The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1904-12-22

Ssh, u VI Stidllbe SOieIllflilS, anu &c
Elizabeth. u~nspeakably dreary. She stood
with her face against the pane. gazing on,
absently into the deepening dusk.
AT home" shG unused. and the word
vibrated in her mind with an aching ten
derness. the electric lights are cleaning
along the streets, the trolley cars are full
of happy Christmas shoppers. Papa has
come in now and huIries off to his room
with various mysterious bundles; Alice
and Dick are hobnobbing together in q
corner over mama's present. After dinner,
some OF the crowd will come in and there
Will be music and dancing, then later a
jolly little -~oper around the chatting
dish" She tened from her thoughts to
the gray stretch outside. Snow, stiffness
country, country, country. I hate it!'
she gasped, with a sob of self-pity, II
like noise and lights and good times and
people. Oh, I want to go home, I want
to go homer
Her husband was coming now. She
could not discern his figure, but she heard
his whistle, the notes duh and spiritless,
mere ghosts of his old-time runs and trills,
But he doesn't hate Dakota as / do" she
thought reSentfully. He likes it. He is
troubled only because I am
Stamping the snow from his feet. he
came into the warm room, seeming some
how to fill 1t with his large personality.
He stopped and kissed her tenderly, try
ing to meet her averted gaze.
You're nice and snug in here, Eliza
beth he began. with a tentative cheer
fulness. It's awfulI9 cold outside" The
girl-wife made no Response, but began to
set the table. and the mar said no more
until she him to the evening
meal. He looked at her from time to time
as she sat opposite him. honing that her
somber mood would pass, but she kept her
wistfui gaze bent toward her plate, and
49, ~, -, l~- So
Taxed.
What a dainty meal. dear" he said.
with an attempt at animation. quite
worthy of the season. 1t doesn't seem
possible that the day after tomorrow Is
Christmas. does it,"
Please don't remind me of it. Robert,
I beg" she cried sharply. The mar WINGED
and put down his coffee cup. gazing with
set brows into it's amber depths. Sudden
ly he gave his shoulders an energetic little
Ehake and sighed with the stress OF a firm
resolve.
Elizabeth" he said, Tets hurry and
finish, then we can spend the evening
packing your trunk, for you must start
home in the morning. You will arrive
Christmas afternoon, in time for most Of
the festivities, and you can stay jest as
long as you ike"
Elizabeth looked at him squarely now,
with startled eyes.
what 90 you mean! she asked. You
Know very we'll
Just TINS. dear. YOU must take 'he
seFenty-hVe dollars We saved 70 get the
ne" machinery IN the spring. IL manage
about that somehow"
"hy-Why, couldht 40 that, STAN
Hered Ellzapeth IN denial. put WIN nope
mounting in her heart. Il won't do It"
"Oh, yes, YOU will he replied, in his
most masterful tones, and win an air OF
g. IA. k-l 49,. ~,,N IL
hnallty. And then his calmness broke
and he cried from his heart, An, dearest
sad and lonely, not to hear you sing about
the pest VIE IN the world.
So it was settled. The pretty trousseau,
almost NnWorn, was prepared LOT the east
srn Journey.
Are you sure you won LOOK snapoy
or oid-fashioned? Robert asked ANXIOUS
ly, for pride was one or the strongest npers
or his being.
ION, no, they won't expect a fashlon-
plate to come out of the Wilderness, she
answered gaily. land Alice Will help me
Turkish things UP a little
Stopping i'll her packing. she slipped on
a little rose-colored evening gown, and
your work any more, or make little jokes
and laugh as you used to do? / think l
can get the machinery somehow, but let's
not think about that now. Nothing mat
ters except for my sad little girl to lind
her happy heart again"
With a cry OF remorseful tenderness, she
threw herself into his arms.
"Oh, Robert. you're SO good, so good:
And what a poor wife l. am. so sel1sh