The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1896-12-10

Milford had finished her afternoon sizes
tn and opened her eyes, she naturally
and inevitably returned To the familiar
theme.
My love, Lady Jones had an annui-
ty. a small annuity, but sufficient for
her wants. left her by her father. OF
course it was praisewcl-thy of her To
relinquish her claim to the money. but
when we remember that the young
man a no money, not Il slXpence, tnat
he had been reared in attiuence. that
he has never known an unqualified
desire, and that, under these circum-
stances, he voluntarily relinquished "A
handsome independence, we must find
it impossible to express, with adequate
strength, Il warm admiration of the
nobility of conduct
Helen had taken up the piece of en-
brOidery from her lap and had begun
to stitch with some show of industry;
she was obliged to bend low over her
work, for the winter afternoon was
drawing to a close, and the room was
dusk.
Il wonder what he will do" she said.
HE will do well, mark my words,
Helen. He has many friends. | hear
that he has already entered II house of
blISliItSS III Nlltl lt 10 llN'IN. Ailou@i
the favor Of the proprietor, To succeed,
if he proves himself intelligent and re-
liable-such qualities as we know he
possesses. Don't sigh. my love; rats
alone desert a sinking ship: the captain
and her crew are the last to leave her.
# that unworthy oma whom he
loved chose to nOu him ut the APP
proach of trouble. she is no better than
81 rot and of CIrl, NnTllNin hn &c NNnlI
rid"
perhaps it was not quite all her
fault" said Helen. slowly; perhaps he
would not drag the girl he liked into
poverty. Perhaps she could not help
it."
she would make a point of helping
it," said Aunt Elizabeth. with energy.
When does a man really find comfort
i'm Il woman? When dOcs = man ap-
preciate the blessings of an affeCtionate
wife? Why. when he is in trouble, to
he sure. And any Won an worthy of
the name knows it, and glOries in the
knowledge; and any Oma worthy of
the name would have remained by his
side, as constant as n COMPASS and as
adhesive as a burr. She should have
been proud and glad to stay by him. /
met him ON the road one afternoon last
week; l ran and shook him by the
hand-I couldn't speak-but ne was
just as usual, though a little graver in
his manner; and his face looked older;
twenty years older he had grown in
three months. He came i'm here with
me and had some tea; he stayed a long
whiie-he seemed pleased to stay. We
talked of the summer, love, and of
you, and | told him of the strange gen
crosby of poor Mr.. Flight. and then he
went away; but he promised to come
again if he was at NOelcOmbe. He
should be to and fro until the business
was settled and the house sold, he
said"
Did he say anything about that
girl. auntie?'
(Which girl? Oh. you Lady
Freemantle. No, my love; he talked
of you: men do not speak of matters
upon which they feel deeply. He talked
much of you; | showed him your new
photographs: he did not think it at all
good. not ut all. 1t is "A most curious
thing. Helen. | have n:;Sldid that like
ness from that day 10 this, | have never
found it, though | have searched dill
gently. | must have SEN it back to
the library in Il book. | have lost ma \
letters thus. and some valuable pa, :
ages OF flower seeds. The orchid which
the young man ave me is dead-it
wanted more heat than | could give it
here. Good gracious. love, that is the
front door bell. Pull down that cOu-
yre-Died over my feet and set my cap
straight; the room is nearly dark. VIII
YOU light the candles on the mantle
piece? WHAT? you prefer the dusk?
Very well. My love, Helen! where are
you going? Don't leave the room.
Stay; | want you to stay"
Put she had gone. and while Miss
Milford was still implCring and COM
handing her TO return, Mr.. Jones was
shown into the room.
He sat down on the same tiny chair
as beforv and asked with much inter-
est about the influenza. Her answers
were absent and n little puZzlinG; she
hardly knew what he said, so sick
was she with the responsibility Of inn
mediate action. Should she casually
mention her niece's presence and Judge
by bis face whether the knowledge
affected him in any way: But the
NEST expressive feature-his mouth
was hidden by a muStache, and those
dark eyes of his defied scrutiny, es-
p"ecially in this dusky light. He went
on talking: the frank yC~uthfulraSs of
his manner had changed; he was no
longer debonnair and careless-he had
grown earnest and grave, almost to
sternness. Every now and then there
was "A weary note in his voice which
wrung the old lady's heart; she grew
each moment more confused and alb
stracted. He became aware of this,
and. thinking that she was weak from
recent Illness, and therefore unfit for
conversation, he presently rose to take
his leave.
IL am firing you," he said, 80 ] will
60. I have finished all the business
Ioun bora I no m TOWN to-mQrroxv