Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1886-09-02

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derson was the cause of this change in
her son, and she felt that twinge Of
pam and jealousy that All mothers
ieei when they first become aware Of
the lset that child's heart has gone
our 70 q stranger. But she was in the
MAN sensible woman, so she said
nothing more and Jake started for the
corner field.
The sun, a red ball, was Just peepinu
over the tops of the trees; the bids
were twlttering softly among the
branches, Tor boisterous singing was
impossible. This lovely, hazy au-
tumn morning Jake's heart sweiled
With an undehnable sense OF enjoy
ment as he drank in the delights DINA.
ture, and he broke into whistlinp as
musical as the songs OF the birds. His
parents heard him from where they
stood on the steps. ooh, Jake's ali
right, said the father reassurincIy. as
his son disappeared from sight, but
the mother turned into the house with
sigh. She could not help thinking
OF Rosa Anderson, and wondering how
1t would all turn out.
little later on, when the corn
stood IN shocks and the frost had
shriveled the leaves somewhat, Jake
attended a ''sin ying'' held at the dis
trict schooihouse. All the young peo-
pie OF the neighborhood 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
moon. Once while these games were
In process Jake held Rosa's hand in
his, and he was afraid she would hear
his heart humping against his vest.
lie 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
off.
When the singing had closed and the
young people were filing slowly out of
the house, Jake, ever impulsive, and
too madly in love to be discreet, push
ed forward, Offering his arm to escort
Rosa home, but she, with nose tilted
in the air, gave him the '.mitten."
The boys nudged each other and
cast quizzing glances at him. A few
openly leered him. He got out of the
house as well rs ne could and cut
across the fields toward home. When
he reached his fathers farm he sat
down on a log on the edge of a little
patch of timber. doubt if the moon
ever looked down upon greater mis-
cry.
He sat there for n long time, the az
ony OF his heart wringing bitter tears
from his eyes. Do not laugh, reader; you
have been in a similar situation, and
know 1t was not n laughable matter.
But he stayed there until he had stran-
gled his love, and he dug grave in
which to bury tia grave so deep that
when once inferred, it could never be
resurrected. Ah.if she had only known
what she had lost.
The struggle was over; ne wiped his
face and put away his handkerchief.
Then he stood up and with clenched
fists vowed he would have his revenge.
She should see the day she would re-
greet what she had done tonight.
When Jake reached his fathers door
there was 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 thefa3e. She saw,
though the candle she held in her hand
gave but a dim light, that her boy had
suddenly changed to man, and her
mothers heart understood. The two
gazed into each others eyes for 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.
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 il ne could find
an opening there for himself he would
remain. His mother was prepared for
such an announcement, but it was q
great shock to the father. 1t had NV
er occurred to him that his son would
do else than remain OH the farm, and
finally, when he was done with it, take
possession. He did everything in his
power to dissuade his son from his
fool notion as the father called it,
but to no purpose The only conees-
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
OF his boy. Then came the news that
Jake had entered as a student in a
IL, ho 10 ,NfS 1,
As the years sped on reports much to
his credit were circulated among his
old friends and neighbors. Hard work
and honest endeayor were bringing
their legitimate fruit, success. Appar-
entity he had forgotten all about Rosa
and the revenge he had once crayed.
After Jake had gone Rosa Ander-
son. with an inconsistency not uncom-
mon in females, felt new tenderness
springing up in her heart for him, and
a regret that her little episode at the
school-house had ever happened. As
the time passed both the tenderness
and the regret grew. She cherished a
sort of ideal with Jake's face and
form. She forgot or forgave every
thing she had condemned in him be-
fore he went away, and invested him
with many noble attributes which,
worthy as he was, truth compels me
to say he did not possess. She coddled
the belief that he would come back to
her until il was certainty. She was
sure she would again feel the pressure
of his hand and see the look OF adora-
ton i'm his eyes. So she waited. Her
friends wondered why she did not
marry. There were many conjectures
concerning her, but never the right
one. So little we know OF the real
feelings of those with whom We may
be even intimately associated.
Ten years had passed since Jake left
the neighborhood. During this time
there were many changes. Some OF
his early companions had married
and were settled down staid farmers
and mothers. 4 few of both old and
young had been laid to rest in the lit
tie country graveyard, where In sum
mer the briars and weeds kept watch
over their graves, and In winter the
bleak winds song dirges for them. But
none that we know were among these
silent ones.
1t was September, and invitations
were sent out for Harry Ford's we'd
ding. Rosa Anderson was not to be
the bride, but Jake's sister, now a
| woman OF twenty. Rosa was among
the invited. She was perfectly indlf-
ferent as to whom Harry married.
She had long ceased to think OF any
thing but friendly interest in him.
But she was greatly agitated when she
loorJ that Tate waS comino home to