The Dupuyer acantha. [volume] (Dupuyer, Mont.) 1894-1904, 1900-11-08

AuSu, WuSlHSF With uOpO VI WueLuSr
with dread
My strength came back with a leap
ing thrill;
Though my lips were close to her gold
en- head
/ would not move till / knew her
will"
Anon.
StelI used to wonder If all women
who had a mission were as intolerant
as her Aunt Miranda. Stells father
was a travelling man and seldom at
home. StelIs mother was absorbed
in her club. duties and her aspirations
toward authorship. So Miss Miranda
Baxter, who was quite old enough to
have a. daughter of her own had a not
perverse fate prevented this POSSIBLE
ity, took upon herself much of the
care and training of her Maynard
niece. At least Miranda considered
Stell hayward because she could
be brought to see the doieful side of
existence.
But l don't want to go Summing"
she would declare. THE only time l
did go with you l cried half the night
after. It seemed so dreadful to go
into peoples houses without being
asked. 1 was afraid of hurting their
feelings. Then, I'm not wise like you.
I don't know anything about sores and
rheumatism, and ~bottled-no, bottle
hobies. l seemed to have been only
pertinent when l couldn't help.
You may take all my months pin
money for the poor people. 1t will
help them more than being visited by
an ignorant girl"
Whereat Miss Miranda would heave
a gentle sigh of resignation.
81 have always supposed that every
individual has a special mission to
perform in this world. l cannot dis
cover what yours may be. You do not
admire good pictures"
mot the shocking ones, Aunt Mi
randa. Not some of Dore's, nor those
by that Russian artist with the long
name. They are appalling!"
"You do not read the papers, do not
keep abreast Of current events"
Il read the papers in-in spots.
can't read about murders, and mutila-
lions, and dreadful things like those.
1 should be sure to dream Of them"
She was. wondering if, to have a
mission in life, it was necessary to
have a nose shining like a well-pow,
dered door-knob for lack of a puff oil
pearl powder.
Zone must confront the unpleasant
facts of life. Only last week I spent
an hour reading an instructive book
on the early history of the Abyssin-
cancer which"
20, please don't!" entreated Stell
who had gone white as a snowdrop.
!, Miss Baxter shook her head. Stel
wondered how that scant drab hail
would look if it were softly waved in
stead of being strained back in so un-
compromising a fashion.
There! You shrink from human
suffering"
Don't you-ever?"
II face it unflinchingly. l fear, Els.
tella, that your s~ensibilities are blunt.
ed. You don't even enjoy music"
Don't I thought" cried Estella
Not the dreadful, dreary things, OF
course. Not the dismal music which
makes me wonder why God made
flowers, and singing birds, and water
: falls, and ~rainbows, and little children
: and everything beautiful! But the
gay, happy music which makes one
want"
Miss Baxter's weary gesture checked
the impetuous speech. 81 fear yor
never will find a worthy mission il
life, Estella."
, Stell irreverently hoped she never
would if such discovery necessitatet
going corsetless. Perhaps her aunr
!, looked well enough when her form
was trim and young. But now tina
thirty-seven blustery winters hat
| drifted over her head one fancied hel
bulky proportions would be improved
) by properly applied restraint.
What is yours, Aunt Miranda?"
| "To do good to all with whom
come in contact. Now, I mean to of
/ fer my assistance to that gentleman
who has moved in across the street
His two motherless children shall have
the advantage of my instruction-ol
my advice"
Stell gasped. "You mean the Stan,
, leys. Tie people who have bought
that place OF Vanbarthyn's! Why
the boy is IA, the girl 16. They have
} governess, tutor, and I know th,