Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1896-07-23

left home. 1 was fery myself, ana
mebbe unreasonable at times. She
went amongst friends, and I kept think.
ing we'd make 1t up, and I'd get her,
back again; but I put 1t or and two
years went by.
"Well, one day there came a letter
from her saying she was going to be
married next week to an Italian as had
a shop to sell fggers. That was Just a
little too much, expecting all along to
do well by her, as l was. l writ and
said she could choose betwixt him and
me; I didn't wish no s0n-in-law, least of
all an Italian, and II she want back in
less'n a fortnight, she needn't ever
show. herself here again."
Sorrow and obstinacy, resentment
and tenderness, struggled in the old
mans face; I understood now why the
neighbor considered him queer"
'She didn't come-of course; and I,
won't say l haven't made some inquir.
les since I cooled down, but they moved
and moved again, till l lost track O
them altogether-it's eight years ON
May"
BY this time we had reached the
house, and Mr.. Huntington took out a
rusty key and let me in at the FROM
door. There was some little furniture,
a few carpets and a kitchen stove; but
these signs Of former comfort sc ,med
to increase the dreariness Of The tomb
like air and the echoing, damp-stnined
walls. An eerie feeling crept over me
as l peeped into one room after another,
~untenanted except by spiders and
waspS.
We mounted the stairs. and a look Of
irrepressible disappointment deepened
the lines in the old mans face as he
entered ''Esther's chamber" and found
it quite empty, forsaken and mournful
like all the rest.
II am afraid, sir, that you VIII have
to give up the search" l said.
But the old man crossed to the win
dow, and looking down, uttered a sud-
den exclamination. In the thick dust
that covered the window-sill lay the
unmistakable prints of a woman's fin
gertips. .
Cali that a ghost. do you?" he asked,
with an odd. tremulous ~elation; and his
eye kindled.
Descending to the kitchen, he opened
the stove and thrust In his hand. The
ashes there were still warm-there
were live sparks among them.
Depend upon it she was here no
later than this morning-got in through
the back kitchen window, most likely,
and spent the night here. She can't
have gone far. and I'll be up with her
within tw%enty-four hours. She must
ha' felt a hankerin' to have a sight o"
the old place. Poor girl, il she looks
like that picter O. yours she's had 1rou-
BILE enough"
At the foot of the hill we parted-he
to make a house-to-house pilgrimage
in search Of his d%aughtea, l to hasten
back to the school with my head full
of romance. AS l entered the yard, one
Of the girls came flying out to meet
me.
Quick, Lu," she cried, 'get your
camera! We have such a picturesque
subject for you, around by the SER
wants entrance. We inveigled her in,
and have all been wasting our pocket
money on shoestrings and impossible
letter paper, OF purpose to keep her
for you. Quick! Don't wait to take of
your hat"
A m with a little gay-colored
shawl pinned over her head. after the
fashion Of Italian street-venders, sat
patiently on the step, while the kind
hearted girls were fast emptying the
two valises that lay open beside her.
The black braids were hidden now; ex-
posture and WEAKNESS were stamped on
the features.
But I recognized the face in an in
stant-it was Mr.. Turkington's Esther
Utica Globe.