The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1908-03-26
The declining sun shot a level a

into her retreat before she realized
r the hour and the call of duty. Lon,
before she reached the hotel, Alvin!
cheerful voice fioated up in one o.
his jocund songs.
Stella sighed. In a few days Alvin's
bright face would be out of her life
He had been promoted from Colfax tt
the Sacramento office, and was now
awaiting his successor. Yet the sight
of him carried her thought swiftly to
the telegram from Gideon he had that
morning brought her.
The message was brief. Gideon was
coming for her! He had not needed
not disclosed her engagement; she
had been afraid. And there was
reason for fear. The gossip concern.
ing Alfred that fioated from tongue
to tongue did not escape her sensitive
ears. 1t was said that he was in love
with the superintendent niece; again,
that he cared nothing for her, only
for the position he might, as her hus.
band, command. Gideon must hear all
this. Stella knew 1t would confirm his
belief that Alfred had no love for her,
and that she must meet Gideon, tell
him. defy him. 1t would be a battle of
wills, and Gideon would be defeated;
but at what cost? What cost to him,
to herself, to Alfred? Fear gripped
her at thought of the time when the
two men should face each other.
In the parlor she found Sally b., AL
discussion, Alvin pleading, Sally B.
stern, Viola in tears.
"Oh, Miss Stella" Alvin cried APP
pealingly as she entered, do you think
a Teller that's all straight but one leg
the Lord himself put a crook in ought
to be tipped the cold shoulder for
that"
Boy! 'Tain't that" Sally b. said
sharply before Stella could speak. IF
you had a home, an money, an could
give vi some place in the world"
You bet Iii never ask you TO give
her up, ma'am, till l have a home for
her." Alvin broke in i~mpetuously; "a
number n home, too"
But, AL, that's turrible fur off. How
in thunder kin you do it?"
Sally BIS heart warmed to the
pluck of him in spite of her deter
mination.
do it? III just inch along, a little
every day, same's l have been doing.
l got three hundred saved already, an
on interest; and it'll grow faster all
the time. Ma, she helps a lot, too. I'm
going to night school in Sacramento;
and when l ask you for vi I'll be no
Greaser. l can't go on my shape, but
I'll make what brains / got stretch like
blazes!" His face was eloquent. but
Sally b. would not look at him.
Instead she gazed at Viola, all the
mothers pent pride shining in her
eyes. "Oh, vi" she said, after a pause
that was broken only by the buzz of
an uneasy autumn fly on the window,
I've staked a hull mountain O. hopes
on YOU. l amt never thought O. you
separate from me, some way. l."
She stopped, and Viola spoke with
some spirit in spite of her sobs. But,
ma, you expect me to wear a Mrs. in
front of my name some day, don't
you? And Mrs.-Mrs. Carter" she
blushed and smiled through her tears,
though her gaze shifted to the window,
Mrs. Carter's just as good as Mrs.
Bernard, amt ito
Tho n,nthn, Inr.~l e,.;.J. - Al (
vim, whose heart spoke naively in his
adoring eyes fixed on Viola's downcast
face. The boy had won Sally BIS APP
probation, yet she could not %relinquish
her dream. IF yore brothers had a
lived, vi she went on slowly, II
might "a considered of this. But yo're
all yo' paw an mes got to bank on.
We're goin' to be rich some day, an
Bernardo be a name to c~onjure with;
an yo're all we got to do it proud"
"Oh, ma, we're always just going to
rich. 1t may be a thousand years."
There was a heart-break in Viola's
voice that touched Stella's sympathy.
They're so young, Mrs. Sally; it'll
be years before they can marry, and
they may not care for each other
when the time comes. They're too
young to marry now; why not let
marriage drop out of the case till
Alvin has his home to offer, and Viola
has seen more of life? Then Alvin
can ask for her again."
Alvin peered eagerly into the older
face, waiting her slow reply.
When it came the two young things
hung breathlessly on each word, their
faces growing dull with despair as
the fateful sentence fell.
vi, yo're yo' paws child s well as
mine. | amt got no right to settle
question without his havin' a
say. An you all nights well know it
now's later-yo' paws made his pile.
It's on the sly yet, so lock yer lips.
We're goin' to pull up stakes pretty
o an git to the Bay. An we'll flame
out, an ride on the gilt edge o. society
a while, an see how that feels. How
on airth are two ole buffers like yo'
paw an me goin' to show off without
you, Viz"
Il don't meal to show off, ma" Viola
said, pitifully.
I've shaved all my life waitin' fur
the chance to live like white folks:
now it's come, are you goin' to
spoil it all, honey?" She held out her
hand and her voice trembled.