Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1897-11-18
CHAPTER LvIII.

master, had given il Il thorough reno
walton, and made ii really pleasant.
Astrea. with a conyalescent's eager
hess for outdoors, wandered all day
long about the grounds. She had no
one 10 restrain or advise her. and so
she wen, out early and stayed out late
every day, until at last. in her feeble
condition, she tool a cold, hat once
mere confined her TO her room.
1t was late one afternoon that sire
was sitting In the easy chair, beside
the back window of her chamber,
watching the crimson. purple and gold
en- clouds that canopied SO royalty the
setting SUI when she heard the sound
of wheels upon the drive, and present
ly the noise of a large arrival. There
We're two carriages stopped before the
door, which discharged their passen-
gers; then followed the entrance Of
many people into the hall; the sound
of soft. silvcry voices, mingled with
rougner tones; and the humping drop
Of many heavy trunks and boxes upon
the foor. by these tokens true AS
trea felt sure that the new master and
his family had arrived.
Some OF the party went up stairs,
III tAACf 4 Y Il W. w
hind them.
Othcrs-ladies they seemcd-went
into the front chamber adjoining her
own. Here their silvery voices Were
once more heard giving directions re-
garding the location OF their luggage.
Their words and tones In speaking to
THE servants were gentle and courte-
Gus. That argued well OF them. Some
vtv,,. sAnCcnI sp ,x.lf,1, 10 panyaaI that
they changed their travelling dresses:
and then I'll went out together and en-
tered the drawing room. Next Astrea
heard the servants carrying In the tea,
and then "the soft tinkle of silver
spoons upon china saucers," and the
CHEEKY voices that usually are heard
around the tea-table. An hour passed
thus. And then she heard the serv-
ants remove the tea service. And
tl.en in a few moments, to her great
relief, Vents entered the ROOM, bring
ing her supper.
Sc dey's come at last" said Venus,
as she set the cup of coffee and plate
OF buttered toast beside Astre: 'and,
honey, | takes back all / ever said
ag'iD 'em, even IL dey are ole marse's
'lations, deed I do.'
Then yen like the new MASTER"
Astrea inquired.
Honey, de new marsc is n missus,
an a proper lady. too, as she HAYES
herself like a lady. an knows how TO
treat human creeturs as sich, an not
AZ dogs"
..Who is she, and what is her Manner
'tl5& honey, how | knew who she is.
mcTEE she's ole marser's heiress? An
as for her name. / amt heard II yet"
WHO was with her? There seemed
to BE several ladies. Who are they?'
Her chillun. honey. her chillun:
she's deir nloder. dough she do look
more like DER sister"
Astrea. with the interest natural TO
one in her position, asked many more
questions about the newly-arriyed par
~. anil when they had been satisfact-
orily answered, feeling weak and
weary. size retired TO bed. Venus, who
still occupied her place on the mat
tress beside Astrea's bedstead, soon
followed her example. About 10 she
heard the ladies enter the adjoining
room ind 60 to rest. Then, as nothing
more disturbed her during the night.
she went to sleep.
Early in the morning. Astrea, feel
Ing much recovered, arose and dressed
herself. She was, In truth. very anx-
ious to be introduced as soon as possi-
bic to the new mistress. SO as to tell
her story, IL perchance ii might gain
credit, and thus to learn her fate.
Venus, as usual, brought her break
fast to her room, and told her that the
new mistress and her party were also
nit breakfast in the dining room.
Astrea drank her chocolate and ate
her muffin, and then awaited with im-
patience an opportunity of speaking
to the new proprietor. From time to
time during the morning. Venus put
her head in at the door to report prog
ress. Once she said:
"Missus done ser pos haste for de
lawyer" And another .ine she an
nounced:
"Marse Lawyer FILLMORE done rived;
an he an de madame In de parlor sit
tin at de center table wild n whole
raft o. papers before dem"
Upon another occasion she looked in
and said:
.'Missus rcadin' over a list o. field
hams" Late In the afternoon she en-
tered the room and announced:
de lawyer is gone. DE madam an
de young ladies is in de parlor. DE
madam been lookin' over a list of de
house servants. an has had cherry one
OF us up before her, one at n time, to
speak to an get 'qrainted wild, like.
An now she has jes' AK for de girl
Fora, which she means you. honey, an
she wants you to come in immedi-
ate"
''She Is in the parlor, you sahiy' in
quired Astrea, rising.
''Sittin' in dere wild de young Ia
dies"
Astrea went for a moment to the
glass. smoothed her hair. adjusted her
dress, and passed directly to the par
lor.
AS she entered, her eyes fell upon n
striking group. Upon the sofa that
stood between the two front windows,
was seated a stately and beautiful
woman. whose bright, golden hair and
fair. radiant complexion were well set
off by her rich mourning dress. Be
side her, and leaning caresslngly upon
her shoulder sat a lovely young girl,
who, in features and coniplexion,. SO
closely resemblcd the lady that strang-
ers would haze taken them for sisters.
Upon n cushion at the lady's feet, sal
n little. dark, sparkling kind Of a crca-
ture, whose crimson cheek rested upon
the lady's lap, but whose head was