The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1908-01-22
school over at the corners. and had

school over at the corners, and had
announced his marriage
VeSta tried to learn to love this
gaunt. bustling woman. whose every
trait was the antithesis of the woman
whose place she took but the new
Mrs. Brewster had repulsed every ad-
vance She hated young persons. She
had married to be rid of them, and she
treated the stepdanghter with scant
courtesy.
The ways of the household were
amended to suit her radical tastes.
The old rockers were sent to the attic
as too old fashioned and two upholster-
ed monstrosities had taken their places.
The other memorials Of Vestas mother
quickly followed the rockers to the
garnet, and the house was completely
changed in appearance. as were the oc-
cupants in their attitude toward each
other
And now even the old homestead
was to be given up. The fertile farm
was to be sold and the household goods
to be auctioned off, Mrs. Brewster
had decided that the northwest offer
ed greater opportunities for her hus-
band. and they were to move to Mani
toba and start afresh in the wheat
belt
Mrs. Brewster hustled into the room
handed Don't sit there looking as
though you were too weak to walk.
I've done twice as much as you have
today, and l got the supper. too, but
I don't look half as tired as you do.
Stop incoming here in the dark, and
come out and have cup of tea
81 don't feel like eating" answered
Vesta, the sobs rising in her throat.
To this woman the abandonment of
the home meant nothing. She could not
understand what it meant to the girl.
Mrs. Brewster turned away
you'll be hungry by and BY" she
said sharply "There'll be some cold
things in the pantry, but I'm not going
TO make any more tea"
She hustled out and left Vesta to her
self. YEARLY the girl rose from the
box and left the house. She could
hear her father laughing and joking
with her stepmother. and the noise of
mirth fell extensively upon her ears.
The dusk was deepening to dark and
the air was chill, but Vesta did not feel
the need of a shawl. She wandered
down the road. past the white gate to
the little bridge that spanned the creek.
Here she loved to lean upon the rail
and watch the sunset over the fertile
fields. The sun had long since dropped
below the hills, but the girls over
wrought imagination could conjure up
the scenes Of the past. She leaned
upon the rail and looked out across the
fields, now bristling with the frost
kissed stubble. She could see again
the glories of the waning day. She
could almost hear a voice whispering
in her ear.
Her hands clutched the rough bark
Of the wood as in memory she lived
over that night when she had sent Ben
Folsom away because she thought it
her duty to remain with her father and
console him for his loss. She thought
Of the sharp faced woman who was
sitting opposite him at the kitchen ia
BILE discussing their new home in the
west, and then she thought of the gen
tie faced woman who still lived in her
daughters heart, if not in her hus-
bands.
So lost was she In her thoughts that
she never heard the quick tread Of an
approaching pedestrian nor needed his
presence until a brown hand closed
over her slender fingers.
Ibid I startle you" demanded Ben
as she started back with cry. Il
was on my way to your house. got
in this afternoon and heard the news.
Do you want to go to Canada, Vesta?"
Il would rather die" she murmured
passionately. ct is like a second
burial to go away and leave mother
up there on the hill all alone"
"And your father?" he asked gently.
"Do you still feel that he needs you
more than / do?"
"How much do you need me?' she
demanded shyly.
$50 much that | have come almost
across the continent to ask you again
If you will marry me-" he declared
81 have done well out west-far bet
ter than anticipated. can buy the
farm. Perhaps we can arrange with
your father to buy the furniture, too,
and-we will make a new home where
the old one was. Are you willing,
dear?"
'Not for the sake of home" said
Vesta softly, "but because you want
me, Ben, and-because want you, too,