Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1906-08-03
.
unfSalina's
81 Legacy 49,

perhaps It won't be so bad after
ALL" said Bob, wondering what on
earth she would do with a girl, and
thinking how it would break into their,
to them. valuable conversations. Bob
wasn't fond Of girls either; he pre-
ferred talking with old people.
That afternoon Miss salina sat
down and indlted as pleasant a letter
as she could TO her niece, inviting her
to make her home with her. BY return
mail came a polite reply in which the
niese stated tina she would be with
her aunt the following Wednesday.
Miss Salina touched up the spare
room, and made every preparation for
the coming OF the stranger. When
Wednesday arrived she gathered some
red geraniums and placed them in a
vase In her niece's room. Somehow she
had begun to associate these fayorite
blossoms OF her youth with her present
troubles.
The train was on time, and Miss Sa-
lima, dressed with mor than ordinary
care, was at the station to see 1t slow
up. While she was watching the out
Corners Of one car a hand touched
gently her arm and a very soft voice
exclaimed. rs this my aunt Salina?"
Miss Salina turned to greet the guest
that she felt vas an intruder. and
while she gazed her face took on an
depression OF startled wonder. The girl
into whose face she looked was the
exact image OF her own dead youth.
The eyes were Miss Salinas as they
were forty years ago. The same rosy
mouth that Miss saiina once had, and
the even. white teeth, were before her.
The straight nose and the pretty
rounded checks Miss Salina remem-
bered her mirror gave back to her
years ago. From under the sailor hat
Miss Salina saw gllnts Of red-gold hair.
the exact counterpart Of that which
was once the pride Of her youth.
Yes. and there was the dimple In the
chin. Miss Salinas Taco still retained
that charming feature. Tho girls man
ner was full OF repose, 20 also was Miss
Salinas. Miss Ealina wondered II shc
were dreaming. All the way homo she
kept wondering. When the girl entered
the pretty that had been prepared
for her. 4 little coo Of delight escaped
her lips. oh. Amt sal!na, these are
my favoritc flowers and she bent over
to inhals the fragrance Of tho red gera-
NUNS.
When Miss salina wanted to nnd her
niece she directed her steps to the tiny
library room. One day she found her
porting over some books on 0%rnitholosy.
I"Your collection of stuffed birds, and
books on tho subject, arc my delight"
said tho girl. Aunt Galina. / want to
give you my white heron specimen,
which was ssnt me BY an old friend Of
mamma's. I - you have none In your
collection.
bliss Selma began to wonder when
the similarity between her niece and
herself would cease.
It was not long before the whoe
town was taking about the remarkable
likeness between Miss ealina and her
great niece.
why. she even thinks like her. said
Miss Mary Perkins, who In her youth
had been q great chum Of Miss Sa-
IIlna's. she looks for all the world ~
| 6altna did when John Oldfeld used to
carry her red g~eraniums."
Miss Salina soon realized that the
coming Of her beautiful niece was not
less than q godsend. Often they would
sit under the live 4 tree. and watch
the tiny grey gnat-catchers fitting
nHrs,k &kAun tia 4&ul ~,nsrlA a~~nk~R 49,.
past life, and tell OF the hopes and
ambitions that filled her heart.
Bob Terrell was Z frequent visitor,
and Miss Sallna, true to her feminine
Instincts, a. shs watched her two IA
vorites together, wave thsm ints; . ro-
nance.
Another year rolled round. and an
other fAlr spring morning. Miss salina
knelt upon the green turf before the
circular bed. and made compact tho
pulverixed earth about the roots OF her
red eeraniums. The postmanss whistle
sounded In the street, AZ he passed on
to the next house. Miss Salina fell
Into 4 dreamy mood. Her face grew
A. rosy ~ In the days Of her youth.
Her eyes took on a softened look.
..They are doing better this rear than
ever before" she said to herself, pack
Ing the earth firmly about the roots OF
the red geraniums.
Aunt Salina,s she glanced mp quick
II ut the sound OF Bohss voice, and saw
two radiantly happy faces smiling
down upon her. Aunt salina," repeat
- nnA%aArArtn- 81 AA~atShae ~ thu