Kimball enterprise. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1883, 1883-08-10
ERNEST VAN DORM.

EhNLS1 VAN DUhN.
It is the fashion these days to relate
pure fiction with an air Of simple truth;
and ifone should happen by any chance
to tell the very truth, he must by all
means call it fiction, or who will care to
hear? Will you listen to this true story
Of the rocks and "snags" which beset
the course of true love in California?
Some years ago the pursuit of the
phantom health led me into the wilder
ness of one of our Cow countless" and
brought me to stand in a fourishing
dairy ranch. There I spent two bril-
liant summer months counting the airy,
mocking sprite with what success it
matters not now, since it is not my story
you are to hear, but Ernest Van Dorn's.
He was 25 then, tall AMI broad shoul-
dered. with black eyes, usually brimming
with mirth, and a strong, dark beard
that matched his hair. To make the
portrait complete you must see him in
hunters suit of butternut hue, with
rifle over hisshoulder, forhe was q deer
hunter. Such a portrait he once sketched
with pen and ink for miss who wanted
his picture"
Ny first glimpse of him, however, was
on Sunday, aud he wore fine black
suit, which he had bought in defere nee
tothe dear ones far away-for the boy
Ernest had ran away from wealthy
home in Holland, and once iu the
week he must bring that home little
nearer by dress more suited to his
fathers heir.
A few mornings after my arrival
stroled into the woodshed and found
Ernest moulding bullets for his rifle.
,er watching him while.
eyes. wish could mould out twen-
ty-dollar gold pieces as silv."
Now, don't be lazy, aid, 9Th ats
my prerogative. Stand W and let me
look at you"
So be stretched up his full height, and
looked so strong and hearty that we
both laughed aloud.
"That viii do. Now 60 to work and
earn all the twenties you want"
And having discharged my feminine
rifle, I sauntered back into the house,
took up my pen, and fell into q reverie
the subject of my reverie being the
wish Of Ernest Van Dorm. felt moral
IL certain this wish was something more
than the idle, foolish expression it
seemed. was recalled at last by the
plaintiye tones Of Ernest's violin, upon
which he was playing Lorena." "Ah!"
thought I, $50 that's the clew." Then he
dashed off into the Hunters Chorus" ("
from Der Freischuetz, and l fell to writ
ing, just as though it were possible, by
the greatest industry to make up for the
hour lost in musing.
At dinner the nyersation turned up
on the recent marriage of young girl
to a wealthy ranchman of sixty SUM
mers. The comments upon the young
girls act included every chane of pity,
congratulation, condemnation and ex-
cuse. Every one had an opinion and
gave it fully, without one thought of the
desperate strait to which that young
girl may lave been reduced before she
bartered away her most cherished trea-
sure-Aer youthful romance. Only Err
nest was silent as ghost. His face was
pale, his lips drawn and the light and
mirth had all died out of his eye. In
was Wss teasing tie tweive.year.oid Gnloe
overwhelming her with most redundant
politeness till the poor, silly child really
thought he was paying her serious at.
tentions.
"Wha. do you think about the affair
Ernest9'
."Oh, suppose the girl knew what
she was about, but money does help a
fellow along wonderfully in such mat.
tersn
He spoke carelessly, but he knew ]
had been watching him, and I knew he
kk,il 1,s. .oko 49,
The long, bright weeks passed on
bringing us succession of those bril-.
liant days when the sun shines cleal
and strong through the crystal air, YET
without oppressive heat; when the at
mosphere is Of such delightful tenn
perature that you never think whether
it is warm or cool. To breathe such ar
air is to partake Of a richer, purer stim
ulant than ever art can furnish-nature's
own.
On the morning of such day Ernest
and mounted our horses for long,
long ride over the hills This is the
story he told me that July day.
aHow is it Ernest" said I, 'that you
have been working all these years and
now have nothing more to show for it2
Do you not get very tired of drifting
about in this aimless way?"
Yes, do, ought to be ashamed OF
myself for being such lazy fellow"
The penitent look he wore was none
the less amusing for being so thoroughly
sincere.
No, I don't think you are lazy. You
make money enough, but let :tslip. Isn't
1t time for you to be getting some prop
+ erty and establish yourself somewhere?
That's what mean"
Well Miss CARLY will tell you all
about it." and he drew a long breath.
Five years ago had saved money
enough to stock q ranch. It's easy for q
man to make money and save it, too
when he has such good use for it as
had. Then found a first-rate rancn,
and hired it for three year,. I thought
by that time Icould say something about
buying it. I tell you, there wasn't q
gayer, happier young fellow in the