Year: 1874

She must have decided the question
satisfactorily to herself between bed,
time and morning, for morning
brought back her old self again. She
even burst forth into a song, much to
Aunt Jcannett's discomfort, for she
greeted her with, 81 thought you'd
about quit yawpin around


"Couldn't help it, auntie, it would
come" How little they guessed why.


That afternoon Dell dressed with
unusual cr.re 1t was her custom to
change her dress every day after din
ncr, no matter # she only changed
from calico to calico. There was this
innate refinement about her-this
emblem of true ladyhood. Her heart
futtered a little as she fastened the
tell-tale sprig in her hair 1t was
nothing new for hef to do, for as her
aunt expressed il, 'there was always
some weed dangling from her head y
but this had meaning-a happy one
for her, and best of all a hidden one
to aunt Jeanette. She sat in a deep
study for she knew not how long
but she was reused by the slammins
of doors and window sashes and the
rattle Of their paper curtains. A
storm was coming. The weeks s
washing was out doors. Dell hastily
ran down stairs, seized her bonnet
and flew to gather them in. AS she
came through the door the wind
whisked her bonnet off, honey-suckle
and all. A friendly bush caught the
former but the latter was carried no
one knew whittier. Dell was un-
conscious of the mischief done as she
picked up the truant bonnet and hur-
ried to her aunt, whom she found in
a state of excitement only equalled by
the elements without.


There was little or no rain with the
storm. 1t was one of those fierce
storms Of wind that spring up SO sud
denly over the prairies, leaving in
their wake destruction and sonnet times
death. They last but few moments
sometimes, but these moments are
hours to those who experience them.


Dell looked out after the storm had
passed to see what destruction it had
done to their own property. 1t had
escaped except line of board fence
which was lying fiat "Uncle Nathan
will have the north fence to rebuild" "
she remarked to her aunt, as she
quietly took up her sewing.


Perhaps an hour afterwards Doc :
tor Troop came. He made some re-
marks about the storm, and the dam.
age it had done; then went over
where Mrs. Perry was sitting bolster
ed up in her easy chair. He passed
behind Dell, glancing quickly at the
curly head as he did so. But the
emblem was not there! He talked
rapidly, as was his custom, said he
thought Mrs. Perry was getting SC
well he need not call again. Must
exercise moderately, and be careful
about lifting anything, and she would
be all right soon. Then shaking
hands with Mrs Perry, and nodding
coldly to Dell he went away.


Poor Dell! dow her heart fell
from its highest pinnacle of hope to
the very depths of disappointment.
She longed to go somewhere where
she could be alone with her morti6ca-
ton and disappointment. But her
aunt wanted her. Her pillows were
hard, her back needed bathing, her
feet were raised too much. All these
and many more were immediate wants
which Dell must attend to listening
meanwhile to her aunt's talk about
the doctor; his fine character, hi,
numerous charities, his patience with
the sick. "No wonder he rides in such
a dilapidated old buggy, he gives
away everything he gets, and doctors
the poor for nothing"


1t was very hard for Dell to master
herself during all this preamble, and
it was we'll for her, perhaps, that she
could not get away to herself with