Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1903-07-09
CHAPTER NI1I.-(ContinuedJ

That night i made up my mlnd 10 De
an ''old maid" Nobody would ever want
me, / knew, was 80 homely; and with
calm resignation thought how much
Sood | would do in the world, and how l
would honor the sisterhood. Very slow
ly the morning light came struggling i'll
through the windows, rousing the weary
passengers, who, rubbing their red'rim-
med eyes, looked around to see who their
companions were. So carefully had
kept my face hidden from view that Ada
had no suspicion whatever of my pres
ence. AT Canandalgua stepping out up
on the platform in front of the depot
looked anxiously around for Herbert, but
he was not there. ! found my way to
the public paror, which for few mo-
ments occupied alone ! had just re-
moved my dusty bonnet, and was brush
Ing my tangled hair, when the door open
ed and | stood face to face with Ada
Montrose. ! simply nodded, ms | would
TO any stranger, and went on with my
toilet, while throwing herself upon the
soft, she exclaimed, Dear me, how tired
| am! DO you live here2'
"Of course not" l answered; y nm
on my way to visit my sister Anna,
She turned very red, and replied by
asking if were in the train which had
just passed.
Yes" answered, 81 occupied the
seat behind you and-your husbands
1t notT'
Affecting to be a little embarrassed,
she said, Not my husband-yet. He
came on to Boston to accompany me
home, and wishing to see friend of
his who lives here, we have stopped
over one train"
was on the point of asking her about
my aunt, when the door again opened
and there stood before us n soyenly look
ing man, attired in a slouched hat, gray
coat, and huge cowhide boots SO com
plete was the metamorph osis that neither
of us recognized him, until he had ex-
claimed: Ada! How came you hereT'
Then we knew it was Herbert Langley.
He was rather Disconnected at Being
seen by Ada in such plight, and after
a little he stammered out an apology,
saying he was farmer now, and lived
in the country, and of course could not
be expected to dress as he used in the
city. a
asked Ada in n mocling. deferentiul tone.
Instantly the whole expression of Her
bert's face was changed, and there was
q look of tenderness and pride in his eyes
as he advanced toward Ada, and whis-
perer in her ear something which | did
not understand. Whatever it was, it
made her blush, as she, replied, rather
sneeringly, "Of course l congratulate
you" mta t.s..,
1t was a cold, raw, autuInnal day. The
roads were horrible; and as we plowed
through the thick mud | took my first
lesson in genuine homesickness, which,
In my opinion, Is about as hard to bear
as love-sickness. 1t was in vain that
Herbert pointed out to me the many
handsome farm houses which we passed,
expstiating upon the richness and fertil-
lily of the soil, and telling me how great
ly superior in everything New York was
10 New England. / scarcely heard him,
for even though in all Massachusetts
there was naught save the rocky hills
and sterile plains, it was my home, and
from that spot the heart cannot easily
be weaned.
Rockland is a large, wealthy town
while scattered through it are two OF
three little villages, each bearing n dis
tinct name, by which they are known
abroad. First, there was Laurel Hill
famed as the residence of certain fami.
lies who were styled proud and aristo
cratic. Next came the Center" with
Its group of red houses, and its single
gpire, tall, straight and square Lastly
came Flattvlle, by fur the largest vii
lage In Rockland, and the home of al
the "isms" in the known world TO tho
south of Flattville is small lake, re
nowned for its quiet beauty, and the pic
turesque wildness of its shores. Bound
ed on three sides by high hills, its water,
sleep calmly In the sunlight of summer
or dash angrily upon the sandy beach
when moved by the chill breath of win
ter.
On the brow of one Of the high hill
stood the home of my sister. 1t was
hugs, wooden building containing room
lnnumerable, while even the basemen
was large enough to accommodate one O
more families. Being the first fran
house erected in the town, 1t was O
course looked upon with considerable in
terest, and as if to make it still more nc
torious, it bore the reputation of bein
haunted.
'Come this way, Rosa" said Herber
as l entered the narrow "entry" SO con
mon in old-fashioned houses; and follow
Ing him, | was soon usheFed into a larg
square room, where a bright wood fir
was blazing. In one corner of the ROOF
was bed, and on it lay Anna, who, I'll
moment she saw me, uttered n cry of TO-
"Have you told herr" she asked
Herbert, when the first pleasure of cl
meeting was over.
He replied in the negative, whereupt
she brought up from under a pile of p
lows, coverlids, blankets and sheets Il
tie, tiny, red-faced, wrinkled thing
which she said was aunt! knew tn,
why Ada congratulated Herbert, al
mentally Gliding myself for my stupidit
took the bundle of cambria and hann
In my arms, while Anna said, "We e,
linn jamie Lee, and we think he loo
Ike You"
Wearied with my ride, | asked ~
mission to retire early; whereupOn Dar
Matson, the nurse, volunteered to she
me the way to my room. Up the ma
row stairs, which creaked at every ste
and Oh through one gloomy room aft
another. she led me until, at last,
came to n chamber. lighter and mo
niry which, she said, my sister had I