Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1900-02-09

door. "I.ustacc. 1 beg that you will de-
eide who is To be in authority in this
lionsc-yonr mother or this young lady.
II is insulfcral,lc that every time | send
the children into the corner Vera should
call them out and give them cakes and
jam"
E,lstacc Daintrcc looks helplessly from
one 10 the other.
My dear mothcr-iny dear girls-wlat
is ii all about! l am sure Vera does not
incan-'
NO. Vera only means to be kind,
srandmamina,' cries Marion. %ncrvously:
she is so fond of the children-'
"l.old your tongue. Marion. and don't
take your sisters part so shamelessly."
Judge between us, Eustacc!.' the old
lady is crying; Am l to he dclicd and
set Mt naught? are we all to bow down
and worship Miss Vera, the most useless,
lazy person i'll the house, who turns up
her nose at honest men and prefers to
live on charity, n burden to her rcla-
tions?"
Vera is no burden. only n great pleas
IRE to me. my dear MOTHER" said the
Clergyman. holding out his hand to the
girl.
oh. grandmamma. how unllind YOU
are. says Marion. bursting into tears.
Blu Vera only laughs lazily aud amused
ly. she is so used to it all! 1t does not
disturb her.
rs she to bc mistress here. ! ask, or
am ~ continues Mrs. Daintrce, furi-
ously.
Marion is mistress here" says Vera,
boldly; neither YOU nor l have any au-
thority in her house or over her chill
drcn.' And then the old lady gathers
mp her work and sails maicstically from
the room. followed by her weak, trcm-
bllng daughter-in-law, bent on rcconcila-
ton.
The clergyman stands by the hearth
with his head bent and his hands behind
him.. He signs wcarily. Vera crccps up
TO him and lays her hand softly upon his
coat sleeve.
II am a iirebrand, nm 1 not, Eustacc?'
WY dear. nO. not that; but il YOU
could try a little to keep the peace.!" He
stayed the carcssing hand with his w
and looked ut her tenderly. His face is
ii good one. hut not a handsome one: and,
as he looks at his wife's young sister. il
is softcned into its best md kindcst.
Who can resist Vera. when she looks
S,hlIN ttIlN INIlIIIlt MItI llstI IstT(b llrnG
in her dark eyes:
Vera. why don't YOU look like that at
MIR. Gisburnc:' he says. smiling.
81 don't like good men who are pool...'
says Vera. with IL little grimacc.
Her brothcr-in-law looks shocked.
why do yor1 say such hard. worldly
things. Vera? You do not really mean
them"
"Don't L: Eustacc, look at me; do
look like Il poor clcrsyman's wife," She
holds herself mt arms length from him.
and looks comically up and down the
length OF her gray skirts. think of the
yards and yards of stuff ii takes TO clothc
me; and should not !; woman as tall as
am be always in velvet and point lace,
Elstacc? What is the good OF condemn
ing myself To workhousc shccting for tho
rest of my days."
MIR. Dtintrce hooks at her admiringly
he has learned to love her: this beautiful
Southern flower TIA. has come to bios
som in his home. Women will be hard
enough on Vera through her Hfe-mcn.
never.
II like one good man, and his name is
Eistacc Daintrcc.' she says, softly: .is
not that Il hopeful sign:'
"Iou are Il little tlattcrer, Vera he
says. kissing her; but. though he is n
~middlc-aged clergyman md her brother
in-law. he is by 10 means impcrvious ia
the tlattcry.