New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1917-09-19


very successful and had made much
money for himself as we'll, so he plan.
ned many changes In the fine old man,
sion which during Uncle Jeffrey's her
mit-like existence had been greatly
neglected. Mrs. Phipps, the house
keeper he had brought from town with
him, was having all the carpets and
rugs renovated and the lace curtains.
which had been laid away In cedar
chests and closets, aired and mended.
Once he came upon group Of chill
dren playing in his orchard. They
scattered at sight Of him, and he was
sorry, for Dick was fond Of children.
The nttlest one Of all, fair haired
laddie Of four, he caught and swung
high tn the alr.
What is your name, young man?r
he asked.
frankie Miller" lisped the child.
"And my names Beth Miller" put in
fat little girl.
Dick gave them some money and
watched them scamper away through
the hedge.
So these were Beth's children! He
guessed that from their names, al
though the name of Miller was COM
mon enough in Shropton.
At dinner that night Mrs. Phipps told
him that the housekeeping would soon
be completed and the entire house
ready for occupancy
F ga n hut tho In ~ o,,r%oi,e Ano.
Some Of them need mending. and l
have had great deal Of trouble in
finding some one who can do the work
properly. But there is young woman
coming tomorrow to help me- She does
very fine sewing for the ladies of the
village"
q Every WELL" said Dick. land when
everything is ready, Mrs. Phipps, you
should take q few days of to visit your
sister. You have been working very
hard
Thank you, Mr.. Allen said the
housekeeper as she withdrew. "You
are always SO thoughtful and kind"
II wish had more people to be kind
to-" sniled Dick wryiy as he finished
his dinner. I'm a lonesome beggar.
and no mistake"
The next day he drove his little run
about over 70 the next town to attend
to some business matters, and it was
late afternoon when he returned home
The house was very still when he en-
tered It, He decided that Mrs. Phipps
was taking her daily nap, and he had
forgotten all about the sewing woman
who was to come until he entered the
big blue room and saw her sitting
there in the sunshine surrounded by
pillows of flmy laees, while Mrs
Phipps sewed in another window.
ooh, Mr.. Allen!' Mrs. Phipps hustled
forward. Were you looking for met"
No. came in to get some Matches
he confessed. you are getting along
famously, see" He wished that rud-
dy brown head would turn toward
him. He wondered what the face be-
meath it could be like.
''This is Miss Page, the young lady
who is mending the curtains" f1uttered
Mrs Phipps at last when she found
that Dick would not 60
Now the girl turned and looked up
at him with Beth Pages warm. brown
eyes and her frank smile.
Il was wondering if it was the Mr..
Allen used to know" she said de.
mdrely~
Dick was wringing her little hand in
his with unconscious energy.
miss Pager" he,repeated amazedly.
''Why, yes she replied. blushing.
"You'll think me rude. but thought
you married Frank Miller be said
bluntly.
"Impossible. He married Ella Mans
field
Dick checked sharp exclamation
snd, turning, on his heel, left the room
and went into the garden
!. His mind was In ctSlos.
All the beliefs he had harbored for
years had proved to be false. But he
could trace the falseness back to Ella
Mansfield, who on her birthday night
had shown herself to.be a cheat. Ella
had told him that Frank and Beth
were engaged. and he had gone away
and had not troubled to come back ex-
cept for brief visits to Uncle jeffrey.
who never knew any Of the village Cos
sip. And the children who had played
in his orchard were Elias children and
not Beth's Beth was still unmarried
and sewing for her living. She had
been in bis house mending his curtains
lin the house where she should reign
as mistress
Suddenly his pulses leaped, Why
not now? It was not too late. 1t is
never too late when the girl one loves
is unmarried. He couldn't ask her
here in his own house He must go to
her home.
So he went away to the city for a
week Just because 1t was tantalizing
| with Beth so near him. and he bought
a wonderful diamond ring
When he came home again the cur