The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1890-06-19
OUR HIRED MAN." STEVE"

Steve was our hired man. Who he
was. or whether he had any living re-
lations. no one knew. One lovely
October evening l Started for the
woods. Steve had been watching me.
He endeayorod 10 persuade me 10
postpone my visit until the morning.
rs he said IL had been reported that
there were some rough fellows In the
neighborhood. repulsed him and
declined his advice,
Fortunately for me. he followed me
NJ distance, unseen,
One loud scream / gave, and then
dirty hand covered my mouth and
nearly choked me- / struggled wildly,
but the ruffians were too strong. /
felt myself lifted from the ground.
Sense. breath. life itself seemed fail
Ing. when Steve came crashing
through the trees and saved me.
l can't tell what followed. for / was
nearly frantic with fear. remember
q scuifie, In which Steve tore me from
the ruffian who held me. and I flung
my arms around his neck and clunQ 10
him In desperation. After that must
have tainted.
He carried me nearly home. Il
seems, and then laid me down on
Rhpsso ssoB1ai BY aiRSss RSssSp SpfRyiaa sssso no longer.
being faint from loss OF blood. One of
them had struck at him with sharp
stone and cut his head just above the
temple; the wound was bleeding serri-
big. 1t came near costing him his life.
and left a deep and ugly scar. VIII
said IL would GO with him TO his grave
poor Steve.
After this affair was more civil 10
him, and tried In many ways 10 show
that was not ungrateful.
AS did not want 20 snub the man
who had rendered me such service.
and as was afraid that by being kind
TO him might encourage foolish and
presumptuous hopes, took a middle
course. and endeavored 10 avoid him
altogether.
While things were In this uncom-
Portable state something terrible hap
pened. Our country. for the second
time called forth her sons 70 defend
her. and foremost among the names OF
the drafted was Wills.
Oh, the grief OF IL II was. with the
angle exception OF his death. the
greatest misfortune thai could have
come 10 us. With VIII 20 sustain us.
any trouble might have been endured,
but without MIN. Mamie and were
desolate.
We two had been left orphans years
before, with the farm for our joint for
tune. Mamie was distant cousin.
orphaned also and soon 70 become
Wins wife.
We sat In our little sunny parlor, q
day or two before the time OF parting
--poor VIII and his pale. heart-broksn
betrothed as | watched them.
their sad faces and low. hopeless tones
cut my heart 30 deeply that ! arose
and went out into the garden. anxious
only TO escape the sight OF q sorrow
which | was powerless 10 alleviate.
The first person saw was Steve.
A fierce. unreasoning anger blazed
up In my heart against him. AS he
approached said. without prelude or
| greeting:
WHY don't you 60 70 the ware"
He put down the rake and looked ut
me for q moment He had weak eyes
and always wore blue glasses which
was one reason for my disliking him.
LIZ think. Then he answered very
| quietly:
II have not been called upon yet '
but you could volunteer" said.
impatiently.
Yea" he replied. ''as you say.
could volunteer. have brother In
the army already, however. and II
would be hard upon cur mother tolose
both her sons; neither have any in
clination for soldering. Neverthe-
less. II my country calls me shall not
| be found wanting"
Aud 1 leaned my head against the
gate and wcpt bitterly.
steve stood silent for q moment
watching me- AL at once he laid his
hand on mine and said In . hoarse.
changed voIccs
why don't you tell Fred Lester
how bitterly you grieve 10 lose your
brothsrp'
why should do thaaF ! asked.
checking my tears In sheer surprise.
Because he II your lover" he re-
plied, with bitter emphasis. ''and as
such IL Ia his right and privilege 90
| save YOU from grief and pain. What
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