Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1899-05-31

my nHuu tTeIliDie over the ttsk, us IL
1t were disgrace to ask for the money
we have honestly earned? Perhaps it
is because it is something new for
Mildred and me to work for our daily
bread. Only two years ago we could
pay others for the stitches put into our
own dainty clothing. All, me! Two
years ago. Then smallpox took our
father, and brought me to the confines
of the grave. When the funeral was
over, and friends examined our faith
er's affairs, they found every dollar
was claimed by creditors, and we We're
left poor, as well rs orphaned.
Some of the friends, who pited us,
saved enough to buy wee cottage on
Long Island, and when l could take up
the burden of life again, l was allowed
to select furniture from our old house
for the new one. All through this
dreadful time Mildred was at the
White Mountains with Aunt Janet,
beauty was never very marvellous, so
when the smallpox SCARED it. and left
my skin deep, unsightly red, could
not grieye as l should have done if
Mildred's exquisite loneliness had been
so swept away.
She came home after all danger of
contagion was over, TO our little cot
tage. Aunt Janet had given her COM
plete outfit of mourning. made in the
latest fashions-for Aunt Janet would
consult fashion-plate for her shroud.
If she knew she was dying-and she
looked fairer than ever in the somber
garments.
now, and she never knew what work
meant till father died. How can l
blame her when she smiles upon Mr..
Somerson, and lets his great, noble
heart trust in a love she only feigns for
him. He does love her! What else can
his constant visits mean?
True he is nearly fifty, and Mildred
seems only petted careless child yet,
though she Is only five years younger
than l am.
Poor Mildred! Whein l spoke of Mr..
Somerson to-day, in spite of her care
less voice and the pretty toss of her
head, | could see silent pain in her
soft, violet eyes. She will marry him.
while am sure, OH so Bitterly sure.
she Will never forget Rodney. Rod
ney, who sailed over the seas when
Mildred was supposed TO be rich
mans child, and carried her heart with
him, only TO crush it under his long
silence when sorrow came.
| never understood it. l would have
have been so sure of Rodney's loyalty.
He seemed to me the very personifica-
ton Of frank truth, of tender love. yet
for two years he has never written of
Mildred who loved him, who loves him
still.
1t Is seven months since Mr. Somer-
son came here, bringing letter from
Aunt Janet, who claims him as an old
friend of her own and our mothers,
recently returned from California and
very rich. i wonder why l fancy he
loved our mother? No one ever told
me So But he looks at me with such
tender, yearning eyes sometimes, as il
| reminded him of some one loved and
lost, and l am like my mother. She
was dark and small, not like Mildred,
who Is blonde. tall and slender. Spite
of my SCARED face | am like the por-
trait OF our mother, who died when
Mildred was IA baby. | have her large,
dark eyes and heavy black hair and
l am small too.
Mr.. Somerson purchased n splendid
country -seat not far from our tiny cot
tage. and put in small army of work
men to modernize and improve it.
When he had finished it to his liking,
he sent to New York for upholsterers
and gardeners to make 1t perfect in
side and out. And all the time he kept
Mildren and me busy over the sewing,
and paid us we'll Such piles of table,
linen and bed linen, most daintlly made
as We have completed. would delight
any housekeeper. Finding Mildred
liked embroidery better than plain