Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1879-03-26
ibleltiy replssd Hops, going Ills own

49, - et0coTo 0eu9ntof, stop -
nc1enk Il ron plsass, that ] may rub
oat ~ sss.s;shisS crd1 ~ have on
Go and III your hsrrings lazy girl"
replied Robert "and do not concern
youx1elf about the paaers-by.n
TIL. little girl, silenced, hastened to re-
enter her mothers shop.
Atthis n0Msnt Hope Arrived q the
hOuss az the butcher, who was coovers-
ing On the threshold with his neiehbor
the blacksmith.
You are Just the man | wanted"
said the latter, stopping Robert; and he
began 10 speak to him on business; but
hardly had he commenced, when old
Peggy Turton arrived in her plaid gown
and blue apron.
"Mercyf Mr.. Hope" exclaimed she,
taking up her apron, "what is that on
Robert turned to tell her TO let him
alone, but tho blacksmith then perceived
the mark made ~ MI. Taylor.
2 HeAvensl" said he, laughing; che
misht serve for . sign to the White
Cru"
~ suppose," aid the butcher, that
his wife has marked him thus for fear of
losing him"
Hope felt that there was for him one
method Of escaping ct the same time
from the apron Of Peggy, and the jokes
Of the butcher and blacksmith. 80 he
haSesned - i've the spot, not without
some abudve language to his neighbors;
but the crn1 had begun to weigh more
heavily upon his shoulders than he had
ct first supposed.
Tho unfortunate Robert seemed des
tined this day to pFDv0king encounters,
! for he had gone but . few steps when he
found himself opposite q schoolhouse.
School wa just out, and the scholars
were ct this moment issuing from the
door, rsady for my fun that might pre-
sent itself. Hope was terribly uneasy,
ard imagined he already heard cries be-
hind him. His fears were soon realized;
he had scarcely passed the schoolhousc
door when . long shout was heard, and
fifty scholars at least began to pursue
him and point At him, throwing up their
ELook, iootIp exclaimedone there
b ahssp maRhed for the butcher"
aDonet yon $50 replied another, " il
10 0Euaader just setting out to Pales.
And the shosting and laughter recon-.
menced m0fUEoudly.
Hope became pale with anger; he
turned like : cross dog pursued by chill
dren, and perhaps would have cruelty
rsvenged himself on his young perse.
cutorA had mot Mr.. johnson, the school
master, suddenly appeared at the dool
Of the house. s
Robert advanced toward him, com
planning Of his pupils as being insolent
..IMr. johnson replied that he would NOT
for tho world encourage impertinence in
them, but that the white cross which hi
had ON his back might make wiser PEG
pls than boys laugh.
"What il this cross to your" replied
Robert, Grossly. Els not my back my
own property"
The schoolmaster smilisgly assented
and Hope went on his way. But tn,
eros was growing heavier and heavier
He began to think that it would no
: be 20 easy TO pay his rent in this man
ner. So much raillery had already beer
heaped upon him, what would Il be i
the cause were known7 His LANDLORD
might ~ we'll have written on his bacl
5 q receipt in full.
Al he reflected thus, Robert arrivet
? ut the tavern. He wal passing by whel
, he perceived Nj. Taylor himself at a few
: PAGES distance, and on the other side hi
neighbor Hullins, dragging his wooden
leg, and converting with Harry Stokes
the carpenter. Harry Stokes was tn,
; wit of the village, and Hope would mo-
? have encountered him before Hullin
|. for the world. He therefore took refug
: in the tavern.
But the place was not long tenable
i, The drinkers did not fail to perceive tn
/ cross, and to rally Hope, who grew an
: CRY; the quarrel became violent, and tn
i~nn-keeper, fearing some serious result
turned Robert out of doors.
z The latter had left home with the in
: tention OF examining some work whic
] had been offered him In a neighborin
= village, but his mind had been 30 di
) turbed By old Fox, Patty Stevens, til
blacksmith, the butcher, Peggy Turtol
3 and the schoolboys, that he resolved I
" return home, thinking that would b,
after all, the peaceable place.
u Have you ever seen in the month
Y September, . young partridge, the la,
. Of the brood, futtering along throug
r the fields, 9th . wounded wing9 Sue
!, Wa RoheftOn his way TO his home 1
the other end of the village. Now b
walked rapidly lest he should be Owe
taken, now slowly lest he should mel
HeIdst gliding behind the bushes, climl
!: ing the walls, and stunning chances Lii
y . gypsy who has stolen . chicken from
farmers poultry yard. At this momel
the white cross was an insupportab
weight.
X At last he reached his dwelling, an
= this time hoped to find a little rest. B,
- soon a. his wife perceived him 81
= cried out.
z fare you not ashamed to come bae
- you went? Five OF six of our neigl
bors have asked me If you had lost yOl
senses! Quick let me rub out tn,
croas!"
y away, womanl" exclaimed Rober
y ~exasperated.
"You shall not remain 90, Hope;
will not have anyone belonging to me
Ridiculous. Take of that jacket! take
y of this minute, / tel you'll"
- Az she spoke TIM, Mrs. Hope attemp
! ed to aie1e her husbands arm; but L
y latter rudely repulsed her. Mrs Hop
who was not remarkable for patienc
:. replied BY . blow, and the result was
scufie between the. two, Jto-the gre,
= scandal Of the neishbofA, who ran
= separate them.
Everybody blamed Robert, who, whe
! ho became calm, understanding tn,
there vasno hope of rest or peace fl
him otherwise, efiaced the cross of b
N own accord.
). The Monday following he carried b
rent to the house of his landlord.
y "Ahl ALL Robert" said Mn Taylo
b on perceiving him, "I thought va
: would DON repent your bargain. tn
!, 10 good lesson for envious and impatier
y dispOaitionA who are i~ncessantly con
i planning. Do not complain of bein
!. less fortunate than other. for you kno,