The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1905-04-21
THE DIFFICULTY.
COP, ti.ht. 80. by W. II. ii+arr.D

Yes, renal ktC MlS. ftlfISpit.
understand The rooms suit me per
tcctly." she went ON. 49, they passed
downstairs again, and J shall begin
TO move tomorrow. 1T will be 40 nice
To turn around and not always be run
ming into somebody. And now Nh. Pc
tcrson's sister is living with us. Well.
good day. The things viii begin tc
come after tomorrow. zoo day"
Theodore Foster stood looking after
her a moment. hen he went into the
empty sitting room and tool the large
departments TO Let notice from the
from window. He carried it up to
his own room. | hope IT will be a long
time before / have to see you again.
re told Il as he put it in his desk. =.
II Wal the first time for "a month
that he had felt really happy. During
that time he had tried TO get a tenant
for his house. but had been unable ia
find a suitabl one. II q been hor-
libly lonely coming nome at night 10
. cold, echoing house. But now he
would have the Petersons there. and he
looked forward 10 the day after tomor-
row With joy. He used 10 know Joe
Peterson. but he supposed he woulhn't
see much of him. as Joe was away
from home all the week. There were
the children. TOO de was fond of
children even If he was AN old bach
eloi. hen he remembered that the
tIlllufeIl must Dc Iie.iIN 6ioMiI uP Wy
this time. Well, young people were al.
most as good AS children. y
II WAS the NEXT day. while he was
out taking in his constitutional. that
his friend lsverson saw him and crossed
the street 10 talk to him. so you,
have got tie PeterSonS?" he said. aft
er they had walked some distance to-;
gether. We'll. there's only one thing
about them that you won't like"
"Nhat'S that questioned Mi, FOS-
ter. ,
Their piano"
"oh. L don't mind piano practice as
some do said Theodore easily. lin
fact, / rather like it,"
You haven't lived With the Peter
sons yet said EveIson senteniously.
You wait a little. Its a terribly old
piano. j could get more music out
of a brass kettle and tin pans. It's all
out of tune. too; and worst of all, they
keep banging away ON il all the time.
It's something awful! There are three
girls who AXE lessons. and they keep
the old thing going abou nine hours Il
day
Theodore's face had heightened IL
ing This description. What makes them
keep such an antiquity"" was asked.
Well, YOU see, they're rather poor,
and they can't afford q new one"
Theodore walked moodily along after
ms 1flellu Iiai leil Nun. liiell SuOoeil-
ly his face frightened. Il can arrange
matters all right he said, and went
on more briskly.
The next mornig there was consider
able gruInbling from h TWO men who
the Petersons' belongings be-
cause Theodore Foster insited on help
ing them.
the placing of the piano. He insisted
on having it on the Very end of the
load, and tied it With his own hands.
When the horses started he ,rotted
along beside it. and they reached the
house at the same time.
1t WAS u ra~ morning. and the men
We're putting blankets on the horses,
hen suddenly there came a iangling
crash. They hurried to The back of the
VAN and oun Theodore looking in hor-
ror and dismay at the very badly
smashed piano.
Its all my fault" was all he man
aged TO say before a torrent of abuse
and oaths loud II deep overwhelmed
him.
Theodore went and told Mrs. Peter
son abou the accident, n after he
gone a loud vail rose from the
three girls, but when the household eff
fects We're moved in and the Petersons
themselves went to their new home,
there, in the drawing room, was a beau
lllul, DIdllQ new piano dMdlllllS l!leill.
They all stood in the doorway and
stared in anlazement.
NJ Foster had 1t sent Aunt Sarah
explained. She had been there
attending to that end of the moving.
He said that as it was due to his
carelessness thai the other was
wrecked, he should AXE the liberty OF
replacing it by this one"
Maud, the eldest girl. went n tried
the instrument isn't it beautiful"
she cried r~apturously.
Time went on, and the girls practised
diligently. Their aunt also ooh ad-
vantage of the chance to play, so tina
Theodore had ali the music he wanted.
One day Theodore asked Maud to go
With him to the piano shop.
II want you TO try them ALL" he
said. land see if there is one you Ike
better than the one at home"
Maud tried them. No she declared,
There isn't one so nice"
by the way. won't YOU play that
new waltz for me-
II seated herself at the nearest in
strument and began to play. When she
had finished she ooked around. but
Theodore vas not beside her as she had
supposed. instead she saw him at the
far end of the room coming toward her
with q piece of paper in his hand.
When h reached her he passed her the
paper. "A birthday present. my dear.
I believe it is your birthday today
Maud looked at the naner- hlankly.