The Sully County watchman. (Clifton, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1894, 1893-02-17
JIM'S MISLEADING.

mound. Perhaps 1t is deserted
ranch"
ut is cabin. and seems to be de-
serted. We might bring water from
the ranch and bathe our faces" sug-
gested Marie, tanning with her flap
ping shade hat, face once lily fair,
now sun-kissed and windblown to a
tawny hue sadly at variance with the
t1aNen hair.
"Some body has lately been here, and
that somebody is a woman. She must
have been fond of solitude-oh! Lu-
ellie. do not look into the kitchen"
cried Marie. "Why did we stop hcre9
1t is woman! She has died alone P"
A search in the house for vessel
that would hold water was vain. For
tunately some thrifty traveller had
sought the shady side of the huge
mound, when they rested and lunched,
leaving behind them number of
empty cans.
"Alkali!" exclaimed Marie, tasting
the clear and cold but disagreeably
impregnated water.
The woman revived, opened her
bright hazel eyes, and looked wonder
ingly about her. We held water to
her lips which she drank thirstily, say
ing feebly:
"It's cooln' when ones burnin' up.
I've wanted water so dreadfully, an
there was nobuddy to give me drop.
Jimmy man--he-he-wen on
'thout me. L kind O. pestered an
Rendered him.-sence-"
Don talk if it distresses you. |
1 hora olyn IN Ior Iin dis
ten some with water. and you must
eat" said Marie soothingly.
God has sent you. The poor tramp
will not die alone. You'll write to ia
ther an mother-tender, lovin' souls
at I've loved 'em always. You may
see Jim--Jim was kind O dazed into
goin' again me by a m;sleadin' young
er an purifier woman. His heart was
allus mine. can't go agin Jim 'cas
he was weak we are all that--weak an
in need of charity an that love that
covers faults. ! can't think Godll be
hash with them's that weak an lovin'.
You see 1 was an only daughter,
an we lived beside fathers mill in
country place hidden by the hills. The
big mill wheel was allus comp'ny tor
me. I'd take my knittin' an linen
bleachin' close to the bank, an watch
the water showerin' an sparklin' as
the wheel sAlzzed and whirres around.
Oh, hear in my dreams the water
drip, drip, drippin' from that old
wheel.
Flasher and mother warned me
ag'in Jim when he hired as hand an
came to board with us. But Jim's
eyes were SO speakin' his hair black as
a crows wing an his ways so winin'
that l couldn't believe he'd do as
mother said, break a woman's heart
an laugh at her for lovin' 'em, an
then | wanted to get out in Jim S
world where folks hadn't gone to
seed
Father offered Jim a share in the
mill if he'd stiddy down, but he had
no idee e doin' that. SO one night
stole away like thief from those who
loved me an went with him. Hand in
hand we stood beside the old mill.
The drip, drip, drippin' of the water
said, Don't break the hearts of those
dear old people.' | cried OUT
a. can't do this thing
"But Jim kissed me and said:
lOu SIldll ltNcI rue Illc Sltl1. i
love you more than live itself
II followed his leadin, hearin' plain
for days afterward the swash of the
water over the dam.
"Jims leadin' has led me down,
down into poverty. shame, an all
sorts of sufferin'. Eve half starved.
froze. borne abuse, neglect an through
it all hoped for better things. an now
I'm dyin' Il tramp, stragglin' woman,
jest the sort of creetur AT I'd hide
away from in those old happy days.
"Jim's with 4 show. A eback
rider. Milly Trevanion, liked my man.
She has bold black eyes an red cheeks
-yon know. sHe is Signor Vallini an
she is Mademoiselle Trevanion. Car
ter Brothers had no place in their COM
bination ior me 'cept washin' dishes.
cookin'. an work that broke me
down. Write to father an mother, at
I've KEEP my hands clean. an I'm
worthy to look into their honest eyes,
an I've never forgot to love EN-.
I've buried my little girl in"
Suddenly a new light came into the
hazel eyes; the worn face appeared
younger and brighter. Lightly and
tripplingly she sung:
Down the stream as cheerily beside the
mill we row,
Where the echoes merriIy their playful chorus
throw,
An tic tao, tic tao, goes the mill
Turn the boat, Jim. Isn't the water
beautiful in the sunlight? Only hear
it drippin' from the biz wheel
ooh, Lucille" sobbcd Marie. isn't it
sad?"
Again the sweet voice triled:
"When we call, oh, readily she answers us
again,
Drops the wheel right steadily to hear our
homewan strain
Jim, do you truly think me the
pretty maid of the -mill?"
The tripping melody became a plain
tive wall.
Does father an mother hear the
drippin' an are they hopin' for the
prodigal daughters return? Oh, write
at | have pined to bring me water
not that bitter stuff-pure, sweet cold
water. What. None for me, when it
goes drippin' in showers from the big
wheelp"
'Ihp faca was ia ct cbo nuinr