Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1896-04-10


At last she said good-by, and the Sis
ters pulled the parlor, shades down
again and went up to their room,
where they Invested themselves oil
their adornmcnts, and put on their
wrappers to go on with their ironing
f, Not until this was done did Amelia
say:
"Didn't the postman bring letter,
Amanda?"
eyes," replied her sister. It's from
some lawyer"
Amanda laid the letter OH the table.
| and the young women looked at each
other sorrowfully.
'rhe little house was very plain, out
:hey had been born there, their par
ents had died there, and then they
hardly knew how they should feel
without that small property, OF, IN
deed, how they should live.
Then sitting down together on a
chintz-covered lounge, they began to
read. As they did so, the expression
OF their faces slowly changed. They
began to utter little "Ohs' and "Ahs."
and rs they came to the bottom OF the
last page, they dropped the letter on
the table and Rugged each other.
do you think we are awake" asked
Miss Amelia.
81 am" said Amanda. 81 feel as if
the idea of losing our home had been
Il bad dream. But, dear me! we ought
| TO haze trusted in Providence. Pa was
a righteous man and ma Christian
woman, and some one in the Bible says:
q was young. and now I'm old, but
never have 1 seen the righteous for
saken or his children begging bread.
I know I'm not quoting just right. but
it's close to it. I had no idea Great
uncle Peter, whom we never saw i'll
our lives, would leave us anything
Nor J." said Amelia. "And how
strange: it's just about enough to pay
off the mortgage and our journey to
New York, and little more. Well, we
might buy us bonnets while we are
down." She picked up the letter and
read it again, and they went on talking
till late in the afternoon, and that day
10 more ironing was done by the Misses
Perry.
Gossips in general, and Mrs. Bccler's
mother in particular, wondered greatly
what could take Miss Amelia away. and
why they did not cnlighten their neigh
bors as to the why and wherefore of
their departure.
When at last they returned, each
bearing Il handbook and several parcels,
as we'll as their travelling bags, the mys-
terry deepencd. They were evidently
in high spirits, and nodded and smiled
on all they met. Miss Amelia took the
keys out of her pocket and opened the
door, and both entered. Everybody
saw that, but they saw no more.
When the sisters had taken off their
travelling wraps, locked up q large pack
age OF bank notes, and tried on their
new bonnets, Amanda said:
~ suppose the folks think we are
going to disappoint them about those
dishes for the fair and we'd better
get them down and wash them. It's
Saturday, and We'll have hard work
to get them done by night. The fair
opens Monday noon, and of course we
are not going to break the Sabbath
Then, arraycd in their wrappers,
Amanda and Amelia explored cup
boards and pantries, went up into the
attic and down into the cellar, and final
~, having piled plates and bowls, cups
saucers and pitchers on tables, chairs
and window stills, until the little
kitchen looked like china shop. they
began to wash and polish them.
my, how close it is here!" said Miss
Amanda, suddenly. ''Do raise win
dow, Mely.''
Amelia obeyed, and turned to her sis
ter, laughing.
Here's the plaid cloak coming" she
said.
"Glad to know it for once" said
Amanda.
Eyes, 1 never thought I should be
glad to see the McMurtry plaid at the
door," said Amelia. I'LL go and get the
money"
She ran upstairs, and came down to
find Mrs. McMurtry sitting on chair
in the kitchen.
eyes" the latter was saying, 81 heard
you'd come home, and I thought I'd cal
and have a little talk about our troubles.
I shall hate to do what I've got to do y
eyes, I'm really sorry for you," sait
; Amelia, beginning to wipe dish.
Mrs. McMurtry looked surprised.
II suppose you feel it is serious, and
have done your BEST" she said.
II don't seem to mind much,' said
Amelia. laughing. II don't look wor,
ried, do II"
''Now, Nelly, don't tease,'' said
Amanda. And Amelia threw her great
towel over her arm and dipped her
hand into her pocket and drew GU,
q great roll of banknotes. a.
"You see we've no reason to fret: and
: we can pay you to-day. We've had a leg
acy, and it just covers what we owe
YOU" She laughed.
"Well, I'm as glad as you are" said
Mrs. McMurtry, as Amelia counted out
the money and laid it on the table at her
elbow. "And III run to Lawyer Smith:
and get the papers and receipts. Take
care, Miss Amelia, take care, you'v.
dropped four notes Oh the floor-you're
real nervous. Aren't you? So am ]