Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1897-11-04

Come and sit by me, n let me LOOK
at you, my child."
And she led Elite to another sofa,
Immediately under a gas-light, and,
making her sit quite close to herself,
| threw her arm around her, and. TO
| Elites infinite confusion, looked stead
lily i'm her face, saying. as h perused
each feature OF that blushing counter
nee:
Eyes; you are like your mother.
You have the same Celtic style OF
features, the same glittering jet-biack
hair. the same burning-black eyes, and
| the same glowing crimson cheeks and
lips, Yes: you are like your mother,
and she was as like her father as a girl
could be TO n man. How old are you,
my darlingy'
II shall be sixteen on the first of
August said Elite, trembling.
"a summer-child: just what your
mother was at your age, / could al
most imagine il was my W Esther
sitting beside me. You are just at the
age she was when--oh, Esther!
Esther. Esther cried the lady. sud
denly overcome by what seemed q
paroxysm of remorseful love.
Elite began TO cry. partly from nerv-
BUSINESS, partly from fright, and part
ly from sympathy. And she had no
pocket handkerchief to wipe away her
tears, having left hers spread over the
bottom of the elegant chair upon
which she had sat in the Darlor. So
Elite rubbed her fists into her eyes in
stead.
There, do not weep, my dear" said
the lady, taking down the little hands.
& A1 this iS lnnn naSf on1 cannot now
be mended. Think Of something else
my love, Tell me about your journey.
Was it very disagreeahleF"
"Oh. no. ma'am, it was beautiful,
/ was delighted all the way: first,
with the lovely steamboat, and then
with the grand train, and now with
this magnificent city,"
You are an enthusiast, my dear
Elite. all. yes, like our mother and
her father. But you look tired, child.
/ will ring for cook to send up tea
here, and then you shall go to your
room.' And the lady arose and rang
the bell.
'If you please, ma'am," said Elite,
and then she stopped and blushed.
What, Elite? Speak, dear! what is
itY
W. va hAAa bAhf - sfCNs@'
like to see my grandmother first
"Your-what did you say, my dear
Ettieg'
II said, IL you please. ma'am, l
should like to see my grandmother
first. That is, If she has not gone to
bed: because | know she expects me
tonight; but If she is zone to bed, l
would not disturb her for the whole
world"
Your grandmother, did you say, my
dear?'
yes. ma'am, please"
"Why, Elite, is it possible that you
do not know that | am your grand
motherg" inquired the lady, in aston
ishment.
You my grandmother said Elite,
half-angry at what she took to be an
ill-timed joke. "Oh, no, ma'am, |
know better than that, too, if l was
brought up in the woods! You could
not possibly be my grandmother
why, Elite, why notT' asked the
lady. amused at the perfect sincerity
of Elites manne
Because. ma'am, you are a beauti-
full young lady" said Elite, glancing
mt the blooming face and sunny curls.
plump, white neck and graceful arms
of her hostess-"and my own nice,
dear, good grandmother is quite an old
lady, with hair as white as cotton. and
she wears an old-fashioned black
bombazine gown, with a white muslin
inside handkerchief, and a large black
silk apron and black lace mitts, and n
nice white cap tied close under her
chin. and also sp~ectacles."
But, my dear, who gave you this
minute description of your grand
mother?' inquired the lady, highly
amused.
Nobody at all, ma'am: but l had
seen a great many grandmothers in
our neighborhood. If l never had one
before, and SO, you see, allowing for
the difference between country and
town, 1t was very easy for me to fig
ure out what my own dear odd grand
mother would look like; and l am
quite sure l should know her among
n thousand!'
The lady for a moment forgot the
grief that lay heavy at the bottom of
her heart, and laughed a low, silvery
little laugh, as she said:
THAT grandmother that you have
described Is the creation of your own
fancy only-a fictitious grandmother;
i am the real one. Can you not be-
liave it?"
"No, ma'am." replied Elite. stoutly:
because, as / said before. you are a
beautiful young lady, i'm a splendid
evening dress, with low neck and bare
arms. And my grandmother is a very
old lady, in n black gown, white cap
and spectacles."
MY love, what was her anne ~
laughed the lady.
Mrs. Gertrude Courtney Greville."
"'That is my name, child"
"Ma'am." said Elite, with rising
wrath, IF l am a simple country girl,
/ know one thing; l know it is Meth
err kind o lady-like to try to hoax a
poor orphan who is longing for her
grandmother. by telling her such sto-
ries! But you cannot humbug me in
that way. I am not to be sold at that
price. And. so far from being my
grandmother, you cannot even be my
maiden aunt"
"Your maiden aunt? BY the way. l
will introduce you to your maiden
aunt. Celeste!' said the lady. laugh.
ing and addressing her French maid,
who was busy in another part of the
ranrn ssrn anI CIV RI Miss Howard