The Afro-American advance., 1900-09-08
t A PRAIRIE QUEEN t
xA+++++<<%<<%<<<<<<+<%<<<<

Y cried the agents hearty voice.
When he had carried the mail bags
m from the depot he had waited until
their contents were distributed That
waa not a long time. 1t never was in
Excelsior. And tonight the sacks had
NOT been of sufficient weight TO tax
his sifong shoulders. But out of their
lapkncss had come a surprise for him,
and an opportunity for Deronda.
~ can guess. It's a letter from
Uncle Donald. A cheeky"
Once in awhile, at Christmas al
ways. a letter inclosing a check ar
rived from Donald Bertram, of New
York. And his brother, who found his |
petty salary as station master of the |
insignificant Nebraska town quite in
commensurate with the needs of a |
large and increasing family, hailed the
advent OF each inclosure with graft
tude and elation.
mo. It's a letter from Donald
but there's no check" He looked
across at his best loved and eldest
child with smile brighter than even
the welcome check had ever sum-
moned "Guess again.
She looked at him from her opposite
end Of the table where she presided,
her mother in true western fashion
still being busted at the kitchen stove
until the remainder of her family had
eaten. Between Deronda and her
father a noisy and voracious young
brood intervened-eight or ten of
them. Deronda was kept busy attend
ing to their needs. She and her moth
er did" for the rest. They ate as
their portion whatever was left. And
neither dreamed of complaining.
Labor and service were their ethics
Of domesticity. But now Deronda
paused in her task of pouring out the
numerous cups of milk.
Father! It's good news! Keep
still Flora! What is it?"
The tidings came out in rush. "If
you will go to New York for a visit
the check will follow your letter of ac-
ceptance. There!"
Deronda was the healthiest girl in
town, but for the moment she felt
positively weak. She set down the
pitcher. The children clamored un-
needed.
"O!" she gasped, 81 must tell moth
er!"
Then she was gone, and the over
worked man with the kindly face
waited on the children himself.
Those that followed were exciting
days. The little, struggling, low
IL
Of many combinations, much schem-
ing, many glorious hopes, innumerable
pleasant prophecies. 'Ronda, as the
children called her, was going away
away Into some vast and mystic fairy
land, which their vivid imaginations
merged in the triple ecstasy of Yule-
tide. Heaven and the Fourth OF July.
But one day order was born of con-
fusion-sobriety of hysterical antici-
patton. That was the day Deronda's
trunk stood labeled and corded on the
platform-the day Deronda's self,
freshly and becomingly garbed, stood
beside 1t. The day that Agent Bert
ram, and Mrs. Bertram, and all the
numerous young Bertrams listened
for the whistle of the train at the
depot eight miles west; hung around
her with growing excitement as the
black column Of smoke came down
like the guide of those fleeing from
Pharaoh, and clung around her in an
adoring farewell. which was detri.
mental TO her fnery If fattering tc
her sensibility.
Then the iron beast was upon them
A few passengers alighted. Some ex
press packages were handed of. Thesc
the agent mechanically received. TheI
Deronda's foot was on the first step o
the Pullman. The engineer was look
ing back to see that the agents PRETTY
daughter got on safely before he pullet
the throttle. The brakeman stood ir
resolute. The conductor loitered along
dsferring the signal TO start, becausl
The departure of Deronda for the cas-
vas public property all along the line
and the men who had known her sine
she wore short dresses and waved then
welcome when their train went b.
we're interested in this young bird
fight of hers from the overhowinI
iani,y nest.
A sentative whistle quivered in th
air.
"6,fOd-by. Deronda! Have goo
nme!- Derond's father gave her har
squeeze of the hand. There wasth pee
81 kiss between these two who love
saeh ether so dearly.
And the train was speeding cas-
ward
An, that was q marvellous world int
which Deronea went--a world whel
one wore dainty clothes from 6aw
u dawn, : world where the chi,
junction Of tna women was to charm
'aAt Of the men TO serve with the mo-
1iaisite courtesy. And the need of o.
1iFation she received. when her weS
IN dresses had been discarded Il
aataful gowns. was new TO her. VeI
IL was. too. To be sure. she Ia
Srn what 1t was 10 have ysang Nc