Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1898-08-25

Sic lSs uul Sue Keeps leIScll 81 Ncll
in hand always that 1t Is difficult to
tell. am sure Mrs. Gardiner Is an.
noycd at my success, but l don't care
for that. She always seems to consid
err Judy put upon in some way, and
Claude will propose? How glad moth
or will be when she knows 1t is not
Judy he wants, but me! Grace will he
delighted. too, for she said 1t was high
time l married"
Her revcrie was brought to an end
by Judith's voice addressing her.
elsie dear, 1t is just half an hour
since l spoke to you"
lis itw-with Indifference. ''Well.
think III so and practice for an hour,
for papa is out in the garden, so there
Will be no fear of my disturbing him.
and II few minutes later Judy heard
the tones of the piano and her sisters
sweet voice singing. "l'or Ever and for
Ever" the refrain Of which haunted
her.
Judith rested her weary head on her
hand for Il moment. murmuring to her
self, with more sadness than bitterness
or envy:
"Yes-for ever and for evcr-sewing,
cooking. looking ut every penny before
l spend it. dreading the amount of the
weekly bills. anticipating mothers
quarterly income. anNiously waiting
for the success or non-SucccsS OF papa's
books. but never satisfying any one.
For ever and for ever" No. thank
Heaven-not for cver-l shall die some
day. 1t is cowardly. perhaps. to think
Of that, but it is so lonely, so drcary
ut times"
The tears started to her eyes: but
She shut her teeth and clenched her
hands dctcrminedly, and by the time
Elsie had chosen another song, sing
ing W it'll all her heart
"Ol, how delightful-oh. how entranc-
From this dull thralaom so soon to be
free
Judith had set 10 work again, and
worked steadily. until interrupted by
the entrance OF the servant.
III you please. miss. Mr. John is up,
and would like to have his crayons.
for he feels inclined to sketch. And
the misSis' arms ares very bad this
morning: she will be glad il you will
come and rub them. offered to do it,
but she wouldn't let me-"
So Judith sent John his Sketching
materials and went upstairs to her
mother. Having rubbed the afflicted
arms and assisted her to dress, she
helped her down into the dining room,
and, harving made her comfortable ON
the sofa, went to the kitchen to Ire
pare Mrs. Hatfeld's luncheon.
1116ith noScAd tbrorrl, tJ,o 1,oN
her father came in from the garden.
He was spare man. of medium hight,
with a gray head and clever. clean
shaven face. AS his absent-looking
eyes fell upon his eldest daughter, he
said. with IL smile:
Don't go into the garden. Judy. or
you will interrupt most interesting
and important Observation-Disclosures
is there with Elsie. He came over to
sec me. and. having obtained my con-
sent. is clinching the affair. OF course.
YOU guess what that means. 1t is a
great relief to me, Judy. for l have
been worrying myself with the idea
that b" came to see you. We can't
spare ;au, my darling he added. as
lie G'it l.. kiss the girl--'':;;i,l, after
ali. <:';;;',':.se is Il mere lottery. Where
is y::i: A.":her!! The news will please
her. e. she hns been as much con-
cerneC q: the contemplated less OF her
righl.naEd as i have"
''Mo':'ci' is IN the dining rco'n," Jul
dith answered, with smile that cost
her a greater pang than her father
guessed at, aud passed on into the
Kitchen.
For moment she stood by the table
with deadened senses; but 4 minute
after she had conquered he: weakness,
and was busyins ::nfself lin preparing
the invalid's luncheon. When she
took it into the dining room. She found
her father and mother talking in ap-
parently the highest spirits; and the
latter said, more cheerf,llly and kindly
than she had spoken to her daughter
in many weeks:
(To be Continued.)