Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-08-16

she said, in high. falsetto voice, to
girl who sat sewing in the shadow of
Virginia creeper on the gallery with
out. Powerful long. He said he'd
be back by one o'clock, an hits nigh
Retiring into the house, she returned
q moment later with black sun-bon-
net folded lengthwise and laid turban-
like on her thick, silvery hair.
Dix dropped her work in her lap
and pushed back her curls as she put
the question.
"Steppin down to see Wildly Dodd.
Her son Dave went with John, an per-
haps she kin tell what's a-keepin' 'em.
Put the kittle on fer supper, an keep
things tidy till I come back"
The old woman went her way with
long, quick, ungraceful steps, while
Dix rolled up her sleeves and bounded
into the house.
A few moments later lad came
painting down the road, his face flushed
and his eyes flashing with excitement
q handsome lad withal, though rude in
dialect and rough in dress.
DIX! oh, Dix Dix-ee!" lie shouted.
throwing back his head and testing his
lungs to their utmost limit.
Is that you, Jeems," answered the
girl, appearing on the gallery holding
a brick on which she was sedulously
sharpening tableknife.
Eyes; and fer Gods sake come yurr!'
Whats up, Jeems?"
Come yur-r-r, say"
Dix laid the brick and knife on the
gallery rail and flew down the path to
the gate.
"Hain't ye herd the news bout
Jchn?" qneried the boy, turning his
face uneasily away from the searching
look of the girl.
what bout John. Jeems? What is
hit?" She spoke in short, quick gasps.
beginning to twist and untwist her
fingers in an agony Of apprehension.
hands wus-Oh, Dix! / c-a-i-n'-t tell p
"Jeems!"
The girl caught the lad by the
shoulder with grip that made him
shrink and made him throw up his
hand to loosen her hold. A look Of I'M
utterable horror crept into her deep.
dusky eyes. Her face was dashed a
deadly white. She shivered and stag
gered back, crying:
ooh, tell me!-tell me!-telI me..s ::
"Tll tell ye, Dix, but don't take on
that'n way. John an his hands WIS
down ter tn still, an passed. O. them
rev'noo men run in on 'em, an they
he'd skrimmage, an John was shot,"
20, poor John! o, my buddy! nv
poor buddy!" And the girl sank moan
ing on the grass. rs he dead, Jeems?
Is he dead?"
"I-er-don't know, Dix" hesitated
the boy. his eyes wet with unshed
tears, "but he was--er-shot three
times, an'-thar, Dix! Looky thar.
They's a-totin' him home now. Lookv!
Don't y see?" And he pointed up the
road, where, over the rise of a low hill.
appeared party of hardy mountain
ers, bearing the body of man on a
stretcher made of twisted boughs.
Dix rose to her feet, and with low.
pitiful wall, tottered forward to meet
the men. They laid their burden down
in the grass and shadow by the road
side as she approached, and Dix.
throwing her bare, white arms around
the corpse, printed passionate kisses
on the brow of the brother she had
loved so we'll.
Mrs. Maxwell found the Widow
Dodd in her best dress and a stifly
starched cap with flying frills.
THAR" cried the widow, triumph
antly, as Mrs. Maxwell strobe in;
thar! I told Mandy Ann Marian thet
we'uns d hev a caller fore chicken
roost, fer I let the dish-rag drap ez 1
wus a-wipin' breakfuss things, an 1
never knowed tibet ar sign to fail yit.
But, bless me! hain't said howdy,
Mis- Maxwell-an' how's yer darter,
Dix ?"