Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1888-03-22


in isolation, hut they were too busy to be
lonely. They made long Jaunts to dis
tant PARTS OF Grind & Sharp's tract, re-
manning many DAYS at work on views
aud descriptions. Their sympathy in
each others separate tasks was ever
bond of interest between them, and
strong attachment sprang up knitting
them in IFS meshes silently, unconscious
ly and surely.
A week of intensely hot weather in
July YVES followed by week of rain,
wind and fog, and they were Kept close
in their snug little cabin. John brought
them window and boards for door on
his first trip back to them, and now they
could shut out the storm securely. Time
went slowly this dismal weather, how
ever, and they fell to talking more than
was their custom. Smith thought of the
young girl on the far Atlantic shore, and
grew moody.
you look sentimental" Louis remar-
ked quizzingly.
Il am, returned his companion. "You
who can keep your own condolences so
strictly, can certainly keep those of a
friend. want to talk of myself if you
will listen.'
Il never betray friend" was the re-
ply, "and shall be glad to hear"
My name is not John Smith," he be-
gan slowly. Louis started slightly; his
swarthy cheek flushed. His companion
studied him and read as much of his Sc
cret as he had told of his own "My
name is Holland Emmett" and ne pro-
eeeded with detailed history of said
gentleman, not emitting the tragical en-.
ding of his only heart-hurt, but dwelling
upon that portionspf his life with sad
dened satisfaction, "You can not know
how real and vivid it all clings to me.
Baptiste. can not shake it off. | was
not worthy oi her, but | have tried to
make myself worthy, and / know she
loved and will wait for me. She is not
the woman to forget easily; her steadfast
nature is my greatest hope" He went
on half musingly, ut does me good
to speak of her. / have never opened
my lips on this subject since left her,
mad and desperate with my disappoint-
ment. viii it disgust you if speak Of
ten of herr"
Not by any means, my friend-I APP
preciate the confidence you have given
me, 1t shall be sacred. Repeat it as Of
ten as it gives you pleasure"
A long silence ensued. Louis Baptiste
broke it. "You have proved your friend
ship for me bp trusting me after you have
learned that my blood is not like yours,
but that of race despised. / have seen
men shrink from me as an object of loa-
thing when they learned my ancestry -
Ny heart has been wounded by thrusts
and taunts, and my pride trampled I'M
der the feet of Williams whose souls are
blacker than my skin, You did not do
that. Your prejudioes were bitter, but
when you saw that genius and honor
could inhabit dusky figure, that had
education, ability, cultivation, moral
stamina and purity of character equal
with your own, you drew nearer and ac-
knowledged that equality with a nobility
that few men posses. Ny calloused heart
warmed and softened toward your rsce,
| have taken you into its precincts as my
idea fIieni, one that have dreamed of
and longed for since learned how selfish
mankind may be. Perhaps | have no
right to betray my fathers secrets yet they
were bequeathed to me as birth.rlght
Ia wretched inheritance, too. He did
not even give us his name. We have our
mothers, and he, too, has taken her
name. His was too honorable to be
.sAaTed with savage blood. All, she was
the nobler Of The tw6;-shes kiisss Gully to
be loving, faithful, industrious. patient,
forgetful of self, slave to her husband
and boys, yet winning, cheerful
and loving always. She is the
only person l ever loved, if l ex-
cspt you. When she died was sent to
my fathers relatives in Boston as wait,
a prodigy OF artistic talent picked up
among his travels, that he wished to have
educated. The facts of my parentage
were never limited at, though | imagine
that his people suspected that he had
more than strangers interest in me
graduated two years ago. My uncle got
me an appointment with a geographical
Surveying company at work in these ad-
joining territories. had heavy salary
and saved it. want money, not to win
one wonran's hand a. on do, but to com
mand the respect of all mankind. Iou
think money Will not do that? | KKow
1T WILL. Suppose was worth million
society would ignore every fact in con-
nection With Inc but that, aud receive
me with open arms You think this an
unworthy desire, when social respect Is
founded upon such sordld, heartIese,
basis. III admit H. But you cannot
What torture have eudur-
ed un accOun, of social osfraclsm. | am
morbid on Tins subject, AMI nothing less
than social recognition III the best circles
of Boston will satisfy me, for il was there
l received the mast cruel hurts, among
the cultivated, highly polished cream OF
the srlstucracy. They are too genleel to
be harsh, but their icy tolerance is more
than blows. My pictures were praised
by them. They sought the artist; when
they saw me, poor student with taSny
skin and no name that the law would re-
cognize, they dropped me as they would
a leper. | promised my father if he
would educate me that would not be-
tray my relationship to him to his rela-
tives, and | did not But futhe, than
this disguised nothing. | wsh to lie
few friendships have wlthstooi as brave
ly as yours.
AS l remember mother do not Won
der that my father fancied her. She war
a princess in her tribe, and carefully rails
ed. She could read AID write her own |
language and the French. (She taught |
us all to speak both languages as you
have heard us speak, lie was q wild,
fast youg man. He took fancy into his |
head to join the Aston Fur Company
In the interests of that firm he came
west to negotiate for furs with the tribes /
of these plains. He was badly frozen |
the first winter he was west. and my
mother child OF fifteen, helped to en-
terrain him during his long seige of help. /
lessness. He renamed two years with
the Indians, then returned to Boston
Fl q WAS MT sati.tfied. tha old hnhits Of |