Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1889-01-12

teflcS OF HE being seated DOCKS 10 hlHI.
1t was 4 curious household, yet u com-
mon one; apd the day came when Sir Kaye
Wharf gathered this little group around
him and made a proposition to them.
None Of them ever forgot the scene or
the hour. Behind the farmhouse stood "a
magnificent clump Of limc-trees, the great
green branches of which formed IA bcauii-
tul shade; and one evening, when the
farmer was unusually pleasant he ordered
supper to be brought out and eaten there.
Ilc evening air was fragrant with the
new-mown hay which lay in the meadows.
cit is so sweet" said the farmer, that
il seems Il pity 10 lose even one breath Of
it,"
SO the brown bread, the golden butter,
end the foaming jug Of cider were brought
out; and Sir Rage, looking from a dis
lance, thought he had never seen u more
| picturesque ~group-thc honest, simple
farmer. with his sunburnt face and rugged
figure, the colnely bright-cycd wife, the
beautiful young daughter, the gifted son,
and the burly figure OF Desford. lie wenS
up TO them. The farmer ceased eating,
and sat, glass in hand, mute with Won
der. 1t was SO seldom that the lodger
Joined their little circle.
at Is Kate he wants to see thought the
simple mother: and Kate unconsciousiy
smootaed her ripping hair ~ he drew
near.
But Sir Raye had no eyes for even tho
iairest OF maidens. lie never saw the dark
beautiful face with it, ro,e-like hue. He
took Il seat by the farmer' side. a large
green Dough hung so low that he was eoii-
PEELED TO thrust 1t aside before lie could
see the group OF faces.
III am glad to meet you all together" he
.ntJ 81 l,,rn q, ,,n,.fttA, IN ,tl a, sh.a
it viii be best for you All 10 hear"
at has nothing To DO with my pretty
Kate" sighed the mother.
I'll he wants me 10 bay "A steam pl0w, 1
shalt not do it," thought the farmer; while
the beautiful face Of the younger sou
flushed ana paled.
"For some few days | have been thin&-
ing over what | nave TO say, and how l
should best say il" said Sir Raye. .'lou
Know that | leave You hcNt week, strong
and well, thanks to the bracing air and TO
Your Kind care"
Something like a murmur OF regret came
from the lips Of the comely matron. The
farmer still held hi, glass in the air.
"lou Will follow ire in what 1 am going
70 say. You would think il u sad pity 10
shut mp in n dark box, where its Dcauty
and perfume would be lost. u flower wtth
brilliant coIors and sweet SMELL
'.io be sure" said the farmer, with n
nod-'.to be sure
I'll a bird has strong pinions, and can
cut the air like Il sharp knife with is
wings, you would think it sad to shut APP
such Il bird ia Il cage, where the STRONG
wings couid never expand"
at would be |criei,' said the farmer
wife, with uniui,takaDie emphasis.
s.ln. lkp lltuln - ,.,nfiIlnl sir Rave
.'if a young man aas great gifts, an artist's
soul, a thirst for knowledge, talents that
viii make themselves known, the will ana
the power TO raise himself high above his
i~clioW-tucn, ito yot not tank IT. quite :As
sad TO see such II one tied down 10 SONIC
common place Me-"
He saw the FIRST ftint dawn Of AWAKENING
fear in the motnel'~ face, the inst iluttcr
oi pride and ambition AND ne raw Ihe
iirst sign Ct d~i>dpprOlai IN the face of the
old farmer. instinct rather THAN reason
told them what was coming.
.'That j. The ease Win ,our boy "ane,r
said Sir Kaye. $40 yuUr SON has been CIV
en- great talent. II would De cruel 10 tie
him down 10 tue ru,line Of ilrn-liie; 1V1
Ae has no taste Tor Il. aud heter viii have
/ ct him try his wings, let him fv away.
from the home nest. and work his way,
which / prophecy viii be a triumphant
one, aud lead han to great honors. Now
make this Offer. am a lonely man. Z
all tie wide world there is not one creature
who calls me kinsman; there Is not one
who loves or cares for me. l have no
brother to be proud Of the honors | have
won, and | have no son TO succeed me. 1
am alone in the world"
There was II ring OF pain and passion in
-. -. l., $500 ~-l~ .nar
one.
.'My proposition is this" he resumed.-
81 see in Nane Fraser, your son, gifts and
talents that will, il cultivated, make
him 4 leader amongst men. Having
no son Of my Own, ! viii adopt him
/ will take him home with me, and eda~
cate him in those arts and sciences fos
which he has most taste. ! will instruct,
him III my profc>sion, for which he appears
10 have special aptitude. He shall be tn
ne an adopted son. a grand career, u
magniiiceu1 future lies open to him; bif~
there arc 4 few conditions TO which his pa
ren must consent before 1 can carry out
my scheme"
The summer air stirred the ~lime-boughsv
u half-prophetic shadow came over the
mothers comely face, while the farmer,
suddenly remembering that his glass WAS
in the air, emptied il with 4 look OF most
profound wisdom.
"rhe conditions | wish to make" Non-
tinued Sir RLye-"and YOU must think
them over well before YOU decide AS to
their ptancc or rejtction-are these
First, il your son leaves you at all, he
leaves you forever. After teaching, train
ing, and looking upon him as my sou, l.
could not tolerate the idea Of his return
ing here and leaving me. lie must give
up home IL he comes with me-"
"I'hat seems hard" said the farmer
And the mother shook her head slowly.
"llard, ! grant; Still it Is just. IL !
adopt him and bring him up AS my son, I
shall not care To know that some day he
may leave me-, and that all my trouble Win
nave been in vain"
Nane's face grew pale, and his lips quiv-
cred. lie did not speak, but looked at
his mother the whole time.
IL should treat him rs though ne
were my own son; / should wish that he
would tahc my name. Let him DC called
Nane Fraser Wharf. Unless 1 am greatly
mistaken in him, he will ennoblc any
name. Understand me rightly. ! an,
neither cruel nor unkind. | 40 not fox