The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-01-08
Bid her come back, neighbor

Lee
Not tonight, Captain. The girl. !
surmise, is better alone. She hath
said nay, think, tonight to young
Matthews avowal, and it panied her
to see hisgrlef."
"Yet Matthew is well favored"
"Not for her, l trow."
~ wonder if Matthew ever felt her
soft touch, and herhead resting for an
instant on his breast, though by acci.
dent. II SO, did it unman him, and
take his strength away? l willnot wait
here longer, neighbor Lee. l am
strangely at unrest. | wonderful heie-
yer is creeping in my veins. Iburn so
hotly. willgo into the cold air with
out"
With mighty strides the strong-limb-
ed Captain went down the highway,
for he vas beset with stranger and
more peculiar excitement than he had
ever known.
"Hath the maid the power of sor-
Gerry that she bewltches me?" he unused.
"She doth unman me, and l have no
strength of mind or body under her
glance and voice. Yet strange it is,
It's pleasurable. TRULY it is. Ilienot
unto myself. Ills pleasurabie. l
know not the mystery OF it. And
when she struggled to free herself, and
did perceive her soft touch, with so
much OF strength witiial, l tingled, tru-
" did, to my finger tips; nor was it
painful; and when in the struggle her
head did rest here on my chest for an
instant, | knew not myself at all, but
was unknown and plant as a vine.
Yet did like" it. Truly did, though
so slight a thing is she | could have
grasped her in my big fist, thus, and
crushed-no, had her in this hand,
trow, had she wished it, my fingers
would have been powerless.'
Then the strong man unused and
was perplexed with fascinating per-
| pleSity. Then whenthe bedtime came
he read his Bible, read the story OF
Ruth again, and then repeated his
evening prayer.
Suddenly he rose from his knees,
his face aglo with excitement. "The
Lord hath instructed me! The Lord
hath instructed me-" he said. at
shall be done tomorrow" And with
that determination he slept peaceful,
ly.
Next morning, an hour alter sunrise,
while Betty Lee sat at heirloom weav'
ing busily, she heard some one calling
Betty! Betty Lee!'
There at the gate, in full uniform,
with cockaded hat and sword at his
belt, and astride his horse, hish-spir.
tied as himself, she saw the valiant
Capt. Marvin.
Come here, Betty. have q com
m%unlcation TO Make" said he.
She obeyed him now, going close be
side the horse and looking up to that
mighty Captain with inquiring glance
He took his hat from his head, and
bending to her, said: Betty Lee, TIL,
Lord hath commanded me to marry
you"
She searched his eyes an instant anG
saw the truth in them; then, the ricf
color tinging her cheeks, her eyes now
d~owncast, she hesitated Il brief mo
ment, and then in low but clear tones
said gently: 'Tle Lords will be done
Renold."
He quickly leapel to the ground
and, putting both hands beneath he,
shoulders, lifted her lightly till herlip.
met his, and then, still holding hel
thus suspended, said: I'VE shall b.
called in church the next Lords Day
Betty" I,
"Yonr will is mine hereafter" sh'
answered gently,and then with asmil,
added, ''but patme on the earth again
Renold."
s'Your word is law to me. Betty,
obey" He set her gently down again
and then, smiling, said: Now under
stand | why have been Ike a reed i:
the wind before your wishes. But ii
very sweet submission, Betty. Trul.
it is, and will be while / live"
And the tradition runs that though
he became a man of great authority
yet he said truly then that her MAJ
esty would compel sweet submission
from him while he lived.
L. j. Z.