The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1885-09-11
INGRATITUDE REyENGED.
BY ARR HOWARD.

+ A'h'' 'yoN StN
remarked Farmer Hayes to his friend
Mr.. johnson.
The two old men We're sitting upon
wooden seats which were placed OF,
either side of the rustic porch that
formed a kind Of arbor entrance to
the front door Of the dwelling.
The speaker was a spare, little man,
with dark hair, sprinkled with gray.
He wore q swallow-tail coat, adorned
with brass buttons; corduroy breaches,
fastened at the knee; thick, blue worst
ed stocking encased his legs, and a
pair of low shoes covered his feet,
His visage had a placid expression, as
he glanced first at the well-kept gar
den, with it's row of potatoes and
other vegetables; then out to the little
paddock adjoining, where two COWS
were grazing; and next over the wide
undulating meadow land beyond, his
eyes resting finally on the far distant
hills. He put the end of his long clay
pipe between his lips, and watched the
wreaths of smoke slowly ascending
from it.
Mr.. johnson was a noble looking
man; his snowy beard gave him a pa
triarchal appearance. His counte-
nance lacked that acute, intellectual
expression which is so often stamped
upont the visage OF a middle-aged Clown
man." His eyes were thoughtful, but
gentle; his whole bearing spoke of in
nate goodness. Thefew wrinkles, which
had gathered on the white, placid
brow, had been gradually traced there
by times relentless fingers, and not
suddenly cut by a keen sharp sorrow.
lie smoked silentlyfora few moments,
and then replied to his friend's remark;
you're right; this is a neat little
spot. Bur I'll tell you what I've been
a-thinkin' on, Hayes. You know my
Jennie's agoin' to bemarriedto Robert
Meadows. She's my only child, so of
course she'll have all my belongings
when Pm gone; but I've been a-think-
IN that, soon after she's settled, I'll
have a deed ofgift drawn up, and turn
everything over to her; then there1l
be no proving the will, and all that
fuss; and the lawyers won't have a
plckin' out o. my bit o. property. 1
shall live here, and be master lust the
same. What do you say to that,
friend Hayes"
The old man put a hand on each
knee, and gazed into the others face,
with an expression which said, Don't
you think it's a brilliant idea?"
His friend took the pipe out Of his
mouth, and shook his head dubious
ly; then replaced it between his lips,
and gazed iixedly before him for an in.
slant ere he answered; then he said,
slowly and emphatically:
II don'tlike it."
he shook the ashes from his pipe.
and began leisurely to fill it again with
tobacco.
81 never seed Il play but once" he
began, IN slow, measured tones, ''and
n a was many years ago, when | was
a young man. l was in the city, and
my friends got me to go to the thea
ter to see a grand piece that had been
made up by a great man, hundreds OF
Years ago. Well, went, andthe sight
o the lights, and the gay dresses, and
the flash folks | shall never forget.
But it was the play that struck me.
Ihefe was good old king who had
three daughters, and he thought he'd
divide the kingdom amongst 'em. They
was very pleased; the eldest went down
on her knees, and sworehow she loved
INN mor than anybody else; and
said as how hewas the kindest ,noblest
and best father that ever lived-or
words summat like them. The next
said about the same, only agreat deal
more; but | thought both on 'emlook-
ed too big and handsome and wide-a-
wake to stick to their word. The
third daughter said very little: but |
thought she was the tinest-looking of
all the lot. The king was huffed be-
cause she would not W she loved
him. So he divided the kingdom be-
tween his two eldest daughters. II
thought he was a silly old fellow to
put the reins into them spirited-look-
ing creatures hands. But he did 1t and
he rued it. They treated him very
well at first; but after a time they be-
gan to alter, and let him know thathe
wasn't master. Well. one night they
turned him out Of the castle, when
there was such a dreadful storm that
it was not fit to urn a dog out; and
he who had once been a king had to
roam about like u 5eggar. The poor
man went nearly crazed. | almost
forgot how it ended; but | think they
a. killed atlast."
"And what has thisto do with what
| was saying?:' inquired Mr.. Johnson,
testify. 81 was talking about deeds of
gift, and not plays"
The other began to smoke-puff-
puff. After a few minutes the full
meaning of his friends word dawned
slowly upon his mind.
"Well, l was a-thinking as how, when
Jane got possession OF the house, she
might, maybe, after a bit, turn you
out, asthe king'sdaughter turned him
out. Keep the reins in your own
hands, man-youcand draw them tight,
or let them loose, when you please;
but don't give them up till you die.
That's my advice, friend Johnson"
There was a little flash of ange in
the others eyes, as he replied:
You don't know my Jennie; she's
the loveliest, best, and truest girl that
ever lived. She would never wrong
her father"
In hemeantime Jennie and lover
We're III the orchard, at the back ofthe
house, slowly walking up and down
the path between the trees.
The moon was Frightening in the
purpling sky, and the evening star
glimmered family.
when two more days have passed,
you will be my wife,"
The young man looked down loving
ly into the shy, dark eyes raised to
his, and clasped the hand that rested
on his arm.