Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1908-05-15

gray clouds grew more threatening. VIII
ME had made numberless trips to the VIII
dow, hoping TO see Lynne, who was OUT III
search OF a position. Helen, sitting before
the almost ~fireless CRATE, carefully guaru-
ed the few sticks of wood left in the box.
The coal bin and the larder We're almost
empty and she never failed to look OUT
for her twin brothers. comfort as far as
possible.
Here he comes, Helen!" said Winifred,
opening the door for the ALL. slender
youth of Il, who had returned tired, hum
CRY and too discouraged to tramp furthef
on his f~ruitless errand. Helen threw the
last bit of wood on the dying embers ana
as Lynne knelt on the rug to warm his
benumbed fingers he looked appealingly
at his sister as he said, II have failed
again, Helen. and | am at my wits end,
Cant you help a fellow out some way?
My brain is about as empty as my stom-
ach, and that is saying a great deal, ne
added with a mirthless laugh.
1t was dismal days for these young peo-
pie who had been born and reared in lux
ury. Winifred, five years younger than
Helen and Lynne, had been too light
hearted to realize the change as other
than a new experience. until now when
they had to face the problem of how TO
buy bread and fuel.
Every one who had known the Hon.
Chester Randolph naturally supposed him
a man of large wealth. His home was
palatial and his credit unlimited. His
motherless children had never asked in
vain for anything they wanted and they
could hardly understand the lawyer, who,
after their fathers sudden death, in
formed them that with the exception of
the household effects and a few hundred
dollars they were left without the means
OF living.
The friends who had shown them every
sympathy In their bereavement while they
believed them to be heirs to a large for
tune soon dropped off when they found
that Mr.. Randolph had lost his money in
a rash speculation just before he died. 1t
was a terrible ordeal for these young peo-
pie, but they were plucky and proud.
Scoring the bone thrown at them from
one Of their relatives, they moved into a
small house in the suburbs, and Lynne,
fresh from college, accepted a small posi-
tion with one of the many men his father
had helped in years past. The work was
hard and the pay small, but 1T kept the
wolf from the door, and he would not
listen to Helen's proposition that she
could take a position also, so that he need
not be SO overtaxed. In fact, the change
from a life of ease and outdoor sports to
drudgery at a desk was hard on the boy,
'AAC @ANs ohOWiA RoAS 1h0 SAHAf 49, ~
would not let his sister breach the subject
again. IF you work for anybody else,
III nave to look around for q wife.
WINS not worth much as a housekeeper.
She's such a tomboy and too much of a
kid TO look after anything more intricate
than washing dishes after the dinner some
one else had cooked You surely wouldn't
leave me to her tender mercies! 1t would
be cruel to do it, Confess I'm right,
Winniet'
Miss Winifred Randolph completely ig-
nored this chatting, and as she saw him
put his arm around Helen and kiss the
hand she laid on his lips to make him
cease teasing her, Winnie elevated her
pretty little nose in lofty scorn as she
said: You two make me positively i'll;
why can't you talk five minutes without
a lot of soft nonsense? One would think
you were lovers"
so we are, you little iceberg. Come
here and tell us whose letter you were
kissing so a~ffectionately this morning
You are a big, hateful fellow, said Win
ME, rushing past him with her checks on
fire. This was two months before the day
that found the sisters and brother look
Ing mutely at each other in hopes that
some way out of the awful trouble would
be suggested. Lynne had lost his position
and one months salary through the dis
honorable failure of the firm and the last
dime had been spent for food. Even Helen.
who never failed to pilot them through all
sorts Of difficulties, could see no way out
of this excepting to humble themselves to
ask help from the relatives who had so
long ignored their existence. Anything
but that-let us starve first" they cried
of one accord. But 1t was hard to be
hungry and cold, and the last loaf of
bread was nearly gone and the coalbin
was entirely empty. What could they do,
these tenderly reared young folks? Winnie
had been crying, when suddenly she rush
ed from the rooms as If unable to bear an
other word.
Poor little VIM. It's hard for her."
said Helen, who thought her sister had
gone TO her room TO nave her cry by her
self. lad they looked out of the window
a moment later, they would have seen a
pretty, rosebud of a girl, in an %ungainly
macintosh, her curls tucked under her
car. her figure half hidden under a huge
umbrella held in both hands, going rapid
ly down the street. Not long after a knock
at the back door revealed a boy with a
large bag of coal and kindling. and soon
after the butcher and grocer put in an
appearance. Before Lynne, who had
opened the door, could ask any questions
they were gone and he stood hungrlly eye.
ing the edibles when Helen told him that
they had been left there by mistake and
would probably be called for soon.
NO they won't!'' cried a CHEEKY voice,
and there stood Winifred, who had entered
III time to hear Helen's last remark.
These things are ours, and IL you will
build the fire I'll soon show you whether
/ can do anything besides wash dishes
after some one else has hooked your din
ner, Lynn" In a wonderful short time
the kettle was singing and the odor Of q
good dinner rejoiced the hearts Of the hun.
cry trio.
Where did you get these things, VIM
on surely did not go in debt nor bes
for them said Helen In alarm. before
Winnie could answer.
No, Helen; FL got them with Dicks
sovereign. the one he gave me for
Keepsake. There was no vestige OF ~teasine
about Lynn now as he took his little sis
ter's piquant face between his hands ant
kissed the lips ~quivering with repressee
emotion. Dick was Winnie's friend IL
whom she believed implicitly. and shs
would not listen to the i~nsinuation that HI
would be like the others who deserted
them In time OF trouble. He was travelling
In the Holy Land and had not heard o.
the change In their Ives.
ooh, Helen. | forgot to give you two let
ters l got at the office: they are in tn,
pockets OF my macintosh" As Heller
eagerly secured the letters and slippes
into the next room to read them, Winni
whispered to her brother, They are boil