The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1897-07-02

no hack IN q minute" said Winnie. hur-
ryIng s'ong 49,. as
when she returned Mrs. Alden was
coming out OF the gate with bonnet anu
cloak on. "You won't have TO stay
more than an hour. she said as she put
on her gloves. "for Mr.. Alden Will come
home at q" and. giving Winnie a te"
directions. she hastened away.
Old Mr.. Alden was in one OF MS mel,
ancholy moods and insisted. IN spite 0,
Wjnnie's protestatlons, that he hau
outllved his usefulness; that he LOOK
no comfort in life and was only Dur
den and an expense; that everybody
would be better off and happier II ne
was out Of the way; that he ought 10
have died years before, and the Loru
had surely forgotten him.
Winnie knew the old gentleman was
fond of telling stories OF his younger
DAYS. and so, when there came little
pause in his lamentations. she artfully
led up TO the subject Of those same
younger days, and It was hardly any
time at all before the old man was tell
Ing with great gusto the story OF RAJ
vorite horse he had once owned, and
Winnie was listening as interestedly as
though she had not heard 'lready the
same story at least three times.
1t was long in the telling. and when.
the end was reached and old Mr.. Alden
was laughing in great glee over the cli7
max It was time t. get his tea WIN
ME toasted his bread and made the tea
by the sitting-room fire. Then, when.
young Mr.. Alden did not come, old Mr.,
Alden said Winnie M st eat something,
so she toasted more bread and ate IL
while he started a new story, which
she had heard only once before.
This was longer one and II branch
ed Off into so many other stories that
It was almost S o'clock before it was
finished.
Just then young Mr.. Alden came. He
had been delayed and was exceedingly
tired and dispirited, having been sorely
tried by a foolish witness and lost his
case-for he was a lawyer. He had
dreaded coming into his own house to
see his fathers mournful visage and
hear his querulous complainings.
When, therefore, he found his father
fairly radiant with cheerfulness, with
a smiling-faced girl sitting beside him,
he sank into a chair and drew deep
breath of relief.
When Winnie explained why she was
there and rose to go he rose also to go
with her, though she told him she
wasn't the least bit afraid. Indeed,
she would have preferred to go alone,
for young Mr.. Alden was so polite and
dignified and knew so very much that
she stood a good deai in awe of him.
As they walked along she wished she
could think of something to say to
him. The stars were shining and 1t
suddenly occurred to her that she had
forgotten the names of three very
bright stars that were always close to-
gether in a line, and so she asked him
timidly about them.
Now 1t happened that astronomy had
/ diWdlS httu ldNOIllt SluuN WIFI
young Mr.. Alden and he not only an
swered Winnies question gladly, but
stood for several minutes after they
had reached the gate. telling her about
the different consultations.
Then he thanked her courteously foT
staying with his father, babe her good
night and went back. looking up at the
stars and feeling rested and refreshed
Winnie tripped up the walk and into
the house, also thinking of the stars.
After she had had little talk with
her mother and gone to look adoringly
at the baby sleeping in his crib Winnie
lit a lamp and went upstairs 10 hel
room to bed.
SO ended the day for Winnie Smith
and she fell asleep. never suspectlna
that she had a gift or dreaming that
she was otherwise than a most ordi
nary, commonplace kind of a girl
Outlook.