Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1900-09-06
t A PRAIRIE QUEEN !
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their contents were ulSUrlOulSu' 1hoO
was not long time. 1t never was in
Excelsior. And tonight the sacks had
not been of sufficient weight to tax
his strong shoulders. But out of their
lankness had come a surprise for him,
and an opportunity for Deronda.
81 can guess. It's letter from
Uncle Donald. A cheeky"
Once in awhile, at Christmas al
ways, a letter inclosing 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 Enclosure with graft
tJde and elation.
"N-o. It's letter from Donald
but there's no check" He looked
across at his best loved and eldest
child with a 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.
"Fatherl It's good news! Keep
still, Flora What is it?"
The tidings came out in a 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
erl"
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
rooms over the depot were the scene
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 Yale'
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 CARRIED, stood
beside it. 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 dowr
like the guide of those fleeing from
Pharaoh, and chung around her in ar
adoring farewell, which was detri
mental to her fnery if fiattering tt
her sensibility.
Then the iron beast was upon them
A few passengers alighted. Some ex
press packages were handed off. These
the agent mechanically received. Their
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 pulled
the throttle. The brakeman stood ir
resolute. The conductor loitered along
deferring the signal to start, because
the departure of Deronda for the cas-
was public property all along the line
and the men who had known her sine
she wore short dresses and waved then
a welcome when their train went b,
were interested in this young bird
fight of hers from the overfowint
family nest.
tentative whistle quivered in thu
air.
"Good-by, Deronda! Have goot
time!" Derond's father gave her hare
squeeze of theha There waSthe peel
If kiss between these two who love
zach other 80 dearly.
And the train was speeding east
ward.
All, that was marvellous world int
which Deronda went-a world wher
one wore dainty clothes from daw
till dawn! A world where the chic
function of the women was to charm
that of the men to serve with the mos
exquisite courtesy. And the need of &C
miration she received, when her west
ern dresses had been discarded TO
beautiful gowns, was new to her. Yer
sweet 1t was, too. To be sure, she ha
known what 1t was to have young me
besiege her for dances and hang upo
her words. But in one case those VIII
had given her tribute were clumsy an
rough-handed country boys. The me
to whom her later environment intro
duced her possessed that indefnabl
air of breeding, of culture, of distin'
ton which can be neither bought nc
acquired. And she found the melody
trained voices at the opera sweete
than the triple note of the meade
: lark-tLe scent of dollhouse rosesmoI
delicious than the perfume of will
clover.
: And so, too, she discovered entrance
: mept in the. homage Of Eldred. Vie