The Charles Mix new era. (Wagner, Charles Mix County, S.D.) 1???-1911, 1909-05-07

I can decide Then she turned ana
crossed hastily over to the o~ld-fashion-
cd mirror above the m~antelpiece and
peered curiously into her own face.
NO, 1t isn't too late yet nodding her
head contentedly. her gray eyes alight
with some strange purpose.
Suddenly, as II impelled by Z new
thought. she held out both her brown.
well shaped hands to the wondering
young author.
"You don't know what you've done
for me- she said. then. a trifie wist-
fully, somehow Id like to tell you,
| about it--may II and as Mark nodded
his assent. she sat down again and hes
| itatingly commenced her story:
MY mother was a lady" she began
| proudly. land l." with a bitter smile,
IAN Asa Wendall's wife! 1t was the
| only way. though. for mother was sick,
| almost starving. and ! was only six
| teen. so what could l do. Asa was
awfully fond OF me. too. at first, and
perhaps pathetically, III he'd had
more patience I might ha' got to care
for him. But he got to drinking. ana
then mother died. and things began to
get worse and worse. After a bit the
baby camc'-here her voice broke for
n moment. but she went on bravely--
and for awhile 1t seemed as If every
thing was coming right at last: but I
wasn't strong the first winter. md Asa
didn't seem to care. He was always
good natured to US. but he drank
harder'n ever. and 1t seemed as II his
slack, easy going ways would kin me.
If 1t hadn't ha' beer for baby / don't
know what I'd done. But one night
she took Group. and ASA was too drunk
10 go for the doctor. I couldn't leave
her fer a minute. and by the time I
got Asa sobered up enough 1t was too
late-my little one died.
II went out o. my head for awhile
after that. I think, and II hadn't
been afraid OF never seeing baby and
mother again. I'd a. drowned myself:
but as it was I just worried along
somehow. and then the mex summer He
came. He was an artist and lodged
with us, and after a bit he got to max
ing pictures of me, and telling me
about his world; and one day he-he
asked me to go off with him. God only
knows how much I wanted to. but
somehow them two graves on the hill
wouldn't let me. so | sent him away.
and Asa was furious over losing the
money he paid us-said it was lust
nnnfha- of NV .nt,praI hfyh faI,4s,t -
tons That was three years ago, and
he's written once every year since ask
Ing il I'd changed my mind but I new
er did till to-day her what you said
opened my eyes, and tomorrow / am
going away to him. and enter upon a
new life"
Flo n moment or two after she
stopped speaking there was absolute
silence. and then Dinsmore began to
talk. I've heard sermons and I've seen
plays, but for a realistic picture Of the
hopeless misery Of a life such as she
proposed going to, ! have never either
seen or heard anything equal to that
speech. For twenty minutes he talked.
without a break. Little Belle Stilton
now and then noiselessly clapped her
approval, and when he had finished the
girl rose slowly and said, as she turned
towards the door:
II reckon I'd rather be Asa's wife"
But the funny part of 1t Is that both
Belle and Mark claim the episode as
clear proof of their respective sides in
the mornings Observation-Disclosures
Grit.