Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1892-10-13
PROUD OF HIS CHOICE.

wanting In Inc VIE, dltiIOhSh hNt
dark gypsy face had piquant and rare
LONELINESS both of feature and express
sion.
Each day as the train steamed into
the station Elsie would be awaiting
her husbands arrival. her brilliant
ewes oblivious to all sights but that OF
the handsome eager face OF nm she
loved. Even the indolent loungers,
who spent their time in a h~alf-somnol-
ent state, rousing to a feeble appear
ance of interest only at each new III
fiux of passengers. grew animated at
:he sight of thai bright lissom young
figure dressed in the rich fabrics which
made her look like some gay tropical
bird that had aligIted in the sombre
place.
In the morning 1t vas her great de-
light to take long, solitary rambies,
and to return laden with woodland
spoiIs Of rare ferns and MOSES Then
she would transform her rOoms into
bowers, amid which she rOamed like a
new Flora until her Gerald's arrival.
The farmers wives had learned to
steal for a moment from their work at
their golden butter, or creamy cheese,
to watch for her. 1t seemed to brighten
the remainder of the day to catch a
smile from such a pair of rosy lips,
and many a murmured God bless the
sweet young face" followed her rs she
passed.
So it went on until the summer
waned and faded, and October came.
The sun had passed the meridian, and
was sailing in a sen of clOudleSs blue.
Rarely had the genial rays shone upon
"A lovelier picture than that made by
Elsie. seated upon q lic~hen-COvered
rock by the road. Above waved the
graceful branches of a stately elm.
At one end purled a limpid brook over
its ~gravelly bed. As Elsie watched it,
and listened to its musical ripping
flow. gradually an expression of in
tense peace ZANE into the beautiful
face. which was usually too instinct
with a subtle inner current of unrest
to convey an impression that the CIR
was as thoroughly happy as n would
expect to be.
But her revere was not to be unin-
%terrupted.
Suddenly a man approached from
out the shadow of the wood. Silently
and stealthily he came. He had seen
the motionless figure. and it suited
with the habits of his life, thus tC
draw nearand reconnoitre unobserved,
although as yet he had not recognized
Elsie.
But as he came close enough to gair
a view of her. he gave q surprised
start. and an evil smile curved the full
red lips. half hidden by his long droop'
inc monstache.
lie did not speak, but waited unit
the sense of enjoyment which a tiger
must feel when his unconscious prey
is within reach of his fatal spring,
though rs vet uninjured.
Soon Elsie turned her head and me,
his baleful glance.
With a low cry she rose to her feet,
Her warm coloring changed to a dull
pallor. Even her lips grew white as
she said, shudderingly:
''Eben! What has brought You herol
| thought-n
.'Yes," be interrupted harshly. 81
know. You did not expect, neither
long for the sight of me. But one
never knows what may happen. 1t is
a good chance for me, though. You
know my heart is n very tender one.
Well, how does the young springald
who stole you away treat his treasured
Is he tired of it yetP"
With every sneering word Elsie's
great dark eyes grew widerand gloom
Ter with horror.
Oh, that she could sink away through
the green turf and diel-auything-so as
TO be relieved Of this tantalising, i'll,
omened spectre from the past she had
hoped never again to be confronted
with.
The man bent and whispered a few
words in her ear. But he had miscal,
Culated his influence over her. She
drew her slight form up to its full
height, and pointed towards the road,
GO" she said. II will not do as YOU
say. though you should strike me dead
at your feet"
Il will do worse than that" was the
answer, in a low savage tone. ~ viii,
scatter broadcast Through this VILLAGE
VINO you are and the relations between
u.s."
Elsie grew as pale rs the white flow.
ars she had fastened in her belt. Blu,
her voice did not falter.
ID your worst she said resolutelv,
at is possible for YOU to DESTROY m =
happiness, hut you cannot make me q
traitor to him | love"
Ihen she took up the lcohorn ha,
which lay at her feet, and with a bite,
impulse tore from it the wild flowers
with which but II brief hour before sbe
had decorated ii, thinking of the han
p,ness with which the good Gnd had
hlled her life. and now the whitening
blossoms We're fitting emblems of the
desolation that had come TO hcr.
The next day Mortified grouos wers
gathered around the cottage which mad
hut lately been the scene of what had
seemed To he one of those rare pn;o,s
where husband and wife are as ..twc
souls with tut a single thought"
NOW IL was the center of n mos,
shocking tragedy. The noble youno
master OF the house Law within if
spnSeleSs anu motionlcss. stricken
down by the maud of an assassin. aoG
Ale darkest AMI most incon-rahensible
an "t In" ALTAR WAS that The be,uti-
IHl and t"ndiH worsa pped wife accused
herself OF the murder.
II AN his DESTROYER! Kin mo ,oo,,
Was her Wild err, runr in every ch,nro
"i wiilci ~" human voice X c~an,bIo
anW rai"''tc, now COMMANDING. br,
NE KEY moi" was ever the samp
Inc F"'t't'ahie villagers looked q,
we ''i"in-t - CONSERVATION aud inda.
cision. II was difficult tn baI;.ro ,hs.
ner words were aught but the promnt.
ms OF a mind unsettled by her sudden
sorrow. But if they were true, than
Justice required that punishment ~
dealt out to her, though she he youne
and fair as an angel. "AS
So the poor h~alf-lazed crca,,,ro
placed in custody of the shpriT W., va,
such time rs it could he proved wl,a,h
er she were innocent or gp;j,r III
was Thoroughly kind-hearted md Le
at once took her to his own lis &c
entreatlng his wife to minister I'm ~
wants, and to endeavor to c,,n, n'
agitation by the gentle svmna,hml
good woman can render 70 ona'y y
own sex IN her hour of need so efrao.
ually. % erect
BY that can he hoped also TO ,o.r,
the ruth. But 1t seemed as tbonnh
Elsie's lips could frame only ono so,a
OF speech-as though her mind MI
put one thought. Still RANG on, az
despairing cry, II have killed b;a, !, me
AND at last the belief gained arn..,
that in a sudden attack of ~insap;.u uuna
mad put out the life which in her ss sne