Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-12-26

Here the young man snapped g
crayon, and, while sharpening it, Sid;
''Thanlk you, for the suggestion. Il
must be ten miles to Danbury?"
ssYes."
''Indeed, 1 did,"
"When next he looked up the por-
trait was done. He gave it to her
with a graceful bow, and the manner
of indifference, but she saw that his
face was as white as the paper itself.
For some moments she studied the pic
ture. Then she said: cit is a marvel.
1t must be my very truthful portrait.
l thank you, sir" and she extended he1
hand.
As he took It, she said: II wish ]
had something that 1 might give you
in return for this" Inow fear that ]
was far too presumptuous to ask you
to do this"
"Your honored me, and have repaid
"We may meet again, sir, when lean
better repay you"
He said: ''We may; who knows?''
Then as his eyes fell on the ground he
spied a number of beechnuts that had
fallen from the tree overhead. He
picked up two of them.
"See," he said, ssthese nuts are ex-
actly alike. You said we might meet
again. L will give this one and will
keep the other. If we meet again!we
will put them side by side as they are
now. You can repay me by doing
this. 1t is only a whim of mine" :
She looked at him curiously for a
moment and then said: ..Why, that is
a playful thing to do; but if you wish
it | WILL" and she thrust the beechnut
under her glove. When she looked
back after she had gone down the road
a piece he still stood there with head
uncovered as when she quilted him.
Had she looked later she would have
seen the young soldier rushing with
mighty strides in a direction opposite
to what he had all day been taking,
and if she had read his thoughts she
would have known that he was thank
ing God he had met her.
One evening inmid-vinter, more than
a year later, there were gathered about
the open fireplace in he living room
of the Phillips MANSION, the young
woman, Martha, her little sister Ruth,
and an elderly woman, who was plain
~ the mother. A tapat the door did
not fail to cause all three to start a lit
tie. Troublous times again had come
on this part of the country. Rumors OF
an advance prevailed. Father and
brother had again set out with the con
tingent troops to repel a threatened in.
vasion. However, Mistress Martha did
not hesitate to open the door. So far,
at least, their home had been respected
by both armies. There stood on the
steps a tall man, whose great coat was
slightly sprinkled with the snow that
was beginning to fall. He did not Offer
to enter until hidden; but he said, with
great courtesy, that he was a belated
traveller, compelled to ask shelter and
food, if so be the inmates felt safe in
extending such Inequalities.
"Bid the gentleman in, Martha" said
the mother, and when he had, with ex.
quisite grace, bowed and thanked her,
he asserted that nothing but the direst
necessity would have compelled him tc
intrude himself.
"These are, indeed, sad times, SIR
said the mother. ''Twice before my
husband and son have been called away
to defend the country. I know mo-
where they may be tonight, but thu
good Lord will protect them and u.s.
'Is there, then, disturbance in these
parts?" asked the stranger.
"Have you not heard and seen, sir
and you a traveler?"
Il had supposed the operations were
to the west, else I might not have ven.
tured or my iourneyW
The old lady glanced quickly at hin
for a moment, as though wishing tc
scan so strange a person as this, who
did not know what vas going On abou,
him, but neither by hint of word or &C.
ton did she betray any surprise.
The stranger was young and neatly
dressed in a heavy, close-1itting surtou'
that reached to his top boots. His hair.
which was long, fell in curly locks al
most to his shoulder, and it was of
yellow tinge, almost approaching white
ness. The old lady at once perceived
that whoever her guest was, he was 6
| gentleman, and as he addressed him.
self entirely to her she soon found her
self interested in him. Though she fire.
quently referred to the topic that was
uppermost in her mind, lie seemed tc
care little about the war. The old lady
| decided that he must be a merchant
from below, who had ventured thus fa1
towards the British outposts-whiet
then included the Phillips homestead
for purposes of business. Meanwhile
Martha had herself prepared a repast
of which she at length invited thu
stranger to partake. Then for the frs
time he took note of the girl.
eve have simple fare now," she
said.
"The simplest fare has always beer
my choice and habit" hesaid, and ther
added: ''This must be a lonely life fol-
you, though perhaps an exciting one.'
''Not lonely when father and brother
are here and when there is no war;"
'Your father and brother are in the
feld?"
eyes, sir"
cit is a pitiable lot for you, indeed?'
"No, sir; no, indeed! We are glad we
have a father and brother to fight fo1
our country"
The stranger looked at her for a mo.
ment with such admiration as could
give no ofense. Then he said: "T4a,