Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1895-06-13

wv NS&lLXEkTlNjt the maiden took her
.X9NaxlSMYES place with the milk
.,1AAsSis, TEzl&.EylNs.. ing stool. and soon
thereca the rhyth.
mical sound Of the warm, sweet-smell-
ing milk as in intermittent streams 1t
struck the shining sides of the tin milk
pail.
1t was beautiful evening in late
June and the air was filled with the
peculiar fragrance exhaled by rapidly
growing vegetation. An ancient and
untrimmed sweet briar half hid with
Its tangled mass the fence which sepa-
rated the roadway from the milkyard.
and sent forth from its countless pink
blossoms a pleasing aroma.
It was pretty picture-the mild
eyed COW contentedly chewing her cud
and patiently submitting to the firm,
deft hands of the girl, whose white
arms were barred to the elbow and
whose wealth Of rich brown hair was
partly revealed by the sun bonnet
which she had thrown back in order to
enjoy to the fullest the deliciously cool
summer evening air.
At least Arson Harding considered II
pretty picture, as he stood leaning
on the bars waiting for an opportunity
to talk with the girl. He was an ad-
mirer OF rural beauty and could fully
appreciate the romantic, especially IL
they came in line with his financial in
terests and personal advancement. To
q man who had gone the limit and was
very much In need Of a stake" Farm
er Madden's rich acres and comforta BILE
bank account looked very attractive.
with them, or with the generous por-
don OF them which would come to the
man so fortunate as to win the only
daughters hand, he would be "again
on earth and with his old friends at
the faro table flirting with his darling
goddess of chance.
True, Mr.. Harding would have pre-
ferred the money without the girl. But
there was no way Of satisfying such a
preference. To get the one he must
win the other. Emma Madden was at
tractive enough-deliciously so, he
tnought-and he liked her very much.
1t was delightful to watch her grace
ful movements, to play the gallant to
the unsophisticated maiden. to test his
influence over her. and to watch the
color come and 60 in her face as he
talked to her. But-well, what would
he do with a wife, and especially such
wife? He could not give up the life
he had led so long, and as for her, she
certainly would never come to his way
of thinking. But the money? He must
have that. And IL the girl was foolish
enough to be miserable and disappoint.
ed In him after marriage that was her
affair.
The hired man had already visited
the milk stand twice to empty his pail
Into the large can, which would be
carted to the cheese factory at daylight
next morning, and vaguely wondered
II Emma was going to spend the entire
evening milking one COW. Even Nellie
turned her head inquiringly as II to
discover why the process Of relieving
her of her lacteal store was 30 unusual
" prolonged.
Emma had seen the trim, we'll dressed
figure at the bars and with the spirit
natural to all women, from the fash
ionable ball room favorite to the unso-
phisticated rural maiden, delighted In
inflicting little torture. With Bob
Russell, her neighbor and lifelong
lover, her little efforts In this direc.
ton had been immensely successful,
and poor, earnest, loving Bob had SUI
fered many, many times from her play
full cruelty, much more than she knew.
But with Harding-well, he just smiled
and waited.
When Emma could daily no longer
without making her efforts to tease
too palpable. she arose and came to-
ward the milk stand beside the bars as
demurely as though she didn't know
Harding was waiting for her and as
though her foolish little heart were not
beating just shade more rapidly than
usual
She was scarcely beautiful girl,
but she was something more than
pretty. Her tall figure was carried
with charming grace, natural rather
than acquired. Her shoulders, some
what too square for woman. were
surmounted by neck as white and
delicately chiseled as marble column,
while her throat. partly revealed by the
loosely fitting gown, was glimmering
gem Of sn0w-white purity. Her face.
with its large, blue eyes, was fair. with
a healthy glow in the cheeks. and n few
light brown frecklcs enhanced rather
than marred its rural attractiveness.
As she approached Harding. that gen
tleman welcomed her with profour. i
bow aud his mos, all,;yiny Smile.