Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1895-08-29
HER DUTY"

A man sat on Que Of the great grunite
rocks that lay on the top of Daine Tor. He
had been sitting there since midday. He
had watched the sun IS It shone on the
purple heather and green bracken; he had
watched the cloud shadows as they wan.
dered:through the valleys and along the
burns and streamlets.
The man had not enjoyed so long a rest
of nndlsturbed quiet for many years.
Away In the distance, when the sun
shone at midday, he had seen his home, the
home he had inhabited for seven years. He
was never going to return to that home,
and he smiled when he saw the sunlight
strike the windows Of the great ugly build
ing. For his home had been no cottage; 1t
had been a large mansion. and he had
lived there in solitude. yet surrounded by
hundreds OF his fellow men.
At s o'clock the moon lifted herself above
Hound Tor and nestled among a few white
cloudletts which hung around her In the
east.
Yes, 1t was delightfully."- peaceful and
calm. There was only one thing he wanted
"a pipe OF tobacco. He laughed aloud as
the thought crossed his mind. for it seemed
a queer want just then, but he had not
smoked Q pipe for seven years.
Seven years ago! 1t was near Hound
Tor, too. just those seven years ago that
he had smoked his last pipe and had his
last chat with little Clo', lying amidst the
neither. Perhaps little Clio was still at
BARRIERS cottage! 1t would be good to see
her again, and they could climb the Tor
and lie amidst the neither just once more.
Yes, he would go and look for little Clio.
There was a light In the cottage window.
H eopened the door without knocking. A
woman rose from the oak chair, and
started when she saw the man.
Il want little Clo'," he said. forgetting
now that seven years had passed since he
last entered the homestead.
The woman regarded him attentively fer
some minutes without speaking. Then
pushing a seat towards him, $50 you've
got away at last? l guessed you'd tire O.
living there"-pointing south-''pretty soon
But 1t arn't no use your a-comin here.
You got yourself into tn mess, and you'd
better clear yourself II you can"
Where be little Clos" the man asked
again.
II be little Clio, or leastwise l was little
Clo'. They don't call me that name now.
Have you forgotten twas seven years
ago."
He sat down on the chair she had
pushed toward him and looked absently at
the oil lamp burning on the table.
"Yes-rd forgot-yes-you was little
Clo' once. I'd forgot-ld somehow ex.
pected to find her here still wanted her
to come up and sit on Hound Tor, and
have q chat while l smoked my pipe-just
as we used-I mean as she and | used to
do. But I'd forgot; twas silly Of me-
"Yes," answered the woman, twas
silly" She stood by the open door, nerv-
ously smoothing her dress. The man let
his eyes wander around the room.
"Things amt changed much-the chairs
and tables and ornament things, / mean
but can see she's gone; l understand now.
So you be . woman-ay, and Z fine one
too. You amt married? I wonder at
that then! You ought to have married.
Say, could you find a pipe?-any old pipe
l s'pose mines lost. No? That's nice! l
didn't expect tosee him again-and tobacco?
| knows your father always smoked Pride
o. Devon Thanks" He filled his pipe,
and she noticed his fingers trembied. She
gave him . light, and then resumed her
position by the door.
This Is like old times, almost-if only
little Clio was here. l s'pose you couldn't
be little Clo' just for half an hour or So
sort Of play actin at it, you know? Forget
what Ter was like? Fancy that, then! l
rememter well enough. l s'pose you
think I'm a bad 'un. That's why you
don't speak to me. Perhaps 1 am, but /
Id It to save little Clio, though maybe
you've a~-forgotten that He relspsed
Into silence and sat looking absently at
the old grandfather's clock and puffing his
pipe.
After awhile the woman spoke. II
hear someone coming. II tt's"-
Your fathers" the man interrupted. II
hope It's him." He ross and advanced,
pipe In hand. toward the door. At the
same moment . tall man In uniform and
carrying : carbine In his hand appeared.
The woman fell back . pace or Two. saving:
Yes he's here. wasn't sheIrring himy+
The two men looked At one another for
. lew seconds, then hei In the uniform spoke.
Thought I'd ind you here. mo use resist
lnR-a couple more wardens standing ont
sue. Come along, my beauty, back 10
Princes Town.s
AN right he replied ouietiy. .sbut
!uss grant me 2 favor; let me finish my
PIPE, my irst for seven yearn.n He
iaugned. The warder, after I momantss
noslsauOn, acQNiesCed.
he nnisned his pipe and rose and handed
= 70 the woman. Thank ron. You
m,.ens Keep IN memory Of Jim lmerx and
iit1le Clo'--and-I'm sorry / did 8
In sorry ! was to late to Zee hor arnin.T
An0 woman held the door onan m tha