Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1903-08-13
CHAPTER Xxx.

The house which Mrs. Lansing termed
her country residence-for she always
spoke of her brothers possessions as her
own--was a large double log building
containing nothing very elegant in the
way of furniture, but still presenting an
air of neatness and comfort for Aunt
Dinah. who had charge Of it, prided her
self upon keeping it neat and clean, us
Ter master was likely to come upon her
at any time without warning. and she
liked to impress him with her rare quail
ications as housekeeper. With Mrs. Ian
sing, however, she was less pleased; but
still. as the sister of "Mars'r Richard"
she was entitled to consideration, and in
high turban and all the dignity of her
position, the old lady hustled about from
room to room, jingling her keys, kick
ing the dogs, cutting the woolly pate of
any luckless wight who CHANGED to be in
her way, and occasionally stopping down
to kiss little Jessie, who, being of rather
a domestic turn, followed her from place
to place, herself assisting in spreading
the supper table, which, with it's snowy
cloth, corn cake, iced milk, hot coffee and
smoking steaks. soon presented u most
inviting aspect.
| Relieved Of their fears and thinking
| themselves beyond the reach of danger
Mrs. Lansing and Ada gave themselves
up to the enjoyment of the hour, talking
and laughing gayly, without a thought of
the sick girl they had left behind, and
who that night was to have been bride
Once, indeed, when after sunset they
were assembled upon the rude piazza
Ada spoke Of her, wondering If she wers
dead, and how long it would be ere DR.
! Clayton would marry another. Such Ii
the world, to which Ada formed no ex
ception, for how often do we hear tn,
| future companion of a broken hearted
man selected even before the wife of hi
bosom is removed forever from his sight
For long time Mrs. Lansing sat Their,
with Ada and her children, talking On in
different subjects and occasionally con
graduating herself that they were beyOnt
reach of the fever, unless, indeed, Iessi
had contracted ii by her foolish careless
ness. On her lap rested the little COLDER
head of the child who was hummin
snatches of THE Happy Land" a favor
lite song which her uncle had taught heI
and which she had often sung with he
teacher, asking numerous questions con
corning the better world.
Very naturally now her thoughts RI
verified TO her governess, and as she list
ened to the whispering wind sighin
through the trees, she fanced it was tn
voice of Rosa bidding her come to tn
happy land" Sweet little Jessie, it wa
: the voices of angel children which 80
heard thus calling through the pines; fC
: from their shining ranks one bcnteou
, form was missing, and they would fai
: allure it back to it's native sky.
Come l now to the saddest part of m
t story. Beneath the evergreens of II
sunny South is little mound, over whiC
r the shining stars keep watch, and Il
!, cypress spreads its long green bough
a while the children OF the plantation
a dark browed though they are, tread sof
j ly near that grave, which they dai
$ strew with flowers, speaking IN low tom
$ of "the Angel of The Pines" as tn,
u term the fair young girl who passed
Q suddenly from their midst, 1t was / o
d nearly Ave weeks since Mrs. Lansing hi
i fled from the pestilence which walked
: MONDAY, and though 1t had In a mea