Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1895-03-21
CHAPTER xII-fContinu.dA

again eagerly to approach him.
But, turning once more sharply from
her, he exclaimed
II can't bother any longer with you;
I must go and bait my horses"
Then blundered down stairs, and
presently Enmeline heard his coach
runbling leisurely away.
And Jarvis was in a state Of great
excitement; no longer knew what to
think concerning Emmeline-the way
In which she had looked at him, the
manner of her words, he was saying
to himself, had completely puzzled him
and turned him topSy-turvy.
And just then, turning a corner too
sharply and coming in contact with
q lamp-post, his coach was nearly
t~opsy-turvy, too.
Left alone with NickSey, who con
tinued to sleep on, it required all EN-
meline's courage and sense of the duty
she had to perform to withhold her
from at once h%urrying to rejoin her
lovers uncle.
But she argued with herself that
something very serious must have oc-
CURED to Noel harrington that so sud
denly, and without explanation of any
kind he had left her; that he would
have been with her most certainly,
but that something, she could not
imagine what, had rendered it impos-
sible that he should reioin her.
She would then act alone: and while
striving to fulfill the oath she had
sworn to her dying parent, her mother
would win from heaven a promise of
succor and protection for her child.
Tho small nfnpa IF nd n1la which TT,,,
incline had lighted was nearly burnt
out, and in that wretched house, with
that madly drunken ruftian for her only
companion, darkness would indeed be
terrible.
She sought, and in n OF the draw
CTS, amongst Nicksey's slender stock
couple Of candles.
BY this discovery she was greatly
comforted and emboldened.
The fact was NiCksPy himself had q
great horror OF darkness: could not for
q moment endure it, for then his i'm
aginatiOn conjured up frightful shad-
W which appeared TO fit before and
around him.
And o than that. light was neces-
sary to him that ne might see what he
was about in case that unwelcome Wis
itors should arrive at his place of
refuge.
Emmeline stood for several minutes
looking at Nicksey, who still slept. and
seemingly as If he had no present in
tentiOn Of awakening.
The young girl dared not arouse him,
and yet must know where were those
proofs which some way she must OBJ
tain.
Would she be able to persuade that
man to deliver to her those papers so
necessary, so precious to her?
And in what mood would Nicksey
awaken?
That Emmeline was soon to learn,
for having gently stirred him, and sew
eral times pronounced his name. he
muttered savagely, while his eyes were
still losed III he was yet but half
awake.
"Wha brought me to my OWL house?
Just let me know who played me that
pretty trick, and whether man or wo-
man, III make 'em sorry for it."
And his teeth grated together, and
his clenched fist vas t~hreateningly
raised.
Emmeline, greatly terrified, retreated
from beside the ruffian toward the
door of the room; but almost before
she had reaced it Nicksey's heavy
e-eathings gave token that he was
again asleep.
Even in his slumber Nicksey occa-
Eonally shivered with the cold; Emme-
line, too, was depressed with the chill
Illness which she felt. and which was
robbing her of much of her natural
energy and courage; and, above all, she
thought warmth would perhaps i'm
prove Nicksey's temper and reconcile
the savage beast to remaining in his
den.
So she set to work to endeavor to
ktndle n fire in the rusty CRATE and
succeeded.
She took the liberty of removing
somo more Of the little remaining
straw from Mr.. Nicksey's chairs; even
yenturei to make firewood OF the back
Of n Of them. and with the help. OF q
few Goals which she found lying near
the foot of the truckle bed, had soon
a bright and cheering blaze.
And presently Nicksey was suddenly
quite awake, and sitting upright in his
chair.
Whats that? What's the natter"
he cried, looking very frightened.
IT'S only me-" said Emmeline, fear
fully, and in a trembling voice. Il
have lighted n fire for you"
And Nicksey held his hands over 1t,
and thrust his knees almost into IT.
That's 1t. Well done" c~huckling
with great satisfaction. That's just
what / wanted, for l was persisted
There" said Emmeline, now str
ring the fire to increase the blaze. you
feel more comfortable already, do You
notT'
"Hinoa." exclaimed Nicksey now Tor
the first time that evening distinctly
beholding Emmeline. why, It's the
young uni"
Emqneline smiled and nodded
Yes, the young 'un,' unused Nicksey;
FIRST she was a boy, and now he's a
girlr'
But your friend has explained 10
you" began Emmeline, but was IN.
terrupted by Nicksey, who stammerca
out:
He told me Something don't know