Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1897-07-16

behind her and only years of bare, lone
ly life before her, this girl seemed the
embodiment of all that should have
been hers and never was. She felt for
one fierce moment as if she almost hated
her. A strange, frightened look came
into her eyes as she recognized the
feeling. She forced herself to speak
quietly.
''You go lie down." she said; "I'll
wake you in time"
IF you really can spare me-" she
said, in a bewildered way.
Spare you," said Miss Alvira, scorn-
fully. 81 could do in an hour all you've
done to-day. You do as [ tell YOU
The girl obeyed without word. She
lay down on the old haircloth sofa on
the other side of the room. Miss AL
vira brought a pillow from the bedroom
and awkwardly tried to fix it under
her head; then she sat down by the
window and began sewing. She sat
very stiff and straight, and her stitches
were firm and even. Jessie, lying pas
prm little figure with it's uncompro-
missing, almost defiant, air. closed her
eyes wearily. 1t tired her to watch her.
In a few minutes the girl was fast
asleep.
Miss Alvira put aside her sewing,
quilting her needle neatly in the work,
and then went over to the sofa and
stood looking down at the girl She
was more beautiful than ever in her
sleep, for one saw only the witchery of
the exquisite curves of lashes and
cheeks and chin, and the delicate
beauty of her coloring, and did not feel
the lack of expression. Miss Alvira
stood for long time studying it ALL
Then she turned away with sort of a
groan.
She went back to her place by the
window, but she did not take up her
sewing. Then the sun had slipped far
Their to the west, and a cool, gray shad-
ow was creeping over the tiny yard.
The fence was no longer dazzling white.
A tiny breeze had sprung up and was
lifting the head of flower here and
there. Miss Alvira folded her hands and
sat up straighter than ever. She was
going to fight this thing out.
Its George Harkins she MEANS" she
said. Hes a likely young fellow; he'll
be real good to her, guess, and she'll
have an easy life of it and grow pref.
tier and happier every day. And here's
me, Alvirey Simpkins, jest living here
in this little box of place, making
the covering for other folks lives and
havin' no life of my own. It's all SO
narrer and scrimpy; I allus did hate
working in pint pot. My very name
sounds like snippings nothing new
and fresh" Suddenly she sat up
straighter and spoke louder, as if to
some invisible opponent. look here.
Alvirey Simpkins-what are you going
to do about it? Do you suppose moping
around and wishing you were young
again and had other peoples big eyes
and black hair is going to make things
any better? And what would you do
with man tagging round all the time,
I'd like to know? Twould fret you to
death. and you know it. Amt you a
heap better off earning your own living
in your own way and not being be-
holden to nobody? You know you are"
Her voice changed from it's fierce con-
tempt, and there was pleading tone
in it no one had ever heard; she would
not have recognized it herself. But it's
the loneliness of it," she said, ''nights
and rainy days, and times when the wind
is bowling across the sward, and not a
soul comes in, and there's nothing but
the clock ticking, till it seems as if l
should go wild. And I can't stop it,
neither. I tried it once, and twas SO
still it scared me. l never could bear
to have cat under foot, even if it would
be company. I wanted suthin' human
and understanding. 1t doesn't seems
if that was so wicked.'
The usefulness in her tone crept into
her figure; there was something hum
bic and pleading in her whole atti
,ude. 1t was only for second, how
ever; then she strai ghtened up and
spoke in her old, quick, scornful man.
nCr.
"Well, didn't think you was sech
poor, meching thing as that. Alvirey
Amt people ever lived alone
before you, I want to know? And be-
sides,' changing to grave seriousness,
81 s'pose, someways, there isn't love
enough to go round. Can't you stand it
better than pretty, useless little thing
like that?"
The summer days passed as if in
dream after that. There was an I'M
reality about them that confused and
abashed Miss Alvira, who had been used
to dealing with plain facts, and facts
alone; but she had never in her life
been so happy as she was in that sum-
mer romance. Her very face changed
under its touch. The neighbors could
not understand. but they all spoke of
it, and said how well Alvirey was look
ing.
After that night Jessie told her every
thing. The girl was scarcely more than
a child, and had to tell some one, and
she could have had no better or safer
confidante.
1t was strange friendship, truly, but |
night after night Miss Alvira would |
IL. L