The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-06-04
A BIT OF DRIFT.
BY HESTER STUART.

"Brutus Cassius Danks! Are you 60
ing after that water or do you expect
the spring to come to you?'
The man thus pointedly addressed
slid slowly down from the fence where
he was sitting, whiting, closed his
huge jackknife by pressing its point
against the rail, and shambled toward
the house
The woman in the doorway watched
his leisurely approach with an express
sion curiously mingled of Indifference
and irritation.
A small, STOPPING figure, with weak
slope to the chin and shoulders; the
flaccid face with fringe of hay-colored
beard, and surmounted by u sunburncd
straw hat; the loose, unshapely clothes
which seemed to have adapted them
selves to the wearcr's habit of mind
was this the pink-cheeked, trim young
fellow who courtcd her fifteen years
ago."
81 was 4 thinkin', Malviny," he said,
taking the pail from her outstretched
hand, "that ketch of fish would taste
kinder good. We've had mush pretty
stiddy lately
at amt my fault" said the woman,
shortly.
NO! pose it amt" he reioined
slowly, as though the fact occurred tc
him for the first time.
Just then little tow headed girl ran
round the corner of the house.
Where are you goin', daddy?" she
called.
Down to the spring. Want to go,
Capitola?" he answered.
She looked lovingly at him with her
china-blue eyes, slipped her grimy little
hand into his, and trudged off beside
him.
The woman stood on the doorstone
looking after them. They are well.
mated,' she thought bitterly. Zone
has about as much idea of getting o
living as the other
She had not lacked warnings wears
ago; for Malvina Frost, with her slim
straight figure and swapping black eyes
was the likeliest girl in town; anc
mothers of marriageable sons had not
hesitated to enlarge in her hearing upon
the ''Danks shiftlessness, reinforcine Q
their own opinions by sundry old pro
verbs, such as whats bred in the bone
will come out in the flesh. and Like
| father, like son. But Malvina only
tossed her black curls, and went hel
own way.
So one June they were married, and
went to housekeeping in little house
on the bank of the Ohio; and Mclvna
in the strength of her youth and love
felt able to move mountains. but she
| found the gravitatiOn of inherited shift
| lessness too much for her.
He had done we'll for time. The
little cottage was neatly nxed ~, anc
when year after the first baby came
the young father, with his own hands
fashioned for it cradle that was thu
wonder and envy of the neighborhood
But hercdity was too strong for him
and though the cradle had six success
i've occupants, its first coat of pain
was never renewed. Mrs. banks hat
never heard of Sisvphus If she hat
she would have found her task yer,
much like his, with the exception tina
hers was infinitely harder and NOR
hopeless.
What was it? Mental or moral o
physical weakness, or all threep o
an evil fate, that whatever he turne'
his hand to Immediately failed? Ever
his name seemed an unkind fling o
fortune. His mother having attended
shortly before his birth, the perform
ance of some strolling actors, was s.
much impressed that the name o
Brutus Cassius was waiting for hin
when he arrived upon the stage wher
he was to play SO insignificant a part
It was seldom, however, that he ha
the benefit of his full name, for tn
community in which he grew up de
lighted in abbreviations. But eve
their rough familiarity hcsitated to ca
a man Brute" to his face, so he wa
dubbed Cash a perpetual satire uE
on him who rarely had any cash il hi
pocket. Against all these odds Mrs
Danks had fought good fight; but i
the struggle her straight back had bee
bent, and the snap had gone from he
eyes to her voice.
Somehow the load pressed heavie
than ever this morning. 1t might hav
been because it was early spring
and the air was full of that indcfrabl
sense of expectancy. that vague hint {
rejuvenation, a rejuvenation that woul
touch everything except the Danks fol
tunes. And perhaps it was because til
hour barrel was empty, but whateve
the cause, Mrs. Danks turned from til
doorway thoroughly wretched.
Halt an hour later Mr.. Danks saur
kared In with. tha water thu. child fo