Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1897-05-13

be back IN minute. said Winnie. mn,
rying along.
When she returned Mrs. Alden W..
coming out of the gate with bonne, ava
cloak on. you won't have to s,,n
more than an hour, she said us she nm,
on her gloves, ''for Mr.. Alden will como
home at g. and. giving Winnie 4 few
directions, she fastened away.
Old Mr.. Alden was in one of his mo,
ancholy moods and insisted. in spite q,
Winnie's prOtestations. that he had
outlived his usefulness; that he tool
no comfort In life and was only a bur.
den and an expense; that eyerybo,v
would be better off and happier if he
was out of the way; that he ought to
have died years before, and the Lord
had surely forgotten him.
Winnie knew the old gentleman was
fond of telling stories Of his younger
days, and so, when there came a LITTLE
pause in his lamentations, she artfullv
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 IA.
vorite horse he had once owned, and
Winnie was listening as interestedly AZ
though she had not heard ,lready tho
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 eli.
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 mi st eat something,
80 she toasted more bread and ate II
while he started a new story, which
she had heard only once before
This was a longer one and it branch.
ed off into so many other stories that
it was almost 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
smikhg-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 90
with her, though she told him she
wasn't the least bit afraid. Indeed
she would have preferred to so alone
for young Mr.. Alden was so polite and
dignified and knew so very much that
she stood good deal 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 line. and so she asked him
timidly about them.
Now it happened that astronomy had
always been favorite study with
young Mr.. Alden and he not only an
swered Winnie's question gladly, but
stood for several minutes after they
had reached the gate. telling her about
the different consultations.
Then he thanked her cOurteously 70,
staying with his father, bade 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 lamp and went upstairs to her
room to bed.
So ended the day for Winnie Smith.
and she fell asleep, never suspecting
that she had gift or dreaming that
she was otherwise than a most ordi
nary, commonplace kind Of GIRL
Outlook.