Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-07-13
Ill

the usual Independence Day rodomdntade. II
was shot through and across With true patriot
ism, hard sense and wise counsel.
He spoke fuently for nearly two hours, 10 the
evident delight of his auditors. Toward the
close he began to draw up TO the people. to re-
Ter to local interests and prospects. Then IN a
hnely-turned sentence he gave Mandatory hoist
to the town of Rodney, bringing out the name
round and full.
Cheese thatr' shouted a stentorian voice in
the audience.
The ildge paid no attention TO the Interrupt
ton and talked on rapidly. till at length, al
most IN the closing sentence, the offensive
name was again uttered. The reception COM
mittee tried to surround him as he descended
from the platform, but a tall, raw-boned
farmer, in jean trousers and sorrel coat
rather short in the sleeves. crowded has way up
to the speaker and took him by the arm.
Look here stranger" he said, lyon made
olg mistake bit ago. or else I'm badly mixed.
druv my mules since sun-up. thinkin was
comm straight to Cornhill. n If 1 got so fur
out o my way as ter be in Rodney now, I'd like
somebody ter tell me-"
Come, Judge, you're tired" said Bash. try
ing TO draw him away. IF You wait till these
mossbaeks get around you, they'll use you up"
This last in undertone
But dark suspicion had crossed Stafford's
mind. What's the name of this town. he
numbered at the crowd, not caring who an
swered.
Committeeman on the jim" came from
a dozen Threats; and the man in the sorrel coat
remarked:
''Yaas: and this town and Rodney love one
nutheT like wildcat and a cougar. They
don't nowadays seem TO take Their milk outen
the same nussin'-bottle"
Stafford had grown white with anger. Turn
ing hotly upon Bash and Otis. he said: And
you-you brought me here, knowing I was
pledged and advertised to speak at the other
place! What have you to say in explanation of
such an unmanly proceeding-such an unheard-
Of outrage?'
Nothing" said Bash. coolly, "only we were
determined to take the yawp out of the mouths
of that blatant crew over yonder, and get their
measly paper stopped. And all stratagems
are fair, take it, in love and land-ofice bust
ness"
How far is it to Rodney" asked the Judge.
seeming TO hurl the question at the people
again"
Just five miles," said Bash, with anima-
ton; land if you'd like TO go over there I'll
take you in my buggy. You might speak there
this evening, you know"
you'll not take me in your buggy" said
Stafford, fairly trembling with rage. And
here's your money!" thrusting the three bills in
Basins face. IN not have penny OF 1t; I'll
have none of you in any shape" and turning on
his heei, he strobe away to the one livery
stable in the town. About shutdown he sue
ceeded in getting rig harnessed up, and a
man to drive him to Rodney.
Having arrived there. he inquired for a GER
tain leading citizen with whom he had corre-
sponded relative to the Grafton. He found him
the center of an excited group. who had Just
learned that he, Stafford, had spoken at Corn
hill that afternoon. A dsorderly throng filled
the streets; and when it TRANSFERRED that the de-
linquent Judge was on the ground and had
offered to address them, volley of unfiattering
epithets was let loose. and il was distinctly
serted that he would not better attempt to
serve up any ''warmed-over eloquence" on that
crowd.
Thoroughly Disguised with the whole south
end of Dakota. the judge got into his carriage
and ordered the driver to take him straight to
Bristol, and get there in time for the train
going north. dozen tipsy cowboys followed
him as he drove away. They marched with
long strides, their heads thrown back, and
their mouths opened TO their fullest width. as
they bawled after our hero a senseless song,
the refrain of which was:
"By. baby. byoo-good-by, my lover. good-by.-
He left them behind at last. their musical
below growing faint in the distance. The
| train had gone when he reached the station.
He turned into the small. unpromising hotel.
and called for supper. 1t came. and was, much
to his surprise, plentiful and excellent. The
strong. finely favored tea acted as a sedatiye
upon his irritated nerves. and when the meal
was finished he was able to think calmly over
| the DAYS occurrence.
He was assigned a rather bare but decent
room on the ground floor. and threw himself
into wooden rocking-chair by the open win
| dow, through which came a cool. delicious
breeze, such as the early starlight often brings
| after a hot day in Dakota. 1t PLAYED over his
face and neck, soothing his pulses and kindling
| his Imagination.
Screening the small lamp from the draught,
| he took from his breast-pocket the little book
he had found that morning, and spread it open
| for perusal Then he drew back smitten with
| a wave of self-disdain for daring TO look I'M
asked into a woman's heart. Again he bent
| over the closel y-written pages. Not for idle
| curiosity, he said to himself. but for knowl-
| edge, and he turned the leaves reverently as
though the little rain-blurred. storm-beaten
| thing we're a sacred missal with winged angel
emblazoned on every page. The knowledge he
| sought was there. No name of person or place
did the record contain, but through its brief
entries certain facts were made clear. She had
known love and pain and loss. She was Free and
rejoiced in her freedom, unembittered by all
she had passed through. She had outgrown
the narrow egoism of early youth, which seeks
| to bend the universe to the favoring of per-
sonal aims. She was full of calm hope and
trust of shrewd insight, of delicate humor, of
| accomplishing charity.
..She is one of thousandr' said Stafford,
half aloud. laying his hand upon the page with
| a caressing touch.
| The next morning the Judge secured team
L
| for solitary drive. He found the river. and
followed its course till Miss Parkman's claim
was reached. Rita was indoors with Pauline.
| and neither was conscious of the approach of a
| stranger till Staffords solid figure darkened
| the doorway. Miss Parkman rose hastily, a
| look of surprise in her eyes, and wave of warm
| color suffusing Der sensitive face. The self
consciousness of both was intense. Suddenly
| it dissolved into thin vapor, leaving their two
souls confronting each other, calm and unem-
barrassed, with a question of destiny between
| them.
Pauline was the first to speak. With a
| peculiar look of her own-a little frown above
| the eyes melting into the smile beneath it
she made this very formal inquiry: Ito what
| do owe the honor of this VISIT"
my horses are thirsty" said the Judge,
| ''and the bank is too abrupt to admit Of driv-
ing into the river. l thought perhaps you
would kindly lend me pail with which to dip
some water"
Then the faxen-haired Swede girl said.
| quickly: Il will give them drink, sir. / would
love to do il. My father at the farm has horses
many and feed and water them often"
She went to the sod house for pail, and then
| ran down the slope to the river.
| Stafford took the seat offered him, and the
| rather-strained situation was relieved by the
/ appearance on the scene of three fluffy young
chickens. which had got chilled overnight and
| were being coddled in a basket of cotton. They
ping about the floor, and Pauline had to cap
| ture and put them back.
| II fuss with the chickens" she said, ito pass
Il a. A. A.