The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1895-03-21

Sitting down beside his wife. he leaned
his head against hersa tired head II was
and laid on hers one of his brown
hands. not such handsome hands as they
used 10 bc when they did nothing. She
clasped it fondly. though she said not Il
word: she. too. was not given to com-
planning. Besides. hard as things were.
both for him and for her. 10 see him thus.
doing cheerfully what he did not like
Through all his tender ~tictionS Sh" knew
he could not like the mill very much).
fighting with hardships. submitting to
poverty. and proudly c%onquering any
false shame about either. taking up his
daily burden and carrying il without a
murmur or repr2ach-she felt-yes.amldst
all her pain. ste felt something rs the
mediaeNal women must have done-the
noble ladies who hucklcd on their good
knights armor and sent them forth To
battle. to live or die. as God Wllled. but
never to be conquered, never ceaslnG to
fight. like true knights, 10 their last
breath.
But Bella could not understand this
.ort OF thing at all. She shrugged her
shoulders and raised her browS.
Its an odd taste. Rody. but YOU al
ways were So odd. To he ont AT work
ali day. and come home tired and dirty.
hungry and cold. and then say YOU Xix
It'll wouldn't be You for the world nor
Silence either. shut up in this lonely
place all the year round. No wonder
mamma would not come 10 Blackhall:
it would never have suited her at all:
and Bella laughed At the bare idea. But
l ought not to find fault with the poor
old house. for | may have 10 come down
10 il. after all. No telegram or letter:
Nothing"
''Wcll. don't look SO grave about it.
Plainly they have all cut me; let me fall
back upon you. Will You take me in.
Rody: III sell my jewels-I brought Il
lot with me. you know-and pay you Tor
my keep. When it's all gone You can turn
me out to starve. only it wouldn't be
creditable to either Thomsons or Jar
dimes if Mrs. Alexander Thomson and
her baby had TO starye."
What nonsense you talk. said Rod
crick. 1urnin. away and changing the
conversation at once.
But that night when the household was
all gone L. bed, and they three sat over
the ire. listening 10 the wind bowling
and the slcet pattcring against the paneS.
he resumed the subject. and. somewhat
10 Silence's surprise. began very ttndcrIy.
but with unmistahahle decision. Ia ar
range What his sister should DO. Ills
ARRANGEMENT il waS-not his Wite's-as
b. plainly said. thereby taking from her
the weight of a difficult ana painful thing.
Il will not promise to keep YOU always,
Bella. for | think husband and wife are
better left alone together: but we shall
not turn You out. my poor 2lrI. whatever
comes" said he. laying Il brotherly hand
on Bella's shoulder. The little we have
and You see how little it is-you shall
share. till something can be arranged be-
tween YOU and your husband. Then.
with what you have Of your own-my
mother will surely pay it over 10 you--
we will find you Il home close by Us. in
the manse. perhaps. where l heard to-
day there are TWO vacant rooms.
What. 10 be shut up in q miserable
country lodging, with only baby and
nurse. Dreadful.
Not quite 50 bad as Your other alter
Misunderstanding. And. Bella. we must
look things in the face. If You have ~
marriage settlement. and my mother keeps
her money in her own hands during her
lifetime. ana both she and your husband
cast you off. you have only Your brother
10 fall back upon. | am not rich now.
You know that; but YOU know also thar.
rich or poor, l should never let my sister
'starve.'
no. 4 thousand times no." cried 81
lencc. taking her hand-for Bella, seeing
this was no joking matter. had suddenly
taken fright. and. as usual. burst into
tears. 1T may not come 10 that; but if
it does, believe me. poverty is not as bad
as it seems. You shall never want for
love. You will live close beside Us: our
home will be open 10 you: and the child
the children" in q timid Whisper shall
grow UP together. Oh. we shall be very
happy. never fear"
NO. no: | should be miSerable.' And
she sobbed and moaned. and talked Of
cruelty" hard usage" wished She was
dead and OUT Il the way-tLe usual Bit
ter outcrieS against fate IF those who.
having made their own fate what il is,
have not the strength - bear il.
Deeply sr.evcd and not a little wounded.
Roderick sat beside his sister, his wife not
iuterferiL --vLo could interfere til her
misery had & LITTLE subsidized, and then
said. quietly:
Now. we will speak no more tonight:
but Tomorrow We will consult Il lawyer,
and find out the right and wrong Of the
case. and your cXact position with re-
gard 70 your husband. VIII that do:'
NO, ~" She said. Don't BE- III such a
hurry. Wait ill make up my mind. Its
50 difficult to make up ones mind always.
Money isn't everything. a. Silence says.
but | never had her enthusiasm for pow
erty. And the drink-which 10 her is
such a Lorror-why, were used 10 il ar
Richerden. Alexander Thomson isn't
the only drunkard in Scotland. Ii ! could
but put up with him a little longer.'
Both Roderisck and his wife looked ex-