Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1900-12-13
Their First Trouble
BY Gertrude Smith.
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HERE come those dear children
over to see me. Hold up your
skirts, Althea. You ought to have
gone around by the road this wet
morning" ....
"Wilfred insisted on coming this
way" Althea answered, laughing.
II love to come by the zig-zag mead
ow path over to Aunt Roey's," said
the young man. and taking off his hat,
he made low bow to the little wom-
an standing in the doorway. ~.
"Of all the happy ones ever saw, I
do believe you two are the happiest!"
said Aunt Roey, looking down at them
with shining eyes.
"We've come over to breakfast" said
Althea.
20 have you? That is nice. I can
give you strawberries and cream and
toast and some of Toodle's eggs"
Dear little Tood-e doesn't know
what blessing she is" laughed Will
fred.
sIf she doesn't, it isn't because Aunt
Roey hasn't told her." said Althea.
"She talks to everything about the
place. Why, she even talks to the
clock!"
"There, there, Althea. Don't tell all
my foolishness! Take Wilfred on into
the front room, and I'll call you in
few minutes"
When the two were alone in the
long, sunny parlor Wilfred took AL
thea's hand and led her to the piano.
1t had been bought by Aunt Roey as
special inducement to the young peo-
pie who lived across the meadow.
Since Althea's engagement to Wilfred
Brayton the instrument had brought
the little lady pleasure she had
never hoped for.
Althea turned on the music stool
and looked up at him as the song
came to an end.
20, 1 long to have mother and the
girls and Aunt Roey hear you sing in
a hall, as 1 did last winter. They
haven't really heard you yet, you
know"
''It wouldn't mean so much to them
as hearing me here, DEAR" Wilfred an
swered, kissing her. II sing only SIM
pie music here, because J. am singing
for their pleasure. You understand
the other, but they do not"
''That is just why I love you," said
Althea, with emphasis. "You never
have tried to impress them one bit
with your Importance"
-.''I have no Importance to impress
them with, Althea,' wllfred answered,
laughing. ''There was time when a
man who sang as well as I do would
have been known the continent over,
but now there are many who sing as
well, and who live as well on the in
come of their talent as we shall live.
And there was time, and not long
ago, when it would have been impossi-
BILE to have found a girl like Althea
Winthrop in the wilds of northern
Michigan"
20 well, I've not always lived right
here. I've been away to school," said
Althea.
breakfast is ready" said Aunt
Roey opening the door. ''Such treat
as you have been giving me, dear
boy"
Snow, isn't that fine? No one but
my mother ever called me dear boy
Il came into this house 80 years age
In the same dream of happiness you two
are now in. My story IS told ant
yours has just begun. Sometimes
think if young people could have :
little trial come to them along will
their first happiness they would b.
stronger to meet what may come t.
them after; but, don't know"
"a trial has come to US in our frs
happiness, Aunt Roey," said the youn.
man. eat least 1 feel it almost NOR
of trial than I can go through. Al
thea is very brave. She seems to thinl
we have love enough to bear up unde
It, some way"
what does he mean, Althea?"
"We came over to tell you about il
Aunt Roey. Wilfred's brother, VIII
died last year, left his little girl to hi
charge. He has just found out abou
Il. Her grandmother has been keel
ing it from him"