The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1908-05-14
DICKS SOVEREIGN
BY Celeste Bennett Dobbins.

Copyright, 1902. by w. r. Hearst.)
Inc wind whistled ominously and tn
gray cloud grew more threatening. Win
ME mad made numberless trips to the win
DOW, hoping to see Lynne. who was out II
search of a position. Helen. sitting before
the almost fireless CRATE. carefully guard
cd the few sticks Of wood left in the box
The coal bin and the larder were almos
empty and she never failed to look gu
Tor her twin brothers comfort as far a:
possible.
Here he comes. Helen.' said winifred
opening the door for the tall. slender
youth of 21, who had returned tired. hun
cry and too discouraged to tramp further
on his f~ruitless errand. Helen threw the
last bit of wood OF the dying embers and
as Lynne knelt OF the rug to warm his
fingers he looked appealtngly
at his sister as he said, II have failed
again, Helen, and 1 am at my wits end.
Can't you help a fellow out some way?
MY brain Is about as empty as my stom-
ach, and that Is saying a great deal, he
added with a mirthless laugh. K
1t was dismal days for these young peo-
pie who had been born and reared in lux
ury. Winifred. five years younger h
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
Duy bread and fuel.
Every one who had known the Hon.
Chester Randolph naturally imposed him
a mar 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 thew were laff wifh01t the q nc
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 MI. 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-
ton 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 mot
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,
"AS Akao 6GVWH pdi6 auO CQ1Q. DUt ne
would not let his sister breach the subject
again. If YOU work for anybody else,
LIZ have to look around for a wife.
WINS not worth much as a
She's such a tombey and too much OF a
hid 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 ender mercies! 1t would
be cruel to do 1T. Confess I'm right,
Winnie!"
Miss Winifred Randolph completely ie-
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 ill;
why can't You talk five minutes without
q lot of soft nonsense? One would think
You were lovers
SO We are. you Little iceberg. Come
mere and tell us whose letter you were
Kissing so affectionately this morning"
You are a big. hateful fellow. said Win
ME, rushing, past him with her cheeks on
hre. This was two months before the day |
that found the sisters and brother look
ing mutely at each other In hopes that
way out OF the awful trouble would /
be suggested Lynne had lost his position
ana one months salary through the dis
honorable failure Of the firm and the last |
dime had been spent for food. Even Helen |
VINO never failed to pilot them through, ALI |
sorts OF difficulties, could see no way out
OF thas excepting to humble themselves TO
ask neLp from tine relatives vino had so
long ignored their existence. Anything
Our that-let US starve first" they cried
OF oha accord. But 1t was hard to- be
hungry and cold. and the last loaf of
bread was nearly gone and the. coalbtn
was entirely empty. What could thew do
these tenderly reared Dung folks? Winnie
had been crying, when suddenly she rush
ed from the rooms as If unable to, hear an.
other word.
Poor little Winn: It's hard for her
Helen. who thought her sister had
gone to her room to have her CRY nv her
self. Had they looked out Of the window
q moment later, they would have seen q
pretty, rosebud of a girl, in an ungain.y
mackintosh. her curls tucked under her
cap, her figure half hidden under a hinge
umbrella held In both hands, going rapid
~ down the street. Not long after a KNOCK
at the back door revealed . how with !.
large bag of coal and kindline. and soon
aI1er the butcher and grocer mt in an
appearance. Before Lynne. who had
opened the door, could ask any Questions
tney We're gone and he stood hunPrily eve.
ing the edibles when Helen told him that
NY nae peen lett there by mistake and
would probably be called for soon
No they WON'T, cried a cheerv vo,ce
there stood Winifred. who had enterad1
an time to hear Helen's last remark.
inese things are ours. and IL you will
build the fire I'll soon show you whether
I can do anything besides wash dishes
after some n else has hooked your din
ner, Lynn" In q wonderful short time
the kettle was singing and the odor az :
good dinner rejoiced the hearts OF the hun
cry trio.
Where did you get these things. winn,
you surely did not go In debt nor beg
lor them. said Helen in alarm, before
Winnie could answer.
No, Helen: LII got them with Dick.a
sovereign, the one he gave me for al
keepsake. There was no vestige OF teasing
about Lynn now as he took his little sis
terss piquant face between his hands and
kissed the lips quiyering with repressedl
emotion. Dick was Winnie's friend IN
whom she believed Implicitly, and she
would not listen to the i~nsinuation that ne
would be like the others who deserted
them in time OF trouble. He was travelling
in the Holy Lane and had not S1eard ~
a 49, - n.A 49, -.