The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1907-09-07


10 Miss Dilkes quite a near relation,
20 the most distant ramifcations OF
her family were precious to her. mas
much As no other family. In her opin-
ion. quite equaled 1t in importance.
Left now with very small income.
and 4 very inferior house to that In
which her childhood and youth were
passed, Miss Rebecca received as in
mates = cousin Of the same type as
herself, and Saddle Porter whose 20
years OF life found very little con-
geniality in these somber surround
tngs. Cousin Rebecca frequently
complained to her that ut was almost
impossible to get along with Phiie's
peculiarities:" while Cousin Phile was
mysterious and confidential over poor
Rebecca's strange ways" Thus these
two elderly maidens were constant
thorns In each others sides, and like
wise In Saddle Porter's.
There was delightful house few
miles out of town, IAN Italian villa" 1t
was called; and to this villa went Miss
Saddle daily, in the morning train, and
spent four hours teaching the English
branches to two lovely little girls
favored frequently with the company
Of their very charming mamma. 1t
was Just enough employment, and 1t
was generously paid; while the young
teacher was treated in all respects as
became her birth and breeding.
This was just the kind of life that
Saddle enjoyed. A visit from Mrs.
Osbrook's brother did not lessen the
pleasure of 1t. He was very elegant,
and had such grand ways and had
travelled everywhere, and his name
was Ohio; and she overheard him tell
Ing his sister that the young governess
reminded him of wild rose (Saidle
thought this quite Originally, and many
more such things were tumbled to-
gether in her memory. and caused
blush of pleasure at the very thought
of them.
It was just after this that DR.. Emp
ton had 80 coolly said: ut will be
safer. perhaps. not to go into any
house. nor to admit any one here
for 4 few weeks
"A few weeks" when life had just
begun to be 30 beautiful to her
what might not happen in q few
weeks! She had never been particu-
larly fond of Cousin Phile," but she
felt that she loved her less than ever
that morning. For Cousin Phile" had
not been at all we'll. and unmistakable
symptoms Of varioloid were now de-
veloped. 1t was the slightest possible
type Of the disease. the doctor said.
and scarcely worth calling by any
name at all; but, nevertheless. he rec
commended prudence; and meanwhile,
as a necessary precaution. every mem
Der of the family were vaccinatetd.
Not long before this untoward ILL.,
ness of Cousin Phile's. there had ar
rived at the house distant cousin of
the family "a single. gentleman
cousin, whom Saddle pronounced dis
agreeable before she had seen much of
him. Herman Dilkes was a bachelor
Of IS, very quiet, self-contained man.
who seemed to understand every sub
ject in the world. and who gave the
young lady the unpleasant impression
that he was continually reading her
thoughts. He certainly did not find
them very complimentary to himself.
The next day she sat down and
wrote Mrs. Osbrook letter instead
Of an orthodox note. as she intended,
setting forth in detail her trouble and
loneliness. and "pining after little
Laura and Annie"
Perhaps that lady's sharp eyes de-
tected another sort Of "pining;' but.
be that as 1t may. no answer was ever
received to this epistle. Not even an
inquiry was made at the door; and
It would have been 30 easy to send
that lazy. Thomas when going his city
rounds. Once only did Saddle get a
glimpse of the familiar faces during
that tedious period Of quarantine. Mrs.
0sbrook and the children were in the
carriage, Mr.. Lathrop was on horse
back beside them; and the party were
irawn up in front of one Of the shops.
while an obsequious clerk brought out
,ales of goods for the lady's inspec
ion.
A very graceful bow and smile from |
Mrs. Osbrook; a sudden demonstration
rom the children, that was evidently |
:epressed at the outset; while Ohio |
l.athrop lifted his hat with a CLEAN |
" white teeth under his dark mus
ache; and somehow poor little Saddle
lelt empty-handed and empty-hearted
Is she pursued her way on the aimless
walk she was taking.
So strange, she thought. that Mrs.
Dsbrook did n9t beckon her to the
,arriage door. and ask when there
vas a chance OF having her with them
lgain-there could surely be no
LANCER of contamination in the open
lir. The children, too. we're strange;
ind there was an unexplicable some
hing about the whole party that was
Tar from satisfactory. 1t was very
iisagreeable to be stunned as a dan.
kerous object, condemned for days
and weeks to the society of Cousin
Aohocco Thoro wou Mr. n;ILo. to |