The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1894-09-20

the ground, and the one skeleton
tree in the come extended its Leaf
less branches like gaunt arms in vari-
Gus directions.
A wooden post was stuck in the
center Of the gravel square, its pur-
pose vague; at a few yards distant
stood a man practicing at broadsword
exercise.
Sergeant-Maior Bovne, pausing
from his exertions, addressed some
u sitting on the wall to his right.
Are you cold. Mollie?"
mo, thanks; it is warming to
watch YOU
The Sergeant continued his evolu-
tiUns.
"0nc-two three -four. right.
Onc--two-three-f ur: lett"
The girl clapped her hands The
Sergeant repeated the performances.
GLOW .ioliy you look. Cousin Jack"
Noble cried, as the cuts and thrusts
whistled through the air.
800 L." the Sergeant Queried,
soIcmnly regarding the post in the
middle OF the ground.
"You know that you look nice"
she SAID severely. Don't pretent."
He returned the weapon to its
sheath and looked at the girl criti-
cally.
"You know that you look nice,
Cousin Moiiie," he said, with mock
severity. Don't pretend. iou are
the Drcttiest girl in Linbridge. All
lo ,.,an ne flh, 1ar n,, I., IN, thn 81
you"
''Do they?" she cried with a gasp.
IL am SO glad"
'Tlad: silly Girl! What is their
opinion WORTH"
AS much as yours, lsuprosc, she
answered.
"Oh. of course"
She leaned against the wall and
rcrastencd a buckle. She bit her lip
ana tapped the red bricks with her
heels.
:" crgeaut Trayers came off worsted
among the men the other night, l
heard"
The odds were all against the
one. as usual, " she said. Your bar
rack jokes are seldom funny"
He laughed.
''Why do YOU care for him, Mol
l!c""
Il don't"
"All right. Mollie," he said in a
tone that ina Gated AL wrong"
ITS getting late" she re Larked.
''Ihry are setting the tea tray"
- hall hnIp vrn EnupD"
Her toes were on Il level with his
chest as he fronted her. She care
fully scrutinized the height from the
ground.
mo, thank YOU
ooh, all right" he responded. with
the same dubious reflection.
She heard his spurs c ick over the
frosty ground. She watched the
patch Of scarlet merge into the gloom
and rcappear in the lighted room of
the house. Then the tears trickled
down her cold check and froze there.
A boz was spinning a top in the
next garden. She leaned toward
him.
Little boy" she whispered. 'g:ve
me a push"
The little boy, mounting an in
vertcd bucket, pushed" and heard a
mutled thud on the other side Of the
wall.
Every girl in the little garrison
town who possessed an invitation to
the nOn-commisSioned officers ball
was preparing for the evenings fes-
tivity.
Mollie Henderson p~iroutted round
the small limit of her chamber. Il
gau2y being in white. The circum-
SERTED mirror had been tilted up and
tilted down. only a quarter of her
form being vi>ioned at one time.
The edge OF her skirt and white
satin slippers were undergoing ret,ec.
ton when her Youngest brother
shouted through the keyhole,-
You'll do, Mollie. You'll bea
Georg ma Webb hollow"
'Oh, Bobby, darling, do you think
500" she cried. opening the door.
''Positive. Here are two loxes.
Guess ones from the sergeant"
Each box contained Il spray of flow
crs. She held the red roses admir-.
lnEly.
dear Mollie, please wear my flow
ers," was pencilled on ii sheet OF papeI
hearing the name OF sergeant
TraverS The lilies Of the valley
were &c ompanied by Il scrap Of papel
"trom Jack
(Which shall / wear. Bobby" she
asked excitedly, laying the roses and
the lilies together against heI
bod ce.
"Both." the hoy replied promptly.
'Oh. / can't. l think-1 think