Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1898-11-03

shadow OF her former Seif-had been
rescued from the very gates OF death
to take her old place in her c~hildhood's
home. her mother had welded almost
absoluta auth rlty ever her and ali that
she possessed.
II was so easy to rule the weak, spir-
itless invalid. whose nerves had brok-
On down under her severe trials, n
who shrank even from the sound OF
friendly voices. the sight of Ditying
faces nay, W. ever from the light
of day. Her only prayer was that she
might be left in solitude TO nurse her
morbid grief.
Never was unloved husband more
deeply ard sincerely moLrned. Per
ilaps the very Consciousness that VIII rc
her vows were plighted her love had
rot been given. added n sting Of re-
morsefGl passion 10 the girls grief.
Might and day, sleeping and waking,
that scene on board the steamer was
| re-elacted before her aching eyes; II
she WAS eve haunted by the %reproach-
FIJI tenderness of Herbert Santley's last
glance, ard by the passionate pleading
Of his last words:
"rromise me that you VIII neither
hate me nor my memory
But, breeding over the one great hor-
ror that possessed her, she fell into II
dull, heavy apathy and listlessness,
from whicl, Ruth failed, and Mrs, Leg
or did not exert herself. To arouse her.
Indeed. 1t was so delightful for the
powcr-loylng mother to have the whole
management of Il handsome income,
and the ordering OF Il well appointed
house, that she decidedly resented he.
Youngest daughters efforts 10 lake
Grace assume her proper position.
surely. it is natural that l., Il woman
OF mature experience. should take my
place ut the head OF the establish
mcnt, rather than n delicate girl like
Grace Mrs. Leger said, sharply.
.'Ycu are Of IA coarser nature. Ruth.
and have no sympathy with the shy
shrinking of ii sacred sorrow. | think
1t far better that the darling child
should leave everything 10 me-
And fret herself into her grave, or
out Of her mind, for sheer lack of
semetl,;ng 10 DO. do not agree with
you, mother Ruth answered, biuntly.
II think Grace's truest friend would
he The person who convinced her that
there were duties AS well rs sorrows
I'm the world. and that b must be up
and doing. II you would only make
her choose the house we are 10 live in,
say what servants we shall keep, ana
what our income Is to be, the very Ell
fort to obllge YOU would do her good.
Put Mrs. Ilegcr. who greatly prefer
red having the management of every
thing In her w hands, and who saw
that. urless urged to do SO, Grace
would & interfere, received the pro
posal with anything but favor. and
babe her presumptuous young dauglr
ter practice her music, and not NEEDLE
with things tliat did not concern her.
Ruth received the advice with IL very
mutlnous look, a.ld even went the
length Of consulting Uncle John on the
subject; hut. after giving a shrug Of
his ponderCus shoulders, that gentle
man declined to interfere.
ITS no business Of mine, child. as
your mother would not hesitate to tell
me-" he replied. with a little scowl; for
since she has found herself better of,
Mrs. Legcr had been decidedly less ef-
fusivc to her wealthy brother, and he
was disposed TO resent her change Of
front. '.She is a willful woman" he
declared. .'and will no doubt have her
own way. She drove poor Grace into
the marriage. and now, l suppose, she
win drive her Into her grave"
He left Ruth with this cold comfort,
and the girl gave up In despair.
Little by little, things driftcd back
into the old style. Weeks and months
relied on. and except for the fact n a
! ease and ~afiiuence had displaced gen
tcel and ~pinching poverty the household
| at Rivervicw was much like h house
| hold at Moray Place. Bayswater. had
been In the old days before Herbert
Santley lad come a-wooing, and the
| grand marriage. which was to make
| them all comfortable, had been fol-
lowed by so cruelty swift Il widow
| hood.
Mrs. Icgcr was an absolute auto
| erat. and Grace never dreamed OF OPP
| posing her. The young widow signed
| checks with admirable docility; but
| there her duties began and ended, and,
| before the first year of Grace's widow
hood was over, Mrs. Leger had almost
| forgotten that the pale. spiritless girl,
| who obcyed all directions so meekly.
WAS, in truth. the owner of all they
possessed, and the real head and mis-
+, tress of the house.
But Ruth v forgot 1t, and 1t was
| not for lack Of rcnionstrance and re-
mindcr that Grace vas not moved 10
see il, too.
Mother is acting badly. and you
know it. Grace" Ruth told her sister.
.Wby should she spend Herbert SAINT
ley's money? He was not In love with
her; and wanted you TO be free and
Happy and rule your own life"
And / dol am quite content, my
DEAR Grace answered, gently.
content to grow more Ike u
shadow every hour, and cry your eyes
out while we spend your money. Grace,
do. YOU think the indulgence OF such
grief Is righty'
Ruth spoke warmly. and there was a
ring OF earnest feeling in the fresh
voice. Her sister WINGED Il little. and
her eyes turned TO the window with a
look of ~perplcxity and pain. .
ut Is rs least natural" Grace OBJ
served, almost humbly, and in a low,
troubled tone.
.sNo-it Is not even that; the most
acute grief for the person we love best
In the world consoles itself at last.