The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1916-02-03
c~omplacent satisfaction which boded

, a complacent satisfaction which boded
i'll for the qualification Of. his wife's
curiosity, n finally accompanied Ida
home. thus frustrating ali his wife's
designs III cutting off her chance OF
hearing Lida's story.
Dear me-" thought she. II don't be-
lieve the nan was EVER born who
knowed when he wasn't wanted! How
lonesome 1t seems when Iida'S gone!
What does the girl want to get mar
ried for when l could ha to9k such
a sight of comfort with her? Oh. dear,
dear! 1t does seem to me as If the
world was all askew!"
The next day, In spite of the weather
prophets prediction of snow, dawned
clear and brilliant as the dying smile
of Indian summer. By II o'clock Mrs.
Nlsbett vas dressed in her best silk
and cap, with the turkey browning
beautifully in the oven and the cram
berry tarts doing credit to themselves
as we'll as to their master, the table
set, the fire high heaped with crack
ling logs and the plates dressed with
c%oronals of autumn leaves. Aunt Con-
stance, a tall, prim maiden lady of I'M
certain age, stood before the bedroom
looking glass arranging her couture.
Ida, in a blue dress with a late au-
tu1nn rose In her hair, was tripping
hither and thither as light-footed and
helpful as half a dozen household fair
les merged into one, while Mrs. Nisbett
stood regarding her with a loving eye.
m~urDluring to herself:
Wen, we'll, it seems like it was the
Lords viii to deny us of just What we
most want, but If I q a daughter l
could wish h was like Ida"
AS the old kitchen clock struck I
Mrs. Nisbett. looking from the window,
gave a little cry.
There he comes-there comes Joel.
nd &c T St,n tl,arN'- IT, 49, ,,.%d
him?'
Ida ran into the bedroom.
When she returned, Mrs. Nisbett was
clasped in the arms of a tall, handsome
man of four OF five and twenty.
Ida" said the proud matror, striv-
ing to disengage herself from the affec-
tionate clasp, this is my son Stephen,
and-why, what's the m%atter?"
For Stephen had dropped her hands
with an exclamation of surprise and
amazement and Ida stood there glow
ing crimson.
Ida. Why, mother, this is a sur
prise indeed that you have prepared
for mel"
Il prepared" echoed the astonisaed
old lady. Well, that's a good un,
I'm ten times as much surprised
as you be! Ida, what does this
nean?"
IT means" said Ida. with a demure
'mlle-she was beginning to recover
Ter scattered self Observation-Disclosures
hat this is h gentleman I am to be
to-"
Stephen" cried Mrs. Nesbitt, "is
Ida to be your wife,"
She has given me her promise to
hat effect, at least" said Stephen.
ooking proudly down upon his lovely
little fiancee.
Well, if it don't beat all how queer
hings do happen!" said Mrs. Nisbett,
Ter face radiant. And you've been
vim neighbor to me these six weeks
md Il never knowed it. Ida, why
you tell me?''
Because I never dreamed hat Ste
Risingham, my betrothed western
over. was anything to Mrs. Nisbett,'
aid Ida, laughing.
There it's, now!" calculated the
arner. How was she to know tina
le was only my nephew, adopted when
lis parents died, twenty good years
We've always called him son, and
always been Il son to us. But Ida
[idn't know. Old woman, what do you
ay to Stephens wife,"
Mrs. Nisbett clasped Ida to her
leart.
Il do say" she CALCULATED, this is
he th~ankfullest Thanksgivin' 1 ever
ived to see!"-New York Daily News.