Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1888-03-15
A DAKOTA ROMANCE
BY IRENE c. ". ADAMS.
Y.

CHAPTER Y.
1t was night. rainy and dark, when
they reached Big Stone City, a group OF
houses, all new, on the western bank OF
the lake. A half finished hotel. crowd
ed to OVERLOOKING, offered poor accommo-
dations. Baptiste gave Smith roll of
blankets, saying, "You will need these,
you will be likely to sleep on the floor
to- night" which proved true. He was
glad to see the first hint of dawn across
the lake and oyer the granite piled shore
beyond. He was getting accustomed to
close application and hard work, but lie
had never ''roughed II" He had enjoyed
nice rooms, good meals, comfortable LODI
ging; this was new departure. Baptiste
found him at sunrise, walking the gravel
ed shore, looking sour.
This is my brother, Mr.. Smith, John
Baptiste." All, here was a revelation;
these men were half-breeds. This one
wore the Indian moccasins and leggins OF
buckskin. and beaded belt and shirt;
over his Icing straight hair small red
cap, fitting closely and deliberately trim.
med with gay beads, rested jauntily upon
the side of his head.
Have you mad breakfast" Louis ask
ed
"No," Smith responded sayagely.
"Come dawn to my house and get a
cup of Coffee" John said in the mono
tone of his brother, without its music and
polish, an vouch for its quality, Mr..
Smith; come" About forty rods from
the lake deep gorge breaks into tie
ridge. Here. hidden by the brGshy oak
and plum trees, they found Johns mouse,
a portable one-a veritable wigwam, and
his wife, veritable squaw. There was
no sign of breakfast, but the husband
spoke few strange words to the woman,
at the same time touching q roll of blan-
kets with his mocessin. saying isit. ~
to his guests.
Presently his wife returned with large
tin plate of fried vension, smoking hot.
coffee pot aud loaf of bread She sat
them on the ground at her husbsnd's
feet and left the room without looking
up. Strung on polls by the han
dies hung TIN cups and shallow basins, in
a box We're knives, spoons aud sugar;
each mans table was his knee. John
turned cuffee into the three tin cups,
dropped spoon into each, lifted ttsree
slices of venison into three shallow bas-
ms, laid knife and fork on each and
passed them TO Smith .and Louis; sliced
The bread one piece at time aud drop
ped ii from the loaf INTO their basins, aud
then took his own break fast. The BROTH
ers talked incessently in Il strange Ian
guage. Smith had never heard it. Was
it Sioux? The woman returned with
tin can of milk warm from the COW ALI,
this was luxury. Louis reached for an
other cup and filled it for Smith. john
helped him to another slice of veRison,
stIll talking that gu teral tongue to his
brother aud never word to him. He
was glad of that, for his thoughts were
busy. He wished the boys" IN the city
office in Boston who enyied him his
clark" out west, could see him now and
his surroundings. They would not be
more shocked at the situation than he
was himself Still he was enjoying the
rude meal immensely, aud he thought of
another, fair. womanly girl; she was
often with him in his thoughts, and at
that moment she seemed pearer than ]
since he heard that terrible sentence pro-
nounced upon him by her quiyering lips
The meal vas finished. JOHN handed
pipes and tobacco from paper sack.
which were declined, and Louis sGbstl-
tuted cigars, winch all lighted, and step
ped through the low door into the glori-
Gus May morning, Smith followed at a
distance till they reached the depot
Here they looked over the traps belong
ing to the expedition, and estimated the
aumber of ponies required to carry the
smount. He felt himself cipher. He
knew nothing whatever of their plans.
or of the duties OF the journey. and they
seemed to expect nothing of him. 81
will be civil, even to an Indian" he
thought, as he watched them moodily
u would like to pay yoa for NY hreuk
fast, Mr. Baptists,f he SAID a moment h
ter US lie approached the inan With some
coins in his extended haad.
That's all right. captain" was the re-
ply, with wave of the hand that made
the refusal of the money fiual.
"Acceps I2 thanks, then" Smith re
turned; II enjoyed the meal frs, rate"
john gave him quick look OF criti- |
cism; reading the truth of his words, |
pleased expression came into the long
black eyes, and he said, lyon are hear
lily welcome, Mr smith,
Fivs ponies, little metallic covered |
thinzs they seemed. so thick and hard |
AMI oDfseliDg ileir hides appeared. we're
loaded sith blankets, boxes and sacks, |
tent agd tent poles, and the belongings |
Of the Boston correspondent. They look |
ed utterly incapable Of Carrying the bad,
corded into secure riding place on taeir |
backs, These feilosg understand their |
business. surely. he thought, as he watch
ed their dcxterons skiIl in placing and |
fastening the numerous packages. Louis
had changed his fine diagonal ruit Tor a |
rough, heavy business suit, and wore
mocczsins upon his feet. and close fit |
ting cap like Johns. Smith asked if he
found these changes necessary for the |
journey before them.
Positively was the reply; "the wind
blows hat Away, and boots wear the feet |
when one has far to walk. / have yuurs /
here" and he produced from his pocket
a small roll. "You can change after We |
leave town if you choose" and returned |
the package to his pocket.
Smith smileJ. These fellows have
discrimination, if they are savages."
The loaded ponies stood niolionless
waiting for orders to move Presently
three more appeared. Louis gave the |
reins of one of them to Smith. When |
he was mounted he laid the haltar ofone /