Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1883-06-30
"Not often, but this has lasted some

"Not often, but this has lasted some
dme,' MIR. Albert replied.
"lndccd? ] hope it will blow itself out
by sunset. You've found u nice cosey
shelter for a seat. Whose child are
You. gay little gypsy?:'
bobe,te surveyed him rcflectively.
OF this form Of address she did not
approve. She replied presently, with
quiet composure:
Child of God, and an inheritor of
the Kingdom of Heaven"
The strangers great black eyes
opened wide in establishments; then he
gave an odd little laugh.
"But how is it about the pomps and
vanity of this wicked worldp:' he asked
slyly. elias not that part of your educa-
ton been q little bit neglected? Eh?"
Bobette looked slightly taken aback.
"Never mind. my DEAR" the stranger
went on, quickly. "You probably
follow the edyfying example of King
Solomon arrayed in all his glory-I
doubt if he was as picturesque in the
general effect"
Bobette ventured no reply.
"Would you favor your humble ad-
HiAcA WIN d KISS! ne ASKED, bending
towards her with an amused smile.
Bobette drew back haughtily toward
her friend. "No, l would not,n she
replied.
The strangers smile vanished. sis
this your little daugbter?" he asked
of the rector.
"No; it is the daughter of Godfrey
Gillespie who was lost at sea some
years ago-before I came to this parish"
the rector replied somewhat stitlly.
'Ah, indeed said the stranger.
He turned away and walked on.
Bobette raised her head from Mr.
Abert's shoulder where she had hidden
it, and looked after him.
man." she called, suddenly, "come
back!"
At this imperative command, he
looked round, smiled slightly, and
obeyed. Bobette stood erect, with one
little hand stretched out toward him,
an expression Of resolution in her face,
her cap strings flying in the wind.
II will kiss you," she said, gravely.
He bent forward, and she touched her
lips to the bit of sunburned cheek above
his whiskers, The man caught her in
his arms and held her an instant,
kissing her rosy mouth, then strobe
away without a word, and Bobette sat
down again behind the boat.
"He ought to have done that said
the clergyman; che ought not to have
done anything of the sort"
eyes, ha ought" Bobette asserted,
though her tone was not disrespectful;
II like that man." Her eyes were
closely following him. Now she sprang
up again. 'Look!!' she cried, anx-
iously. 'Could he be going to- see my
mammal"
The rector rose.
"Well," he said, you remember you
told me your mamma could see no one
to-day"
This seemed to relieve Bobette's
mind. sis it four o'clock yet?" she
asked. ''Then l must 60"
Harvey was sitting on the churchyard
wall wondering what had become of
Bobette. when a voice called breath
lessly: Harvey, where's our ship?"
''It's not finished yet. I didn't get
time enough in school to-day. Take off
that silk stuff-you can't do anything
in that" Q
But the little r~ose-colored widow
shook her head resolutely, and seized
Harvey's' hand impatiently.
Back of the beach, separated from
the salt sea by high ridges of sand
dunes, lay q fresh water lake winding
for some distance inland, and Boosting
of a few gnarled trees along it's shores.
Harvey and Bobette were soon rowing
over this water to a small island where
stood q famous old tree. It must once
have been the giant of the moorlands, for
the first branches grew out far above
the ground, but all the upper part had
been carried away by storms. The
broad top, with the bare old arms,
which had once been branches around
it, was the favorite resort of the boys
of the fishing hamlet, and to reach this
lofty spot, Bobette had always longed
unspeakably.
On landing, she was commanded to
sit with closed eyes while Harvey's
preparations were made; but she lis
tened with suspended breath and rap
turous suspicious, while he climbed the
tree by the notches cut here and there
for steps in the rugged bark.
When she was hidden to open her
eyes, behold a rope ladder reached from
the ground to the top of the tree!
"Should you like to come up?" asked
Harvey, trying to speak in an Indifferent
tone. "All you've to do is to climb
that ladder! Are you sure you dare?"
''Sure," Bobette replied.
"Ill hold it steady-but you'll have
to take off that long skirt.
For this, Bobette was willing to
relinquish her silkentrail. A deft bit of
lingering, a funny little squirm and
kick and it lay on the sand. Bobette
began the ascent brayely. 1t was by
no means easy, as the ladder swayed
in the wind, and one round Of rope
gave way and nearly let her fall; but
the sturdy little arms held on tight, and
a merry scream of laughter soon pro-
claimed she had reached the eyrie.
Harvey gave himself up to the enjoy
ment Of her childish delight in the fun.
He hurried up and down the swaying
rounds in true sailor fashion-now for
the provisions, in the shape Of cookies
and nuts, now for a supply of pebbles
for missiles in case of sudden attack,