Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1891-12-12
wild Dicks Legacy.

white clouds now and then yelling the
face OF the sun and casting their shadows
upon the ground beneath. The only
sounds to be heard were the rustling of
the full-leaved trees, the cool rushing
"swish" of the clear and sparkling river,
and the distant voices of the hay-makers
busily at work amongst the fragrant hay.
The quiet country town lay bathed IN
sunshine, and all was peace and tran
quillity-when suddenly the whole as
pect of the place was changed; the ar
was filled with loud music, not quite dis
cordant, although there was larger pro-
portion of drum than any other instru-
Inent in 1t.
In few minutes all the inhabitants of
Kirkstone had turned out to see what
this unusual excitement meant. The
gaily-coiored bills posted on the walls
soon enlightened them, and they stood
laughing and talking together as they
waited TO see the procession that was
moving slowly across the old stone bridge
into the quaint narrow streets; and the
country-chiidrens eyes grew round with
wonder and delight at the unexpected
sight.
There were grand gilded carriages
drawn by many horses, while beautiful
en- seats; there were piebald ponies with
long tails, and a number Of handsome
cavaliers; and last Of all came niagniti-
cent white horse with trappings of bright
scarlet, and on this huge creature rode a
tiny child, dressed in simple white, with
golden hair that hung about the sweet
baby-face in bright curls. All the girls
and boys ran along by the side of the
carriages and the horses. wondering and
eager, following the procession through
all the streets quite away to the field out
side the town, where many busy hands
had already erected the large canvas tent
which was magic palace in the eyes of
these children, hiding as it did so many
wonders from their longing gaze.
The gay procession went slowly through
the gate and into the field; and even then
the children fingered round, gazing at
the bright pictures outside the tent. and
trying To peep through the canvas door
to get tiny glimpse of the splendor be
yond.
Dick, Dick!" cried the little girl with
the golden locks, putting out her tiny
hands 10 be lifted down; and Dick, who
had been lying on the grass with a pipe
In his mouth, sprang mp quickly and
clasped her gently with his strong arms
A strange contrast these two presented
the pretty innocent child and the care
worn. dissipated-looking man, on whose
still handsome face there was 50 plainly
written the story Of the ruined life he
| thought 80 lightly of. And yet, in spite
of the hard wild look of his fine features,
there lurked in his blue eyes something
indescribably tender and loving rs he
gazed on the child's eager happy face.
"And have YOU had nice ride, Fairy,
and seen many pretty things?' he asked.
Eyes: the trees, Dick, are so pretty: and
the water is white like milk, and makes
such funny noise"
1--WE will go and see it together some
| time--shall we, darlingf'
"You dear old Djck--I do love your
she answered, her voice growing brighter
than ever as she ciasped her tiny arms
| tightly round his neck.
The tender look in his eyes deepened,
and even the bard mouth that the heavy
mustache almost covered softenCd little
ut her csresses.
The gaily-dressed women soon changed
their bright robes and appeared in their
everyday apparel, standing in groups,
laughing and talking together in loud
tones, while the men loungcd about smok-
ing.
| One of the riders came up 10 where
| Dick was standing; she was stability
dressed woman with white careworn
face. from which her dark eyes cleaned
brightly.
Come with me, Fairy: we will go
home now and have some tea she said.
And Dick. too!' cried Fairy, holding
fast to his strong supple hand.
'And Dick, too, if he will come said
her mother.
| So the three passed ont Of the field and
walked on into the now deserted streets.
1t was n poorly-furnished but clean
| lodging in side-street which for few
short days Fairy and her mother would
call home, and yet, in spite of the colu-
mon surroundings and the simple fare,
II was more homelike than any place that
Dick had known for many years.
Wild Dick" as he was called, had
| Joined the travelling circus only a few
weeks before; he was one of the finest
bareback riders in the world. and could
command high salary, but he was a
restless, rowing character, and could
aever stop in one place for any length of
ame; SO for the sake of the continual
change of scene he threw up his engage
ment with tirst-class company, and
| Joined first one travelling troupe, then
another.
He had signed an agreement to stay
| for three months with this com Dany, and
already six weeks of the time had passed
away. lie had proved 10 be the jolliest,
most reckless and foolhardy comrade
amongst them, l.vish with his money,
and willing TO take even more ,han his
share of hard work He was a general
favorite, and even the loud-voiced care
worn women. whose company he shun-
ned, had good word for hirn, for they
saw how kind and good he was TO their
poor children, whose lives were 80 hard,
whose aching limbs SO often smarted
| from the effects % rough blows, and up
! on whose ears kind words so rarely fell.
| And yet this man lived bad, reckless
life, drowning any vain regrets or yearn-
| ings for the past in widest dissipation,
doing such daring foolhardy feats that 1t
was not unlikely would one day launch
him, unprepared as he was, into eternity.
His love for children led him to notice
Fairy Brenham. or, as she was described,
on the gaily-colored posters, 1.-THE fairy
rider, the wonder OF the world. He
saved her one day from bad fall from
her horse by skillfully catching her in
his strong arms; and from that day he
had won her childish love; and, in spite
of his hard reckless life, this pure child's
affection had touched the one soft place
| in his heart.
As Fairy, in her childish voice, said g
simple grace, he felt a curious choking
sensation--it was 30 long since he had
such words, and they brought back 70
his memory vision of pretty break
| fast-room, the table bright with flowers,
and lac could almost hear his mother ut
| tering the words in her soft gentle voice.
| His mother. Ii she could but see him
now! 1t was only for moment that the
memory of the past overcane him, then
he was living in the present again, try
| ing To harden his heart, striving 10 forget.
He looked at Fairy's lovely face, and
| listened to her merry chatter and laugh
| ter; then he glanced at the pale woman
| whose careworn features We're lighted uT
| with q mothers love, and, in spite Of his
| efforts, his heart softened again.
| Fairy and 1 are going 70 be fast friends
| always, are we mott he asked.
Fairy nodded her head and laughed in
answer, and her mother looked eagerly,
searching into Dicks handsome face.
l ..I ,,yant nv kftla oirl IN grow mn goOxl