The Sully County watchman. (Clifton, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1894, 1888-11-24
MISS W|LDER'S DISCOVERY.

Wl0S WlLUtnS UlSLUVEhI.
Something allied Nettie Wilder. Her
mother, who gave TO this only child all
her strong maternal love, knew some
thing of the cause of the change, and
her thinking hours were often as per-
picked and troubled as Nettie's.
For there were Frank Mitchell, on
the one hand, the son of the richest
man in Coverdale; college educated,
handsomely attired, smooth of tongue
and courteous of manner. And there
was Harry Lane, on the other hand, a
stalwart young farmer of %, who
owned well-conducted farm, was as
honest and true man as the wide
world could produce, aud fully his own
master. And both were courting pref
ty Nettie Wilder.
And poor little Nettie was growing
grave and womanly thinking of the
choice she must make. For, If Harry
had been her boy-lover all her life,
Frank possessed the charm of novelty,
and he would take her from the drudg-
cry of farm life.
Yet there was somcthin~ about
Frank Mitchell that Nettie dis; ,uSted.
She could not define it, and none of
the whisper that "Mitchelfs son was u
little wild" had ever reached her; yet
she was conscious of certain shrink
ing from his most tender speeches.
She was pondering over all this one
pleasant October afternoon; and, rs
shadow crossed the window, she looked
up to see Harry Lane carrying large
covered basket.
I'VE are gathering the pippins," he
said, coming to the window-sill, land
/ brought over n basket for your
mother
Mrs. Wilder, from the inner part of
the room advanced to speak some words
of thanks, adding:
Don't you want TO take some to
your grandfather, Nettie? Harry can
60 to the crossroads with YOU"
Half reluctantly Nettie put on her
hat and sacque, and selected some of
the finest pippins for a smaller basket.
With nod and smile Nettie left
Harry Mt the crossroads (where he
promised to meet her at five o'clock to
cross the lot that saved nearly half o
mile of the distance to her grandfath-
er's. On entering the kitchen she
frightened Katie, the old servant, by
the ashy pallor of her face and the
strange tremor of her voice, as she
said sharply:
"Where is grandfather"
Hes not come in from town yet"
was the reply. "Whatever's come to
you, Miss Nettie? Are you going to
faintp'
mo. I'm tired. / must watch for
grandfather, or he may drive past"
Then she ran across the garden to
the gate, for there was a sound of
wheels on the road. Her grandfather
checked his horse rs she opened tho
gate, to say to her:
Jump in. I'm going over to Mitch
ellis
You must come in first" she said.
al must speak to you, grandfather. 1t
is important"
Her pale agitated face and her earn
estness half frightened the old man,
and he tied the horse and followed
her into the house.
.'What is it dear?" he asked. ...Be
as quick rs you can, for want to get
home before dark, and it's good
stretch to Mitchell's"
Grandfather, have you money Tor
him?"
''Yes, all the quarterly rents. Folks
all paid up to-day"
You must not take il over, grand
father. There are three men over in
Higgins old barn waiting to rob YOU
NONSENSE
sit Is not nonsense, grandfather |
came across lots with Harry. but when
/ passed Higgins place | saw some of
those great yellow pears hanging over
the barn and went To get them. When
/ was up in the tree | saw and heard
the men. They are in the barn, and
they know you have been collecting
the rents. They mean tn stop YOU and
take the money. And, oh, grandfath-
err if you don't 90 on they will come
over here and rob you! So YOU must
let me do what | have planned Let
me take the money on and you stay
here. Ii they stop me | will tell them
that you have sent the money to Mr..
MITCHELL
You can say met Mtchell's man,
Wilson, in town, if you choose. | Of
ten send it out by him, but l'met him
to-day before it was paid. But, Ncttie,
/ can't let you run into danger.
There will be no danger to me.
They will never think l have the
money
"But they may look to see
For answer Nettie took down IA coil
of superb brown ha:-- tk-a had been