The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1892-04-08
SANS STRATEGY.

nrmfui OF snow-covered logs from the
woodpile at tho north end Of the house,
throwing them down on the stone
hearth with n noise like a small earth
quake, when Carrie Brown started up.
give O'Clock! Oh, l had no idea it
vas so late. l must be going home"
ALLOW me to accompany YOU, Miss
Brown
you will let me see you home,
Garrett"
Capt. Logan and Fred Jones both
spoke at once, but Carrie shook her
head.
Il prefer to walk Alone" she said,
about the sleighing party to-mor-
row nightp" said Fred, anNiously.
I'll have half promised Capt. Lo-
gan" said the village beauty, a rosy
tint suffusing her cheek.
But, Carrie, | thought it was set
tied between you and me two weeks
ago" exclaimed Fred, with a frown.
"Was it? I'm sure | had forgotten
it."
Fred was silent. Capt. Logan's
smooth, soft-toned voice broke the ST.
lence.
II exact no promises he snid. gal
lantly, "but if l am not punctuaI to
the hour and the spot Miss Brown may
draw her own conclusions"
And Carrie went home.
She was very pretty, this bright
eyed, New England damsel. Fred
Jones had loved her evcr since they
were children together. and Capt. Lo-
gan, who had come down to spend the
Christmas holidays with his cousins,
the Hendricks, had become so fond OF
those bright, blue eyes and golden
hair that he had prolonged his visit i'll
to January.
s'Pon my word. she's a regular
beauty" said the captain, staring
through the tiny window-panes at the
r~etreating figure of Miss Brown.
Fred Jones looked quickly up at
him, as if he would have liked TIC
knocked him over into the fireplace,
but he rcfrained from any such dem
onstration.
ga beauty" went on the captain,
"and it's n thousand pities she should
be wasted on any OF the country
pumpkins who vcgetate among these
wildernesscs. Sam, you young vii.
lain, are those boots of mine blacked
YETI"
Farmer Hendricks hired boy, who
had just come i'll to warm his purple
hands at the merry red blaze, looked
glum.
mo, they amt" said sam, GROSSLY.
.Won whotic tha rpa SDnpH
"Cause | amt 'ad time
"See you find time, then, and that
quick, too." said the captain. And
Sam glowercd after him as he Went
gayly up the stairs.
"Just wish ! had the firm of him
out" said the boy, gloomily. "It's
Sam do this and Sam do that end
Sam, where's the warm watera:' and
Sam. what the deuce do you by
lettin' my fire go out?' and not a red
cent has he guy me yet-no, nor sc
much as a pleasant word. / wonder il
he means to stay here always"
you and | are about equal in oul
love of him, SAM" said Fred Jones,
laughing.
II heerd him talkin' with Miss Car.
rie about goin' sleigh-ridin' tomorrow
night" said Sam shrewdly. I'D ies
like to put Kicking Tom in the shafts
| would if it weren't for Miss Carrie
He don't know nothin' about horses
that there militia cap'n don't" Ant
Sam chnckled.
II say, Mr.. Jones'" he resumed, "why
don't YOU get beforehand with him:
Miss Carrie don't really care for him
she's only dazzled like"
Fred Jones frowned slightly; homes
Sam was not exactly the kind of Gany
mede he cared to have NEEDLE will
his love affairs.
"Miss Brown must choose for her
self. SAM" he said, and Sam wen
back to his work, secretly wonderin.
how young lady, gifted with ordi
nary sense, could hesitate for a mo
ment between the captain and Ere,
Jones.
The next night came-a pcrfec
night for slcighing expeditions ant
rustic love-making, the roads hard an,
well packed and a glorious moon shin
ing down whitley, as if a rain of silve
were deluging the whole world.
Couldn't be better weather" SAT-
the captain. "SaIn, where are tn
sleigh-bells?"
Dunno" said Sam. There's then
old jinglers in the garnet that used t.
belong to Deacon Joe Kendrick tina
was in the revolutionary war, ant
there's the two cow-bells that Mar,
Jane might scour up with ashes
"Pshaw!" said the captain. "Do yo,
take me for Rip Van Wrinkle? There
a pretty little string somewhere. for
saw them when Mrs. Kendrick wen
out day before yesterday"
81 hain't seer nothin' on EN-" sal,
Sam, stolidly.
"Come, come, Sam. don't make your
self out any stupider than you be b,
nature" said the farmer, laughing
nevertheless. for the captains air
we're fast wearing out his welcome
and he secretly sympathizcd with tn
much-abused Sam.
II guess they're out in the bar,
cnaulpcr. . better 60 with him
captain, If you expect to find 'em-oa
| SANS dreadful thick-hcaded when h
chooses to be-"
Iohlc aiohS. LHy nv ioAioM' saI
the captain, collaring Sam and march
ing him off in the direction of the oil
rcd barn. "We don't need any lanter
in this moonlight, that is one CON
fort"
"Whcrc are tho stairspn .dcmande
the captain, as they entered the barr
"Ain't none.- said sam. "It's o lac
der"
up with you, then" said Logar
but Sam shrunk back.
al wouldn't. not for $50" said San
"Old John Kendrick hanged himsel
from The middle beam fourteen year
ago, and folks say he stands up ther
with a rope round his neck ever
moonlight night"
Stuff aud nonsense!!n cried tho cal
tain, in accents Of contempt. "Yo
cowardly lout, stay where you arr
then, and I'll go myself"
He sprung lightly up the rounds {
the ladder and disappeared throug
the trap door.
Wher 10 II % In o.l1oS