Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1891-12-19
wild Dicks" Leuacy.

journey home, and the first sight Of his
fathers changed face. The face that
had always been full of love and pride
when it had looked upon him was now
cold and hard rs stone; the voice he had
never heard speak in anything but kind
tones was stern and broken as he bade
him begone, never to return. An out
cast from his fathers home, he had made
one feeble struggle to redeem his charac-
ter, and had failed All his money gone,
he had sunk lower and lower; there
seemed no way open to him to earn an
honest living until his old skillfulness in
riding obtained him an engagement in a
circus troupe; and, finding that he could
easily earn enough to keep himself, and
having keen love for horses, he SOON
became famous for his clever feats. and
could command a good salary. The life
suited him: he was brave and reckless,
and the dangers he dared gave him the
excitement that he needed. But moral
ly he got worse and worse, until Heaven
sent little child to lead him; and this
child's love brought him the first faint
ray of hope. He had said once that it
was too late for him TO reform his life,
but that night. after he had heard Fairy
pray for him, he felt stronger, and the
world and its temptations did not seem
80 hard to battle against.
He had made few steps in the right
direction. had conquered some of his fail
ings, and hc resolved that with Heavens
help he would not turn back. For the
first time for fifteen long years he felt
hopeful - almost happy ready - nay,
cager--;o begin again the battle Of life,
for he was strong in the new faith that
had suddenly inspired him.
"Wild Dick" was no longer an appro.
pirate name for him. as one of his COM
rades one day remarked
''No. for he is tied To child's pinafore-
strings now" said another of the men,
with coarse laugh.
Better if you all werer' broke in a
woman warmly. IF there is good
turn done here, it is always Wild Dick
that does it.
80 you have turned his champion
have you, Bess? When is the wedding
to bey' Tetorted the man. amidst the loud
laughter of his companions.
a look of scorn crossed the woman s
handsome but faded face.
"As If he was not too good for any one
here! | know gentleman when | see
one, if you don't
oh ne is Gentleman Dick now, is
her" said another; and they laughed again
At that moment Dick came in sight,
and shabbily as he was dressed, no one
could for one moment have mistaken
him for common man. for. now that
the marks of dissipation and recklessness
were passing away from his face, he
locke, both handsome and well bred.
He stopped TO speak to group of chill
dren, and the man who had first spoken
spoke again.
"Bess is right, think. Dick is not one
of our sort"
He has grown too good for common
mortal, answered another; and so the
subject dropped
Sunday was the happiest day of the
week TO Fairy, for then she had Dick all
day to herself. They would go for long
walks into the country, he carrying her
on his shoulder when she complained of
being tired; and they would eat their
dinner in the sweet fresh air, reaching
home in time for their tea.
Fairy's cheeks was rapidly losing their
paleness. and getting plump and rosy
with country air and long restful nights
for she had no longer to rub her sleepy eyes
and stretch her aching limbs, waiting
| for her turn to ride into the lighted ring
and to receive the plaudits of the crowd.
| The only rides she had now were in the
early morning when Dick sometimes
took her for u rapid gallop down some
fair country road shaded by green trees.
In September they were stopping at "A
| North-Country town, and on the Sunday
| Dick took fairy to the heather-covered
moors, where she played about in happy
contentment while he read: then, when
| she was tired of play, he told her won
derful fairy tales. making her large dark
| eyes glisten with delight. He carried her
| home on his shoulder, for he thought she
looked tired, and she was as happy and
content on her high throne as il she were
a queen.
The tea was set in the small room, the
preserve and cakes making it feast in
| Fairy's eyes; and when they had finished
| she perched herself upon his knee, and
requested him TO tell her more about the
| fairies.
He laughed. and began wonderful
tale of hobgoblins and giants, which
made her cling to him with a sudden
| fright, whereupon he tenderly kissed all
trace of fear from her bonny face.
There was church few PAGES down
| the street, and now the bells began to
ring for evening service.
Pretty bells!'' cried FAIRY. "Are they
fairy bells, Dickg'
mo, darling; they are church bells,'
| he answered.
"What do they ring for, Dick."
ITO tell people it is time to go to
| church"
lsaI. A,xI .t,z
cried, with sudden delight at the prospect
of something new.
And he, seeing how her heart was set
upon it. and being able to refuse her
nothing, dressed her in her hat and jacket,
and for the first time for more than fif-
teen years he went into church again.
| They sat in "A pew in a side-aisle, near the
door and he listened in dreamy fash
ion to the service, while Fairy gazed with
large wondering eyes at the beautiful
colored windows radiant with rays from
the setting sun.
The sermon was a short one and very
simple, based upon the story of the prod
igal son. Dick did not listen very atten-
| tively, for his thoughts had wandered a
long way back into the past-back to the
quaint old church near his home, with
4
square pews. He could feel again the
curious icy coolness that was SO refresh
ing after the hot walk across the fields;
and through the open doors came soft
refreshing breeze and the subdued muir
muir of ripping brook, and by his side
was a fair young girl, his cousin Dora.
| When the service was ended, and he
had taken Fairy home, she was too sleepy
to ask for more tales, so he left her and
vent out again for walk.
| 1t was clear starlit night, just sufti-
| GENTLY cool to make brisk walk enjoya-
ble, and soon Dick had left the lighted
streets behind him, and was striding
quickly down the deserted country road
outside the town.
II was strange how all kinds of MEM
uries came back to him that night, not
of the incidents that made him still blush
with shame, but sweet happy memories
of the dear old home and his happy boy
hood. His thoughts went back to the
time when he was young and innocent
10 the old house he used to De so proud of,
with its picturesque gables and diamond
paned windows. He could see again, as
II II were but yesterday, the great door
thrown wide open, showing the brightly
| lighted hall. with its glittering armor and