The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1894-01-11

but In drawing herself back, a stone
underneath her foot rolled, and she
was precipitated into the dark and
sluggish pool beneath. The girl
struggled in the water to regain her
roofing. when a young man of some
eighteen years came whistling down
the bank, and seeing her condition,
sprang in and led her to the shore.
"Ah. Claire, you are reckless,
little one, but l believe there is no
greater damage done than some
drenched flowers, curls. ETC."
"Dear Eddie, it seems as if you
were always near to save. You re-
member when l fell off Deacon
Smiths swing, and old Barney threw
me, and"
IL remember all, sweet; but you
will get chilled standing here with
your wet garments on" And press.
ing his lips to the lips of the girl,
carried her to her mothers door.
"Dear Eddie, what can l do for
you in return for saving my life:"
He did not tell her, as he might
have done, that her life was not in
danger, but answered carelessly;
Pooh. it was nothing, Claire; but
yes. I'll tell you what you can do
be my little wife"
Mother says l shan't be married
till Pm %"
well, promise to be my wife then,
as Ill-J'll-"
"What, Eddie:"
"No matter, only promise"
And the strange boy caught her
arm passionately.
sch. Eddie, you hurt me. OF
course IL he your wife, dear, when l
am cd enough"
The lurking devil in the boys eye
vanished, and drawing her close to
him, he said:
"~Remember, you have promised.
Good-by, little wife"
And springing over the low fence,
he was o out Of sight.
After the girl had changed her wet
clothes for dry ones, and was sitting
in her usual seat by her mothers
side, she sighed heavily, and said:
IF Eddie only wasn't so passion.
ate, mother. I'll have a hard time
when Pm his wife"
What do you mean, child?"
"Why, Pm to be Eddie's wife, you
know"
"PShaw, child, how you talk"
Indeed, l am, mother. l PROM
ised him, and l would not 20 ba k on
my word for worlds"
"Why, Claire, you are daft, child.
talking about marriage at your age"
Pm twelve, mother, and you were
only fifteen when you were married
besides, Eddie don't want me to be
his vile for Il long time yet-not till
Pm twenty-ive."
The allusion to her own earl
marriage Cuieted the mother, though
the unconscious child did not know
the happy hit she had made.
For the first time the mother re-
allied that her child was fast ap-
preaching that harmed season where
childhood and womanhOOd clasp
hands TO her mothers eye she had
never looked so womanly as within
the last hour. her fac seemer and
purer. and on the broad. white brow,
seemed already written
Woman's lot is on mo.
Were some sage or seer present,
could he not have devined the future
path she was to tread, the priceless
love she was to give away, the sor-
row that was to refine the already
pure gold OF her nature, the g%eniOus
that was to sing such songs for the
multitude and the laurel wreath that
genius was TO bind about her brow?
But neither sage nor seer were
present and the mother saw naught
OF all this. but she feared e Ough to
make her wish she could gather her
darling to her breast and hold her
there forever-that she was once
more a little child in a long white
| night dress and she were rocking her
to slecpas of Id. AL this the mother
thought, and thought she knew the
danger was afar'-O of. yet she shud-
dered to think what the future might
bring forth: Of her ever being the
wife Of the unprincipled, passionate
Edward Logan.
1t was childish talk, she knew. and
yet it was a great relief when, two
months subsequently,. the | ogan
family moved West, leaving her one
little ewe-lamb safe in the fold.
= n 4 i Il
File years have passed away-tive
long years, during which the flowers
have blossomed and faded, moons
have waXed and waned and hearts
have broken.
4 girl of rare beauty stands at the
gate of a white cottage stands flush
ing and paling beneath the impas-
stoned chances and passionate love
words of Il young and handsome man
Il do love you, Eddie, and will be
your wife"