Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1885-12-04

"Po1Aiu HuSei. Inc Wln0 ruSCled among
some dead vines which reached through
the chinks between the logs, and made a
creeping sound like footballs over the
snow.covered plank floor.
Wetherbee placed his lantern upon the
creaking old shelf which served for a
table, and, seating themselves upon a
bench, the two men commenced their
features were white and set; his strong
arm trembled as he handled the cards, and
his breath came quick and hard,
1t was as if he were stalking his life
upon the play, as if his whole fate were
to be decided by it.
that" said Wetherbee, regarding him for
the first time rs the game proceeded.
1--we been feetin' as if twas q case of
life M death myself, M, by George, it's
no wonder. this place is so all fired un .
canny. They used to say the camp was
haunted; M l b'lieve it,"
great gray owl, which had flown
from MS abiding. place in a hollow tree
near by and perched upon the roof lust on
the edge of the smoke-hele, gave utter
anre to something which sounded like a
hooking peal of laughter.
Both men started violently.
"Blarst the OWL" said Wetherbee, an.
grily, throwing a piece of wood through
the hole to brighten it away.
linen the play proceeded silently until
nnaIly Wetherbee, who had been steadily
winning from the first, made the last deal
and threw upon the table the lucky cards
which decided him to be the victor.
"!knowed hoy 'lltwouldlhe from the fust,"
said Barker; but p'r'aps twon't make no
great difference. after ALL"
And the men left the camp and walked
silently. together to the settlement.
zones Tavern, as it was called, a large
white house with a piazza and a long. low
ell, stood i'll the midst Of the primitive
little settlement, and was a f~avorite re.
treat OF tho lulMbermen whenever thew
had the good fortune to get out of the
woods, as we'll as the stopping.place of
the overseers and the men with supply
teams on their way to and from the
camps.
Here's two more fellers for the darnse,''
said the landlord, who was pouring out
a glass of spiced cider for a sturdy young
backwoodsman who had evidently Just
arrived. "a darnse is about eduil to
Fourth o July, 'n' brings the boys out
up ter tho fire M hev somethin' warmth.
Soft weather fur lumberin', hain't itM'
With q nod and a regretful glance at a
handsome young woman who was wiping
teacups at the other end of the room,
which was extremely long and had a fire.
the other, Barker accepted the Invitation.
But Wetherbee, after exchanging greet.
ings with tho landlord and his companion,
went over to speak to the young woman,
and remained talking with her in an un.
dertone for some time.
"The kitchen eend seems ter be tho most
'tractable ter the f%ellers, in spite of hot
cider" remarked the landlord, with a
laugh. "'N' what's the mahter with
yaou, John? Yaou spear ter be kinder
daown It the maouth m absent.minded.
Must ha' been pickin' up q gal. Well. a
tew affi theirs a fact. l wuz a bach.
elder once myself"
A deep crimson overspread Barl1er's
honest countenance, but he did not open
his mouth.
Cit eout, squared" said the other lum.
herman, roaring. 81 b'lieve yeou was
born a.jokin'."
peared into the pantry. Wetherbee strobe
toward the group by the fireplace with an
air of forced
"Well~. goodnight, folks; Pm off," said
he. "l'm a-going to help trim up the hall
fur the dance, IN have got ter step pretty
lively" And he made Signs to Barker to
follow him out of doors.
as soon as they were alone. GAS I said
before. there's something the matter. But
I ruther guess 1 shan't be obliged to go
without company, anyhow"
barKer'S IaCo llSuGou up Will d LOOK OIL
relief, and as he watched Wetherbee's re.
treating figure q little CLEAN of hope
awoke in his breast. He stopped out un.
der the stars a few moments for reflection
and the hope soon vanished.
mo; faint no use," he said to himself.
"She likes Reube better'n she does me,
M she Wouldn't go twith him. 1t STAINS
ter reason she should like him better. He's
boss o. the gang, looks as smooth M slick
IS a parson, M he's been a schoolmaster,
tew. Then he's got SIGH kinder silky
ways m smiles. Not that l b'lieve in 'em
much. hut the wimmen-.olks do. Still,
'twon'5 do no harm tor ask her, IN reck-
on I'll do it, whuther er no."
When he en- cred the house again, the
object of these reflections was still in
the pantry, mixing bread which was to
be set to rise for breakfast. She was a
tall, rather slender young woman. A
her small. well.set head. Her eyes, to
quote one of her backwoods admirers,
were "jost the color o. swamp blue.
berries, and he'd the same sort o. shiny
mist in them" Her skin was dark,
almost swarthy, but a perpetual fre
burned on her smooth. oval cheeks,
Deepening and fading according to her
moods. She wore the usual everyday at
tire of the women Of the regiou-mistresses
as we'll as ''hired girls''-a dark print
gown, but, like Ophelia's rue, "it was
worn with @ difference" uCClnS uer llGue.
graceful figure to perfection, and set OF
by q dainty band Of white and knot OF rib
bon at the throat.
Barker entered the pantry, and stood
watching her at her work with bashiul adj
miration.
"WelI, what is it, John" said she, after
an interval, looking uD with a smile which
disclosed unexpected dimples about her
mouth.
.Drusy," said he, coloring to the roots
Of his stiff, reddish hair, 81 don't s'pose
49, of no use ter ask We ter go ter the
dance long o. me, seein' as you've refused
Renhe. that is so much likelierlookin''n N ap.
~nearin; than I be; but I've footed it twelve
mild out er the woods ter ask fur yer com
nany. m meow 1 haunt goin' back without
hearin' yeour say abeout it, ct least: -
CON, no, John; faint the least use."
said she, laughing and shaking her head;
II amt going with any man. AS toId
Rembe. I engaged more'n a week ago to be
a heamfor Mrs. Jones. The squire won't go,
~, Tom amt old enough to be much protec'
ton Won know, though he's going to drlve
down with us. P'r'aps, i'll dance at all;
ri give YOU a dance when we get tnere;J
ri hain't no greet fist at dancln', NJ
ho;n,t sure o. goin' eff you WON'T go long O.
70 nrusv. Saint none - my business,
,n, don't want ter NEEDLE, but pears as
some folks have been a.say1ll 5eeg you rev
cot "a TELLER down-rivsr. You're
osdoin, lest right. DON'T go PACK on rIni;
Drnsv. fur no man hat you ever iiKeq