The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-09-10
parsd to light his pipe for his evening

''Oh, only tired, | reckon; he'll be all
right in the morning." answered the
mother, as she shook the crumbs from
the tablecloth.
.You must remember, pa, it's pretty
hard on boy not yet out OF his teens
to work as our Jake does. Though
to be sure. she added thoughtfully,
"he's uncommon stout"
"Pooh!" said the father, ..its not
that. Jakes never tired. I'd be will
ing to put him agin any other hand in
the county"
II saw him and Rosa Anderson
comm down the road together before
supper" chimed in the little daughter.
The father and mother exchanged sig
nificant glances, but were discreet
enough to drop the conversation.
And Jake did come to breakfast ap-
parently all right. His ill-humor had
vanished with his dreams. The only
thing unusual about him was that he
had his shoes on. whats the mat.
ter2" asked his mother, looking in
quiringly at his feet. Jake blushed a
little for a moment. Hewas tempted
to make the excuse that his feet were
sore, but he was an honest boy, and
he blurted out the truth. "He did
not like to go barefooted, and he was
not going to any more"
The mother suspected that Rosa An
derson was the cause of this change in
her son, and she felt that twinge of
pain and jealousy that all mothers
feel when they first become aware OF
the fact that child's heart has gone
| out to stranger. But she was in the
| main q sensible woman, so she said
nothing more and Jake started for the
corner field.
The sun, red ball, was just peeping
over the tops of the trees; the birds
were twittering softly among the
branches, for boisterous singing was
impossible. This lovely, hazy au-
tumn morning Jake's heart swelled
| with an undefinable sense OF enjoy
ment as he drank in the delights ofna-
ture, and he broke into whistling as
musical us the songs OF the birds. His
parents heard him from where they
stood on the steps. ooh, Jake's all
right" said the father reassuringly, as
his son disappeared from sight, but
the mother turned into the house with
a sigh. She could not help thinking
of Rosa Anderson, and wondering how
it would all turn out.
Il A little later on, when the corn
! stood in shocks and the frost had
4 shriveled the leaves somewhat, Jake
attended ''sin ,ing" held at the dis
trict schoolhouse. Ali the young peo-
pie of the nelghborhood were there.
Conspicuous among them was Rosa
Anderson, captivating with her radi-
ant beauty and coqueutish ways-at
least she appeared so to poor Jake
There was a long recess, during which
games were played out OF doors by the
in process Jake held Rosa's hand in
his, and he was afraid she would hear
his heart humping against his vest.
He forgot himself and crushed the lit
tie hand in his great powerful palm.
She complained that he was rough.
Then he took it tenderly in both OF
his, but she jerked it away and ran
4 off.
When the singing had closed and the
young people were filing slowly out Of
the house, Jake, ever impulsive, and
4 too madly inlove to be discreet, push
ed forward, Offering his arm to escort
Rosa home, but she, with nose tilted
in the air, gave him the 'lnitten."
| The boys nudged each other and
cast quizzing glances at him. A few
openly ieered him. He got out OF the
house as we'll as he could and cut
across the fields toward home. When
he reached his fathers farm he sat
down on log on the edge of little
I. patch Of timber. Idoubt if the moon
ever looked down upon greater mis-
cry.
He sat there for long time, the az
ony of his heart wrineing bitter tears
from his eyes. Donot laugh, reader; you
have been in q similar situation, and
4 know 1T was not u laughable matter.
But he stayed there euntil he had stran-
gled his love, and he dug a grave in
whichto bury it-a grave so deep that
resurrected. Ah,it she had only known
what she had lost.
1 The struggle was over; he wiped his
face and put away his handkerchief.
4 Then he stood up and with clenched
1 fists vowed he would have hisrevenge.
She should see the day she would re-
gret what she had done tonight.
i When Jake reached his fathers door
there was a faint streak OF light in the
east, and the barnyard fowls were be.
ginning to stir. His mother let him in;
she had been watching for him. He
looked her square in the face. She saw,
though the candle she held in her hand
gave but dim light, that herboy had
suddenly changed to man, and her
mothers heart understood. The two
gazed into each others eyes for a mo-
ment. The son saw an expression OF
tender sympathy. The mother saw
one of determination and defiance.
She knew something was goingto hap
pen, and the felt that she hated Rosa
Anderson.
1 Jake helped his father through with
the Fall work. Then he quietly told
his parents he was going to visit his
uncle in Kansas, and if he could find
an opening there for himself he would
remain. His mother was prepared for
such an announcement, but it was a
great shock to the father. Ithad nsv-
4 er occurred to him that his son would
do else than remain on the farm, and
finally, when he was done with it, take
| possession. He did everything in his
powe. to diss3sdc his son from his
fool notion as the father called it,
but to no purpose. The only conces-
sion Jake would make was that per-
haps he would come back in the Spring.
| But Spring came and grew into Sum
mer and the Summer into Autumn,
yet the father still mourned the loss
4 Of his boy. Then came the news that
Jake had entered as student in a
law Office in the town OF S., Kan.
As the years sped on reports much to
his credit were circulated among his
/ old friends and neighbors. Hard work
and honest endeavor were bringing
4 their legitimate fruit, success. Appar-
emily he had forgotten all about Rosa
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