Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1900-08-24
greatest kind of fancy to Ellie. He
had u family out in Kansas, and MOTH

greatest kind Of fancy to Ellie. He
had q family out in Kansas, and moth
ing would do but Ellie must make them
a visit. She was set against 1t, and
wouldn't hear to leaving father and
me. Harvest time was coming on and
all the extra fail work. She shook her
head every time going away was
mentioned, but l noticed how keen she
was to hear all the interesting stories
her Uncle Reuben had to tell. Once
I heard her sigh and say: 1T must be
grand to see the world That settled
me. I just made up my mind she'd got
to so. 1 wasn't going to stand in the
way when she had the chance to see
something outside our COW pasture"
The old woman quietly wiped her
eyes with the hem of her apron. David
only smiled.
"You can't guess how lonesome we
were, and how lonesome we feel to
this day. No n bustling about and
singing and chirking us up all day
long" A long-drawn sigh, and then,
looking fondly at her son., old Mrs.
Allen said brightly: But 1t is good to
see you, David, and 1 only wish you
had come to stay"
Dave Allen brought his palm down
solidly on his knee and said:
"That's what I've DONE"
you've come to stay:' quaverfngly.
"Most emphatically," responded
David. 1--WE prospered out west, but
all the time I've hankered to come
back to the old farm. Always. that
was my idea. I've saved and laid
aside, intending to come home and set
the old place on its feet. 1 never got
to feel ut home anywhere else, and
I've just dreamed Of the pastures and
that row of walnuts and the spring
run, till it seemed l must get here If
I e wanted to be happy again."
The old mother wiped more tears
with her apron, but looked anything
but sad.
1.-The Lord bless you, David. There
isn't anything else 1 ned to make me
happy"
But l might as well own up my
whole doing, mother. and confess I've
brought home a wife,"
The old woman started.
"a wife? Why haven't 1 heard this
before?"
"Well, Just listen a minute. As /
had about made up my mind to start
this way, l met a wonderfully pretty
girl, and 1 just fell so deep in love it
kept me waiting a little longer. You
see, l had to give her time to return my
sentiments. She wasn't q western
girl, but had come to the town l was
living in and was rather homesick her
self. So we naturally were congenial,
and in course Of time she made up her
mind to come home with me. It didn't
take much coaxing. The idea suited
her down to the ground"
David laughed aloud, and putting his
arms around his mothers shoulder
kissed her cheek.
"But where is she now?" asked the
mother, looking rather dazed and un-
certain.
"First promise to love her as well as
you did Ellie Martin"
"In time, David, maybe in time; but
/ have to get used to changes first"
"Well, that's all any reasonable per-
o could ask, Pm sure" said David,
heartily. "As for wife. she's in the
house. You see, l left her In the front
room when l went to fnd you in the
kitchen, and coaxed you out on u
pose to let her get acquainted with
father first"
Mrs. Allen started to her feet.
"Oh, l must hurry back to start the
fire If we IRE to have company!w
mo hurry, not a. bit of it." laughed
David, but he rose and walked beside
his mother. "Wife's. getting supper.
She said she would call us when twas
ready"
Was the ground Keeling under foot?
The old woman's life had contained so
little excitement that these crowding,
astonishing events seemed like wild
Vi I..AMI