The Miller sun. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 190?-19??, 1904-05-11
CHAPTER /.

~
d red creeper. A little TOY of house
the wind gently stirring the curtains, and
murmuring through the half-bare trees
the blue smoke rising from the Chin
neys-a voice echoing with a delicious
faintness through the house, and over
the road And you would have said, had
you passed, that surely this was baPpy
home. where sin and sorrow would be
scared from the door.
The poor woman, passing slowly along
with her sick child in her arms, is car
ried back to her youthful days, and
passes on with sigh; the shabby man.
who has been trying for the last ten
years to find a method of living honestly
and yet prosperously, wonders how 1t is
that some men can have beautiful little
homes like this, while others, of whom
he feels he is one, may struggle on, and
on, feeling only too happy If they can
achieve the great feat OF earning their
daily bread.
Could we cut down the laurel and
variegated holly we should see neat
little breakfast parlor, exqulsitely fur
nished table covered with a snowy
damask cloth; the tea urn Kissing and
shining like polished silver; breakfast
service of delicate china--white and gold
that shimmers and glistens in the red
freight
A tall, broad-shouldered young man
leans against the mantelpiece, and looks
moodily on, with an anxious, far-away
expression on his handsome countenance,
as a daintily attired young matron fits
hither and thither singing little snatches
OF gay songs in pure happiness of heart.
She comes up to him presently, putting
up the little rosebud of a mouth for a
kiss.
She coaxes him in a pretty, childish
manner to come to breakfast; and then
she Is all activity again, half scolding,
half praising the neat little maid that
brings in the things. She runs round
TO her husbands side once more before
giving him his tea, and tells him not to
look serious, for the favorite is sure to
win, and that his friend, Mr.. Gander,
had said only yesterday to her. that 1T
was all over but shouting, and that Rob
Roy would win this year in a walk So
you see, dear, you need not feel uneasy,
for you know Gander must know all
about 1t, as he keeps a book, as they
call it,"
"Ah," signs her husband, there is an
old saying, Maggie, about the cup and
the lip, you know; and sometimes | wish
i had never made Mr.. Gander's acquaint-
ance. He is good billiard player, and
men who are fond of billiards somehow
can't help liking to see good play; and
then he put me on to a good thing at
Ascot, and / have felt grateful ever
since, but we must not get mixed up
with that lot. He will be bringing his
wife next, and should not care for you
to know her."
Maggie looks bewildered as he pro-
ceeds; and then she says, "Oh, George,
what have done? Do you know, dear,
that actually gave him flower for his
button holer'
sIndeedr' says her husband. laughing.
1T is like his impudence to ask for such
a thing"
'Ah. but that is just it--he did not
ask; he only said how lovely my white
geranum looked and insisted upon
making him up little bouquet; and, oh, /
George, dear, it was so funny to see
it in his shabby coat"
swell, it is funny" he says. ito think
OF Gander paying his devoirs to Flora"
~Ah, but he did not wear it long, for
when he got outside he put 1t into his
hat. Fancy, dear, my beautiful sweet |
smelling flowers In his greasy old hatv
well, that shows that you ought not
to throw pearls before swine-I mean, |
give buttonholes to bookmakers. But, |
now, my darling, make me little bou-
quet, and / promise you 1t shall be still |
next my heart when / come home this |
evening"
"Oh, George, dear, shall come and |
meet you to-day, and you must try and
leave early. l want to show you thu,
lovely sealskin jacket am to have, and
then you can take me to buy some fruit"
A deeper shade of anxiety passes over
the young mans face, as he says. II am
almost afraid, Maggie. that can't quite |
afford the jacket just now. You see, we |
are living well up to my salary. You
must not be cross with me for speaking |
OF money, dearest; bu. the fact is, all |
the ready cash could scrape together
has gone on Rob Roy. Now, had you
not better wait till after the races; and |
then / will buy you that, and new dress
into the bargain? 1t Is not really cold,
vet. you know; and you can wear your
red shawl that | like so much"
'Oh, George. so deeply as I have set |
my heart upon It; and know shall
never like another so well; and that will |
be sold before then. have seen that |
so many times. IL I make up my mind
to buy thing--if don't get it there
and then, il is always gone the next day.
But no matter; IL you won't buy it for
me- must do without it,
There are actually two little dewdrops |
of tears in the bright, dark eyes, as he |
comes over to her and kisses her. and |
says. gravely, ct is not q case OF won't,
darling;I w-x afraid, for a moment, 1t
was one apf can't but as you have set |
your heart upoLS III, you shall have il.