The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1884-10-31

ened VtsIbly performing his simple task
willingly and well.
When winter came, Susy herself al
tered q suit and overcoat of her fathers
to clothe the boy comfortably for the
cool weather, and knit him scarf, cap
and mittens. She never passed him
without q word of encouragement and
kindness, and in his darkened mind the
fair, sweet face stood for q religion,
something to be worshipped, poor Joe's
special Providence.
He never forgot the falling of the
cruel lash upon her slender figure bent
to protect him, and he understood per-
fectly that Susy's ~intercession had pro-
cured for him his happy, comfortable
home.
And his gratitude expressed itself in
such offerings as were within his reach
bouquets of wild flowers, clusters of
delicate ferns he knew she loved, bask-
cts of wild cherries or nuts, and IN ea-
ger offer to lift any obstacle from her
path. And the good-natured, TESTING
country folks called poor Joe Susy's adj
mirer. $1,000.
But while winter SHOWS were yet up
on the ground there came to Brent Hill
o new clergyman, one Cyrus Portman,
who had been o pupil of Susy's father
when he was a youth of nineteen, she q
child Of twelve. Having fitted himself
for college under the Rev. Stephen
Coyle's instructions he had gone to Har-
ward. had studied for the pulpit, and,
having preached in Boston, had accept
ed q call to Brent Hill.
It was quite natural that he should
seek Susy, and the old servant ut the
parsonage was warm in her praises.
He was a wealthy man, having inher-
tied a fortune from his father, and he
was eager to help the poor Of the par
ish. Susy, having the children under
her control, was able to point out to
him many avenues for his charity, and
thus added another link to the associa-
ton hat bound them together.
He waa a grave, studious man, re-
fined in taste, and of quiet manner,
and he shrank a little from the noisy
demonstrations of the country people
around him. It rested him, after a
round Of calls or tho services of the
Sabbath, to talk with Suey, to hear
her low, sweet voice, and sse her quiet,
refined movements. He heard of the
gentle charities she performed when
ever he was in the cottages of the
very poor, and memory told him what
q little household fairy she had been,
even when a child.
So in the winter evenings, In the
spring walks, he let his heart go out to
Susy, and gather her image into its
Ioo~o,k ro,n,,o .,,h,Io che ~rno-.or,
of her own secret, felt that there was
no happiness sc profound as Cyrus
brought by his mere presence. 1t was
a quiet. uneventful counting for six
long months, but it bound two hearts
firmly together for life. And Joe, look
ing on, understood vaguely that Susy
was happy when Cyrus was near, that
a service performed for Cyrus pleased
Susy as well. And as events pro-
crossed he understood that G yrus
would n day take Susy to the par
sonage IS his wife, and that Susy
would be happy there. All this firmly
rooted in poor Joe's clouded brain, and
he knew that trouble to Cyrus would be
o r grief also to Susy.
So, with an allegiance that was
touching, joe transferred some of his
attention to the young clergyman, and
when he was at the farm would mutter
often:
"Susy likes him, Joe must be good to
him, because Susy likes him."
He was grateful for the kindly words of
Cyrus, his many gifts of clothing and
money; but the great claim that he held
over Joe was the fact that to please him
was to give Susy pleasure.
Summer sunshine was ripening the
grain, and the berries were in ripest
clusters, when Susy had an entire month
Of leisure for the school holiday, and
Cyrus won from her a promise to resign
her place and be his wifein September.
Her simple outfit became her daily task,
and the Collingwoods' lent willing
hands to prepare for the wedding. Joe
was made entirely happy by a promise
of a home at the parsonage, and the
long summer days seemed too short for
the happiness that filled them.
It was nearly two miles from Che
parsonage to the Collingwood farm, but
there were few evenings when Cyrus
failed to walk from his house to Susy's
for an hour or two Of the sweet COM
panionship he loved. And his way led
him through a lonely stretch of country
where the farms were scattered far
apart, for Mr.. Collingwood had bought
q farm at some distance from the vii
lage.
By what instinct Joe knew that there
might be danger lurking in the road !
can not explain, but it became his habit,
solely Of his own will to follow Cyrus
Portman out Of sight himself, till he
saw him safely within his house, and
then limp back again to lis own barn
chamber. 1t may have been that the
talk of the farm hands about some OF
the crimes perpetrated by tramps con-
veyed q warning to his weakened mind.
But whatever the motive, he was con-
slant in his unsupported attendance.
The Rev. Cyrus Portman, secure oil
his peace in the love of his congregation,
thinking his village home ever secure
from danger of robbery, or ever the
fear of theft, was careless Of the fact
that il was known he carried about him
large suns of money. He drew his in.
come quarterly from a Boston bank
and was apt to carry large rolls of bank
notes in his pocket book, ready for his
own expenses and charities. He wore
diamond studs and finger ring and
heavy gold watch and chain.
AL these facts becoming known te
Bob Carter, Joe's old tormentor, led to
the fact that proved the IDIOTS deepest
devotion to Susy. One of she tramps
seeking employment at Brent Hill,
proving q genial companion for Bob
Carter in his drinking frolics and idle
life, became his guest, and the two, I'M
der influence Of liquor resolved to roll
the parson.
Hes bound to have a pocket full OF