Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1897-12-02
CHATTER 1.

tN ot'tt - flftA "
brows were knitted, giving TO her dark
face almost an expression of pain, as
She contemplated the graceful girlish
figure in a %lounging chair by the win.
dow ia the full rays of the litful April
sun. But would it not be wiser to
employ your hands. too?'
a laughing glance being the only re.
Spouse. Judith replaced her work on
the sewing machine and set ii in mo-
tiCn again. For several minutes its
ceaseless whirr was the only sound in
the room: but that Judith's thoughts
Were as busy as her idle sisters her
anxious face betrayed.
The subject of Elsie's meditations
was pleasant, judging by the smile
playing about her pretty lips and in
her turquise-blue eyes. Elsie had IA
lover-a man combining the attributes
of good looks, large means and com-
parative youth-though as yet undc-
clared. Although she was twenty-five,
and avowedly the prettiest girl in Clav-
ton, she had not yet had Il formal de-
claration. All the men in Claxton adj
mired her; she never wanted Il partner
at a dance or a cavalier mt any other
entertainment; she vas deferred TO
and spoken of as the swcetest-tem-
pered, fairest-faced girl they knew.
But Elsie was fond of pleasure and
pretty dresses. though she would never
have n penny to bless herself with.
and her poverty kept many would-be
suitors at a distance.
Claude Townshend, however, was
sufficiently well OFF to be Indifferent to
the fact that she would have no dow
ry, and, though Elsie only liked him,
she was contented to take what the
gods provided and be thankful. Be-
sides. there was something else most
hattcring In the eontest-she had cut
out Judith.
Elsie had spent Christmas in London
with her married sister: and while
there Claude Townshend. who had
bought a neighboring residence called
'The Priory," came to Claxton and
took possession. OF course everybody
called upon the wealthy bachelor, and
among others. Elsie's father. The Wis
1t was returned. and Mr.. Townshend
saw grave-faced, stately Judith. with
whom he seemed strnck. AT any rate.
when Elsie returned home, In Febru-
arr. she was surprised at the indeiina-
BILE air of mystery IN the methodical
household.
What's the matter, JUDITH she
asked that night, when the two girls
We're in their own room.
THE natter" echoed Judith. Il
don't understand you, my dear
why, papa is fractions,
laughs with me one minute and signs
the next, Jack is surly, while you seem
freer from anxious thought than usu-
al.
You would not have me look
grumpy on the first night of your
homecoming. Elsie?'
.Gf course not; tllough'-with n
quick sigh am an addition TO the
housekeeping expenses, Judy"
You don't make much difference.
dear
well, | certainly have not an apre-
tite like the boys or growing Lucy. So
nothing ont of the COMMON has hap
pened while | have been away Well,
really, looking at you all tonight.
had a notion that you had good news
of some sort for me. AT first | had IN
idea that paDa's book vas proving o
greater success than it appeared to be-
Mr.. Hatfield was an author, who
would have been more successful had
his energies been equal to his brain
power-.but his grumpiness soon dis
sipated that pleasant notion. Then
thought that perhaps some IL was
going to do something for Frank or
Berthe
well, don't trouble your head about
anything tonight. Elsie" Judith re-
Piled, IF there had been any pleasant
thing to tell you, should have done SO
before this"
"Candidly, l was awful sorry to have
to come home. Judy"-and Elsie sighed
again-"for the life / have been living
since Christmas suited me admirably.
l envy Grace: Percy Is so cookbook
ing and so fond of her. her home Is SO
jolly. and she seems so happy. having
nothing, apparently, to wish for, and
she looks as young as L; no one would
think she was thirty"
"You-you don't think they are cx-
t%rayagant, do you, Elsie!"
"Ol, dear. no. Grace is almost as
model . housekeeper as you are. By
the-by. ,ne was talking about you one
day, and said YOU ought to 90 and
spend n few days with her for q
change
Il must try to manage it some day"
returned judith. c.~fecf1ully.
Grace hoped she would be able to
get me off your hands-that is why l
stayed so long" continued Elsie. sleep
lily. as she turned to get into bed; "blt.
though Percy's friends were very nice
and attentive, they did not mean bust
ness-not even Captain Herbert, whom
j have mentioned TO you several times
IN my letters"
$50 many times that l thought you
would have Jews TO tell us when you
came home"
"No, Judy"-sighing-"and / liked
him better than any one l ever knew.
Grace thinks he cared for me; but he
has only his pay. and i will have to
marry money, for his people. although
In good position, are not wealthy. |
wonder how it Is that men always
want money with their wives? Percy
must have been quite an exception to
the rule"
~ hope not. for your sake" respond
ed Judith. with a quiet little smile,
and with just a faint wonder whether
some one with a pair of dark eyes
which had looked very often into her
own OF late, was as dislnterested as lie
seemed.
Judith was not yet ware OF her love
for Claude Vnwnshqpd nor WAS sha