The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-01-08
ri spoke. You heard not. Truly

olanS! Are you nGrt!
"Tis nothing. this morning met
the bear that's made havoc here, and
l killed him."
you. alone?"
"Why not alone?"
event you alone out to seek him?"
eyes, at dawn"
"Twas foolish bravery. And you
ad a struggled"
Bears are not slaughtered like sheep
unyieldingly. Igaye him my musket
first, and he came at me and | gave
him my knife at the heart. But, mis-
tress, you've been busy. Wove you
this homcspun this morning."
Eyes. Truly l did"
"Tis a fine piece. There are no
swifter nor truer fingers in all this col
ony than yours. What are you do
ing now"
She had hustled about and now
brought him bread and cheese and
great brown nut cakes, and she said:
"You have eaten nothing. That |
know. Eat this, and | will bring you
milk"
~.You + a thoughtful maid, but
bring no milk; water for such ~ L."
AS he began to eat che saw that the
sleeve on his right arm was badly rent.
She saw more, and with a little excla-
nation grasped his arm.
"You'rehurt, Renold. The bearhas
bitten you. See, the wound bleed"
"Oh, it's only a scratch by his claws.
Let be. Let be / say"
But | will not let be. Sit here"
Twill not! None say to me-"
Nevertheless | say it. Sit there
and let me stanch the flow"
He looked cnriously upon her, she
glancing back, half pleading, half com
manding, and to his great amazement
he found that he obeyed her. She
soon had the sleeve rolled up, and
then she found two long deep scratches
from the elbow to the wrist. She
bathed them gently. and as she did so
he wondered how those small gentle
hands OF hers could have so much OF
warmness in their touch. He smiled
as he so thought, and she knew it.
You smile. Yet know you suffer.
Do ] bungle SO that you find mirth in
my motions?"
mo Betty. Twas for something
else l smiled, If ] did smile. l did
think Here this little maid hath me
in her power; yet with my thumb and
finger, thus / might crush you, Sc
slight and tender are you"
"ln your power?' said the maid, in.
quiringly, as she bound q linen band
age on the wound.
"Aye. You compelled me to obey
you"
"Why not? Brave men like you are
worth the effort of compelling"
"Hey, there Betty. understand YOU
philosophy not9 but somehow ! an
content. 'Tisnot adispleasing bondage
for the moment, and then somehow
did feel healing in the touch OF YOU
fingers, so soft are they"
The girl laughed gently.
Betty, do yen compel young Mat
thew to do your bidding??"
"Him l neither compel nor permit
"iet l have heard he il. inclined tt
you"
is he?n
"ies. So l have perceived. He il
a well-favored lad, Betty, and q tint
wooer, | trow."
what know you Of wooing? They
do say you have sworn it, neither tt
woe o wed, for you will a%cknowledg
neither master 10 mistress"
''They say right, Betty. That i
my ~tirmresolve. andI am shak
en- in my resolution. But MATTHEW
hath resolved to win you"
Hath he? That is your firm opin
ion?"
would you notfavor hima trife?'
"1s it your concern? Tell me. |
he strong and brave, and very firm?
What shall tell your"
"That may know whetherto favo
him ornot. None but the strong an
brave and firm, l think, would favo
inmy eyes"
"That is well, Betty. Be steadfas
to that"
$50 l shall. OF that be well assu1
ed" She said this with lowered tone
j. and gently Bonded head, her cheek
, %suffusing, but the strong man though
she was just then greatly absorbe
8 II must haste now" said he g
length. II must go to the settlemer
! for help to bring the brute, for he
Q very heavy. Come. Let mefinishm
bread and cheese
'sYou should not walk so far. Yo
i should give the wound some chance
heal"
9 "But l am going"
"No. will not suffer it,"
r "You will not? You9" He laughe
!, almost contemporary.
She said no more, but when his ey'
t were not upon her she silently wit
e drew. A brief time later he heard
horse approaching, and from I'll
window he saw Betty Lee, seated firm
ly on a sleeps pelt that served for
saddle, and, with her red lips pert
parted and a saucy snsile in her bll
e eyes, she said:
a Rest you there, Renold, till I r
turn. lam going to the settlemel
Q for you;"tand with q word to tt
mare she flew away.
.That maid hath spirit" musedt II
. discounted Captain, ''slight thoul
she be, and she rides her mare as /
woman ever rode. But what! VIII
am l? Here l am again overpower,
by her. ] slew a ferocious beast tn
morning, and yet this little child I
strains me. TITS strange, but t
rather pleasing to be commanded |
n her. lido not seem TO rebel. But /
3 more of that today, no more
It When the fair Betty came slow
d riding back a half hourlater, she loo
9. ed demurely upon him with her blv
d eyes as he put out his handfor u ste
n ping stone, and thus on onehandbo
h her like a trife from the saddle to Il
Sc ground.
,r .'The men will come at once" s
n said. He made no reply, but led h
maze to the shed, and then stro'
: away, with mighty steps; and VIII
ID she saw him later he was with impe'
d Gus tones commanding the men to ca