Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1897-11-22

Kissing the baby, George, which she
had asked to have placed beside her.
she motioned Mile to take him.
When she put him in Miles arms,
and around her, she smiled, turned her
head and died.
George was just six months old
then. After the funeral Mile brought
the four little ones home with her,
and then sent for Fred Derrin.
No one ever heard word of that
interview; but Fred Derrin never
called again; and he left the village
the next week-the day on which he
was to have been married.
Smilingly Mile turned from the
path which promised to be so fioWery,
to the thorny one of duty. If tears
fell ON the bridal dress, which she
folded carefully and put away, no one
ever knew it, and never once did she
regret making the sacrifice. She kept
her word and was indeed mother to
the children; working for them early
and late; and as the people of the vii
lage said, 'they were a credit to her. !"
The three girls had married WELL
and left the old farm house years ago.
George, the baby, Mile thought
would stay with her; but he was a
great disappointment. She loved him
because he was Hates boy; but he
was selfish and ungrateful, never ap-
preciating Aunt Miles kindness and
| care.
Thus the years had passed. Mile
had done her duty we'll; but she felt
very lonely as she sat in the rocking
/ chair knitting on this Thanksgiving
eve. If George had cared more for her
she would not have minded so much;
| but he never even wrote regularly,
and often she waited months for re-
ply to her letters.
| She tried to make herself believe
that it was to see her he was coming
home. She knew better though; 1t
was the money of which she had writ
| ten.
| Some time before, a distant relative
died in Australia and left his money
to Millie. She wrote and told George
about it, saying, as she had no faith
in banks, she would keep it in the
box he used to- call "Aunt Miles
bank" and some day it would be his.
The girls were very we'll to do, and
she thought it would please Kate if
she knew that the farm and money
were left to George He answered
that letter without delay, and urged
dear Aunt Mile to put the money in
/ a bank Letters came quite frequent
ly after that; and the last one con-
tanned the announcement that he and
his wife were coming to visit Aunt
Mile.
He often wanted to come, he said,
but never found time before; and he
was anxious to have his aunt see his
wife. He talked so much of Aunt
MiIIie that she wanted to know her.
Strange said Aunt Mile, that it
only lust occurred to Nellie that she
would like to see Georges aunt, and
the horne of his childhood but | am
glad they are coming; perhaps George
has changed. I shall try to- Like his
wife. Kite would want me to- love her
for Georges sake.
1t was past four o'clock now, and
they would arrive at five, so Aunt
Mile put away her knitting, gave a
few finishing touches to the table and
sat down to wait for them.
She had not waited long when the
click of the gate caused her to look
out. But that could not be George
that tall handsome man-yes, and that
was his wife.
Aunt Mile went out on the porch
to meet them; George kissed her amt
told her how delighted he was to- be
back to the old place again. Then he
introduced his wife. Aunt Mile just
stared at her for a moment; where had
she seen those eyes before? Her smile
too, recalled some one whom Mile
had surely seen before. "She was SO
pleased to meet dear Aunt Mile, she
was sure she would love her.
But Aunt Mile was not quite so
sure, and she didn't think she was
very glad they came after all.
After supper they told Aunt MiIIie
of their home in California. George
had been quite prosperous, but he was
not rich by amy means.
Several times he approached the
subject of the money, but Aunt Mile
avoided it, She was sure now that 1T
was not love for her that had brought
George, though he tried to make her
believe that he was so happy to be
with her again, and even said they
wanted her to go to California and
make her home with them.
When they had gone to their room,
Aunt Millie thought it all over. No,
George had not changed-and his wife,
what was there about her that recalled
the past? She did not think Nellie
looked over pleased when George
spoke of her going back with them.
'Well, she need not be afraid. shall
not CO." Ard A~~+ Willie fell asleep
and dreamed that she was standing
beside Kates bed again, and Fred
Derrin and George were there. She
was awakened by the sound of hurry