Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1901-06-21

here sooner. said he, "but the roads is
awful rough. and old Charlotte has got
Il stub or somethin' in her foot. But
where's the gal? Amt she ready?'
He was answered by Mary herself, who
made her appearance, followed by Billy
hearing the box. And now commenced
the leave talsings. Miss Grundy's turn
coming first.
May l kiss you, Miss Grunly:' said
Mary. Miss Grundy bent down and re-
crivcd the child's kiss. and then darling
off into the pantry, went to skimmin.
pans of milk already skinned. Uncle
Peter between times kept circulating:
"Oh. Lord; oh. massey sakc!-oh. for
| land..' Billy knew it would be lonely
without Mary, but he was glad to have
her 80 to IL better home. so he tried to
be cheerful.
Aside from him. Sally was the only
composed one. 1t is true her eyes We're
very bright. and there was II compression
about her mouth seldom seen, except just
before one of her frenZied attacks. Oc-
casionally. too, she pressed her hands up
on her head, and walking to the sink,
bathed it in water, as il to cool it's in
ward heat.
CHAPTER IN.
Very different this time was Mary's
ride with Mr.. knight from what it had
been some months before, and after
brushing away II few natural tears, and
sending back IL few hcart-sighs to the low
cd ones left behind, her spirits rallied,
II by the time they reached the borders
of Rice Corners there was such IL look
of quiet happiness on her face that even
Mr.. Knight noticed it. AS they rode OH
Mary fancied that the country looked
plcasanter and the houses better than
i'll the region of the poorhousc; and when
Il sudden turn of the road brought into
view 81 beautiful blue sheet of water. en-
bosomcd by bright green hills. her delight
knew no bounds. %Springins up and point
ing toward it. she exclaimed: '.Oh, please
stop n moment ana look. Isn't it lovely?
What is it:'
That: oh, that's nothing but .Por-
dunk Pond or as folks most generally
call 'cm, seem there's TWO. North and
South Pond"
How far is the pond from Mrs. Ma
son's?' asked Mary. casting longing
chances toward the distant sandy beach
and the graceful trees which dropped
over the waters edge.
Its farther back than It's there. cause
it's uphill all the way said Mr.. Knight,
but here we be at Miss Mason's-tlis
house right here" and he pointed TO Il
neat. handsome cottage. almost hidden
from view by the dense foliage which
surrounded it.
There was Il long lawn in front. and
into the carriage road on the right of it
Mr.. Knight turned, and driving up 20 a
side door. said to Mary, Come, jump
down, for my foot is so lame I don't be
lieye I'll get out. Rut thera', your chest.
You can't lit that. Halloo! judith,
come ERE"
In answer to this call a fat, pleasant
looking colored woman appeared in the
doorway, and as il fresh from the regions
of cookdom wiped the drops of perspira-
ton from her round. jolly face.
Here, Judith said Mr.. Knight, "help
this gal lift her traps out"
Judith complied. and then bidding old
Charlotte to get up" Mr.. knight drove
away, leaving Mary standing by the
kitchen door.
Come in and sit down." said judith.
pushing a chair toward Mary with her
foot. Its as hot here as an oven, but
l had crambry sass and ginger snaps. and
massy knows what, to make this morning
and l got belated; hut set down and
make yourself to home"
Mary took the proifered scat, and then
judith left the room for a few moments.
saying when she returned that, as Mrs,
Mason was still suffering from a head
ache, she could not see Mary until after
dinner. And" continued Judith, ..shc
told me to entertain you, but l don't know
what to say nor do first. Harry died
just a week to a day before he was to he
married, and SO l never had any little
girls to talk to. Can't you think of some
thing to talk about? What have YOU
been used to doing?"
washing Dishes" was Mary's 'reply.
WALL answered Judith. ~ guess YOU
won't have that to do here for one night:
when some of the %neighbors were in /
heard Miss Mason tell 'em that she got
YOU to read to her and wait on her, And
then she said something about Your not
having an equal chance with Your sister,
You han't but one, now t'other's dead.
have you:"
Mary replied in the negative, and Ju-
dith continued: WALL, now you've got
over the first ont, l reckon you's glad
the baby's dead, for she must have been
kind of a bother, wasn't she?"
Instantly Mary's thoughts flew back to
an empty cradle. and again a little golden
head was pillowed upon her breast, as
often in times past it had been, and as
it would never be again. Covering her
face with her hands, she sobbed, '.Oh,
Allie, Allie! 1 wish she hadn't dicd!'
Judith looked on in amazement, and for
want of something better to do placed q
fresh stick of wood in the stove, mutter-
ing to herself. "Now. l never! 1 might
of knew didn't know what to say. What
a pity Harry died. I'll give her that big
ginger snap the minute it's baked. See II