you go up to the MUSHROOM"
II saw it, Aunt Nella; she looks like.
an angel" -
by and by she had III angelic COM
pany, and my little lady came to stay,
for she left her blue and gold carriage
on the shady porch, and Grandpa Bar
low guarded it faithfully, l assure
you" Aunt Helena gave herself so
much time and deliberatcd so like o
connOisseur over the clustered grapes
that was quite impatient.
WAS it pretty-the baby, I mean!'
asked, bound to keep the subject be-
fore the house.
mot pretty; but, Elvena Parsons, !
presume to say she was the most
lovely child in the whole world! Brown
eyed, and ollve-compleXioned, like her
father, and so bright! And how she
grew! so wise, so precocious! She
soon ran over her fathers flower beds,
ate green grapes and 'sprinkled the
lawn at all hours" Seeing a smile,
Aunt Helena explained: mot in one
year, of course, but certainly In
eighteen months. The baby had two
ZONES, one at NO. 2S' and the other
here at Aunt Nellna's and Uncle Doc
tors as she called us, and we were
proud of Zona's confidence"
what did they call her, Aunt Hell
ena?"
ARIZONA. Her grandfather named
her. She was very old-fashioned, deep
and set in her opinions, yet as bright
and pure as spring Of water. She
had ideas, even upon abstruse subjects,
and, while the doctor would puzzle
her with questions, she oftener puz-
zled him with answers. Elvie, there's
nothing lovelier out Of paradise than
n little child, or deeper, either. Some
times I think maybe they are sent
down here to sympathize with us for
Eden's loss, which they themselves
were never allowed to enter. She was
a dear, dear child. Sheldon Standen-
why, he fairly worshiped her little
CASTOR shoes and treasured them every
one! Father and child, constantly to.
gether when he was at home. When
he lay down to sleep she would awaken
and run to pillow her head on his arm
and fall asleep again, whispering to
herself: Papa loves Zona.' 1t was
too fair day to last, Elvie. The dear
Lord had set the little one another
task. 1t wasn't hard for her, but, oh,
the pain Of the lesson to us! She was
taken ill and in one day we read the
cali in her face and knew that she
was going to leave us. II the mother
and grandfather were inconsolable
what can 1 say Of her father? Our
brave officer, who would not pale be.
fore hundred flashing guns, sat, weak
and powerless. all night, her little
hand in his. She was drowsy through
the week. but with the Sabbath chimes
she reused up and listened. Lifting
one hand she stroked his head and
looked with a wise, searching gaze
into his face.
"'Pappa Shelly she said, studying
his features lovingly, 100 don't lool
bright lis day, don't 90 fee well?' She
drew him down to her and kissed him
moving her fingers caressingly over his
star; it had been the pride Of her life
d. 100 s'pose p'licemens up in heav
en- wear stars, d. 90 fink so, Paps
Standen?
eyes, darling-that is-yes, thinE
so,' he replied. trying to speak intelli
gently in his distress.
Bright as 'oors, papa, d. 100 fink?'
Brighter than mine, iona. HI
felt himself the lowliest of the lowly
the most unworthy of all the grea
chiefs men, knowing his own hare
and bitter thoughts to-day.
"'Ey'll all shine bright, of course
only 'oor's will be e brightest. Pap,
Shelly, because 'oo's e best officer II
seben hunnerd p'cinc's. Uncle Doc
tor said so, an 'oo's going to be .
tectivc or a-or tc'ief, maybe He
father smiled at her quaint speech.
Gone star differeth from anothe
star in glory lie unused, wiping thu
perspiration from his brow.
~. why, Papa Standen, why does it:
According to the purity of thu
heartbeat, darling. Oh, Zona, Httl,
iona! You don't, you-my heart ism
right to-day. but God Knows ant
he placed her hand over his eyes, :.
have tried to be a faithful servant!
and the tears fell, hot, agonizing, re
bellious. She removed her hand aftel
while and said sadly:
"'Don't cry, papa, dearest, say: TT
Ill right for Zona,' as 100 used to d,
uhn,, I fo, dawn ON 'oo ho1pa1 mo 1,r,