The Miller sun. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 190?-19??, 1904-05-25
CHAPTER V.

sun is touching, now and again, in fit
| full CLEANS, the grand old beech trees
and faded MOSES and ferns, that help to
make up the exquisite landscape OF that
famous glade, Burnham Beaches. 1t is
a wonderful contrast, this early morning
in the country, with its bracing crisp
air, its rustling OF dead leaves and sing
| ing of birds, to the fog and raw atmos-
before in the city.
Here all seems to breathe content and
peace, and In no place more so than in
this pretty brown cottage, with its bow
windows and old-fashioned porch, it's
trim little flower beds and orchard, and
two bright little women, in old-fashioned
chintz morning dresses, gathering chry-
santhemums in the little slip of ground
under the palings, facing the road
They go In presently, chatting cheerily
to each other the while, and arrange the
flowers in two old china vases, one on
each side of the mantelpiece, and then
sit down to breakfast.
These are George Temples maiden
aunts, and this is their home. They are
as kindly and happy as it is possible to
be; and they seem to live for the hap
piness Of each other.
/ At some time the two sisters had had
a brass plate on the door. with an an
nouncement that il was a seminary for
young ladies; but that had been long
taken off, and they were now indepen-
dent of the world.
II wonder" remarks the eldest, brisk
ly, handing her sister her tea, IF we
shall have George and Maggie down be-
fore Christmas"
"l'm afraid not, sister," returns the
younger, shaking her head you know
what Maggie said in her last letter; that
George was so worried with business, he
never seemed to have hardly an hour for
himself. So l suppose we shall have to
wait till them"
"Ah, Lefty, 1t seems only yesterday
that we had our little Maggie almost
baby. / often think how strange it is
that things should have turned out so
WELL"
Indeed, you may well say that, Flea
nor" says the younger sister. What
could have been better for US, and for
them, too? Instead of losing our pet,
as we always feared we should have
done, she marries our nephew. just as
we hoped she would and then, in addi-
tion to all these blessings, the money
paid for her while she was with us is to
be paid US all our lives"
"Ah, we've much indeed to be CRATE
full for I often wonder what Maggie's
father would have thought, had he lived
to see her grow up, and whether he
would have taken her from us"
"Ah, often think of that, too. / re-
member so well the last time he came;
and how handsome and brave he looked;
and how proudly he kissed the child, and
called it his own little dark-haired joy.
1t Is sad to think he died so suddenly
somewhere abroad, wasn't it,"
''Well, that never could quite make
out. Mrs Cholmondely only just said
he was dead, and that the child was to
remain with us always on the same
terms; and she was such a grand, proud,
cold lady, that l felt afraid to ask any
questions"
well, perhaps it was as WELL partic-
ularly as we might have had her taken
away from us, and that would have brok-
en- our hearts"
Indeed it would, Eleanor. Heaven
bless her! Why, the house would have
might never have turned out the steady,
good young fellow he is If he hadn't got
such good wife to look after him."
And then the rustic servant comes in
with the news that Burgess is coming up
the road on his dandy horse, which in
deed is the case, as the mGn who carries
the mails from place to place, and has
been to the city this last year so so, has
done up and started an old bicycle, upon
which he rides triumphant by.
The ladies 60 into the garden, in a
pleasant little fiutter OF expectation, and
watch the stalwart young postman as he
bowls up to the gate and throws him
self off his machine. "Good morning,
Burgess; have you any letters for us?"
1.-TWO. ma am" replies the postman,
smilingly; both with double postage
paid. too. else you would not have got
'em till tomorrow this time"
The elder sister takes the epistles and
they 60 into the parlor. One is in
a female hand: the other, round, firm,
lawyer-like hand, and In blue, business
like envelope.
Come. my dear, open Maggie's first:
and If all is right with her, we need not
fear the contents Of the other"
So Maggie's poor pitiful letter is read
amid sobs and tears, and mournful en-
braces and condolences.
1t Is only few fearful lines, stating
that George has been taken to prison.
and she can't see to write any more for
the tears that are binding her., and
would her dear aunts come to her at
once.
"Of course we must go at once" they
decided; and finding the other epistle--
which is from the firm of lawyers rec
commended by Mr.. Gander--is to the
same effect, AID strongly connseling inn
mediate attention TO lhe case, they call
lup Martha, and make immediate prep