The Miller sun. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 190?-19??, 1904-10-12

a grape house, on the other a conscrva-
tory, filed with the most brilliant col
ored plants. The rays of the morning
sun we're slanting brightly across the
scene, and impartiDg to it the most
joyously cheerful air.
How different to the house | have
just left.v' / thought.
Pretty place, isn't it?' said the old
gentleman.
"Sweetly pretty | murmured.
He led the way into a little low
rooted room. darkened BY the overiang-
! ing blossoms that hung thickly over the
latticed window. Lit was comfortably,
indeed, handsomely, furnished. The table
was laii for breakfast. A second cup
and saucer and plate were soon produced
by a kind-looking, middle-aged woman,
and | was soon sitting before a subst;in-
tial meal of eggs and bacon, and cold
beef, TO be washed down by pleaty Of
strong coffee. Never had food been so
grateful 10 me before. and l certainly
lid ample justice TO it. l could per-
Give that my host every now and then
.ast a curious glance at me, as though l
piNFN'itNN s,olliClhIhS VI q IhS1'N ~ $500
Now, il | might be permitted to haz-
ard q guess, | should fancy you were
something in the parson line he said,
leaning back in his chair.
! disclaimed the honor.
We'll, ii was the long hair and the
queer-iooking black clothes that put that
idea into my head; and you look SO seri-
Gus Cor a lad Of your years. l have it!
You're a school usher"
| confessed that his last guess was
correct.
"Ah, poor fellow, No wonder YOU
look so miserablep' he said, compassion
ately. 1T must be a hard life, and a
badly paid one; and | suppose you've
left your place? Where are you going
now?"
Il am going to the city,"
you've friends there, ! suppose
II have one, sir, who | think will help
me-"
He must have thought me very close
and churlish,. to be so sparing of my az
swers after his kindness; but the fact is.
that ] was undecided at the moment
whether | should make a clean breast of
all my troubles to him; he seemed SO
kindly hearted that | felt sure he would
pity me. But the natural reticence OF
my disposition, rather than any feeling
Of mistrust, prevented me.
but you're not going to walk he
questioned.
Yes, sir. / have no other means of
getting there. l have a suit of clothes
in this bundle, that / intend to sell as
soon as l come to a town." / faltered.
The old gentleman paused, and looked
very hard at me--seemed, for a moment,
to revolve an idea-and then said,
Leave the clothes with me. | don't
want to look at them. l will lend you
FIVE dollars. That will take you to your
friend, and leave some money to boot
in your pocket. ANY time you bring me
or send me the money you shall have
your clothes back again. A mile and a
half from here is the railway station.
In half an hour a train will stop there.
You will be able to catch that comfort
ably. l will walk q little distance with
you, and put you in the right path. Stop
a minute, and I'll bring you the money"
Without waiting to listen to my fer
vent thanks, he left the room. Never
in my life had l felt so light-hearted and
hopeful.
rose from the chair to take the
clothes out of the handkerchief and
smooth them, as they must have been
somewhat crumpled by doing service as
a pillow; also to take out the change Of
linen which | could not do without. In
doing so, my eyes fell upon a portrait.
hung in a dark corner Of the room. 1t
was that of a woman, with bright au-
burn hair, transparently fair complexion.
blue eyes, q very beautiful. pensive face.
with something in it that came back
upon me like a memory. 1t seemed to-
me that | had seen that face somewhere.
While l stood trying to remember, the
old gentleman re-entered the room.
"Ah, you're looking at my poor girls
portrait he said, in a sad voice.
.Your daughters, sirY'
"Yes-my only one"
is she still livingT" l asked, some
what hesitatingly.
''She has beer dead these eighteen
years." he answered. sorrowfully.
II must be mistaken; / was only an
infant in arms at that time" l thought.
He gave me the money, but would
not listen to my thanks.
.syrlt, tut!' he said; that's nothing.
I'd give you more, if / really knew you
were all right; but ! have been so often
taken in that Im doubtful of everybody
now. But | like your looks; but I've
liked others that have been the property
of great v~agabonds,"
fro he ~continued)