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

1t was a favorite jest upon old Farmer
Collingwood's farm to call Joe Ellison
Susy's admirer. And Susy, when she
heard the half taunting joke, only
smiled softly, and at their next meeting
only gave Joe a kinder word and a
sweeter smile.
She was the orphaned daughter Of a
country clergyman, whose sole legacy
to her had been the best education his
W profound learning enabled him to
give her. When she was but a little
girl her mother died, and she had been
her fathers housekeeper, scholar and
companion until her nineteenth birth
day, when the Rev. Stephen Coyle "a
likewise taken from his child to his last
long rest. The good people of the par
ish knowing Susy's advantagesfo for study,
had put her at the head Of the district
school, and her old home being the par
sonage, she had removed her personal
possessions and taken up her abode at
Farmer Collingwood's, he having for
years Boarded" the school ma'am.
It was a merry, happy farmers house,
hold whore Susy lived. Julia and Mol
lie Collingwood were strong-ar med,
blooming damsels, full of coquettish
grace, and with loud voices and active
habits. Charlie and James, the sons,
were fine specimens of young farmers,
and the old man and his wife were kind
hearted, homely country-folk.
But the young, girl brought up in her
fathers study, his companion for years,
had developed more mental than phys
ical strength, was shy in manner, re-
served in speech, and craved intellect
ual food entirely out of her power to
obtain. She was slight in figure, with
large black eyes, delicate features, a
pure, colorless complexion, and masses
of nut brown hair. The parsonage
having always had a servant, Susy's lit
tie hands were unspoiled by rough
work, and beside the r~osy-cheeked,
blue.eyedC ollingwood girls, she looked
like a little pale nun, her deep mourn
ing contrasting strongly with their gay
attire, with all the colors Of the rain
bow struggling for supremacy.
She had been but a little time in her
position as lnstructress to the tow head
ed youngsters of Brent Hill when COM
ing up the road from school late on q
summers afternoon, she heard wailing
groans in one of the cottages, where Of
ten before she had heard the same
sounds.
"Poor Joel" she whispered pitifully.
For she knew q deformed idiot was
being beaten by a cruel task master.
But on that afternoon, as she drew near
the cottage the door suddenly flew open,
and the idiot limped, bowling andspeed-
ing as fast as his infrmities allowed out
ct the opening, while following him a
strong, brutal man, half drunk, -four
ished an immense cowhide.
The man, cursing and swearing, held
the whip over the covering, shrinking
lad, but when it fell it struck not Joe,
but Susy, who bent over him, one arm
raised to ward off the blow. Brute as
as he was, the half-drunken wretch
stood aghast when the heavy lash cut
across usy's slender arm and shoulders.
II beg your pardon, ma'am," he said,
II did not see you was in the way"
Glow can you?" she cried, her pale
cheeks crimson with womanlv indigna-
tion-"how can you, q strong man,
strike o poor boy like that-a boy
whose infrmities should appeal for pro-
lection to any man who was not IN ar
rant coward?"
"Well ,come now, that's pretty strong, "
said the man. Don't Ifeed and lodge
him for what he does, and amt I got a
right to beat him if he does everything
wrong? Hedon't earn his salt, he don't
Don't keep him, then"
II guess you're right. won't. Joe,
you may go to the mischief, but don't
come here again"
So saying, the IDIOTS tormentor turn
ed on his heel and re-entered his house,
shutting and noisily boiling his door.
Susy stoodhalf terrified at the result Of
her well-meant interference. Joe was
q waif from the alms-house, lame, de-
formed, idiotic, and she had deprived
him of his only refuge.
"Oh, joe" she said, crying, II am SO
sorry! What will you do?"
But Joe was only able to realize that
Ills brutal taskmaker had ceased to
beat him, and that a long, red welt
across Susy's hand had fallen there upon
its way to his covering shoulder. He
only pointed to the mark. half crying
ct wa better for me to take it as
you'll" he said, whimpering: "the pretty
white hand! Oh, Joe is SO sorry you
got before him. Joe don't mind beat
ing!"
All the chivalry in the poor dull
brain asserted itself in that speech, for
Joe did mind a beating very much.
"You can't stay here in the road all
night" said Susy. "Come with me
and I will ask Mr.. Collingwood to give
you a place to sleep"
The good folks at the farm looked
rather astonished when Susy appeared
followed by the stopping, limping figure
of the village idiot. But the farmer
broke into . hearty laughter when she
told of her interference and begged {
shelter for the boy.
"Stay here? OF urs he can stay
here, he said. well find something
for the poor beggar to do. But to thinl
Of you spunking up to Bob Carter il
that fashion, Id ha' given my best Gov
to see it. A little white bantam peck
a mad bull would be nothing to it. Ani
he run of. Well! Well! Here, Charlie
show Joe the room over the barn. a,
can sleep there, and he'll soon lear1
where to come to meals"
SO the idiot found his bed on til,
hard floor replaced by the cosy barr
chamber; his scanty food exchanged TO