Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1896-08-06

-S S1 AAS WAY 49, AA'vs
ever, when he filled his twenty-fifth
year his patrimony, which. on account
Of the expense Of his education, had
shrunk to All insignificant sum, had
been paid to him, and his guardian,
washing himself Of all further RESPONSE
bility, had politely invited him &c go to
the devil. Unconsciously complying
with this request perhaps, ne had gone
to Berlin, Dusseldorf and Munich with
the intention Of seriously taking up his
art studies, but the masters had been so
unanimous in discouraging him, alleg-
ing that he was too old to accomplish
anything, that he had lost heart and in
sheer despair taken passage for America.
He had now spent two months rather
stupidity in travelling through the east
ern and southern states and had finally
settled down in Chicago, where he was
looking about for something to do.
There were no protestations of affoc-
tlon-no love passages, properly speak
ing-in the letter. which was wholly
occupied with tho writer's own tribula-
tions and grievances. He had been un-
fairly treated by fate, was "down on
his luck" in the American phrase, and
it seemed to have occurred to him AS an
inspiration Of the moment that this en-
gagement Of his, which he had hitherto
scarcely taken as serious, might be
worth keeping up, after all, rs an excuse
Tor confidence and a solacc in aflliction.
Emotional as he was and lyricaliy in
clincd, he may have extracted from it
an aesthetic satisfaction and perhaps
even persuaded himself that he yet low
ed Hulda.
This is the way the letter would have
impressed an unprcjudiced reader, if in
deed by the inadvcrtence Of the post
Office it had strayed into the hands of SO
unsympathetic a person. But to the low
ing eyes OF its recipient it was a noble,
touching, heart stirring narrative which
conveyed no hints Of sordid meaning.
She read and reread it IL hundred times,
and always with fresh emotion. She sat
and brooded over each phrase to extract,
~ 1t We're, its last drop of sweetness.
She exulted in the thought that, though
half tho globe separated them. she
could yet feel across oceans and cent?
nents that .harmony Of souls which
made their hearts beat III unison. 1t was
her duty to be ut his side, even though
he We're too unselfish to ask such u sac
rificc OF her. But there was no sacrifice
in obeying the innermost promptings of
her heart, in resolutely seeking the only
happiness which life had in store for
her. She half wished that some sinister
fate might be lying in ambush III her
path, putting her to the fiery test, so
that she might stand before him as one
having endured for his sake contumely,
hardship and pain. Then che might per-
haps prove herself worthy of him; then
only. when having defied distance. ad-
versity and evil scheming, they should
meet, crowned with woe, would their
cup Of joy be full.
In the happiness which she derived
from this letter Hulda could no longer
feel resentment toward any one, and she
became not only conciliatory but almost
friendly in her attitude toward MI.
Falck. Mrs. Brinckman noted the
change with quiet satisfaction, and MI.
Falck himself began to hum as he walk
ed through the halls and played in his
room, instead Of ''Thc Damnation Of
Faust" a Spanish dance by Sarasate
which painted and p%alpitatcd with joy
Gus abandon. 1t was late in October.
and the weather had for u week been
stormy. Nils, the groom, on his way to
the stable often stopped under the Gu
rates window, listening in puzzled Won
der tai the gay strains that escaped into
IN night, mingled with the storm and
were whirled away into the black space.
There seemed somehow (not to Nils,
butSto Hulda. who was standing wrap
ped in q rain coat on tho balcony that
there was u great passionate pulse beat
in the storm-somethIng nobly wild
II free and untamable, and she felt
within herself a kindred throb-a tenn.
p~estuous yearning to break all bonds
and live = life of glorious, untrammelei
freedom.
She was interrupted in these medita.
tions by two men clad in yellow Gil
clothes who came stamping up the steps
n inquired for the pastor. The rain
was dripping from their boards and
noses and running in rivulets from the
brims of their hats. They pulled of
their mittens, and each extended a
horny hand toward the girl.
"Thanks for last meeting, they said.
Thanks yourselves, answered she.
1T is rough weather to be travelling
Ia" she added after a pause.
Eyes, pretty dirty weather, though at
this season nothing else is to be expect.
ed"
what do You want the pastor for ut
this time Of night? Is it wedding, bap-
tism or funeral?''
my vito is struggling with deatl,''
replied one Of the men with slow and
solemn emphasis. II want the pastor to
bring her the sacrament.
"You surely don't expect father to
Cross the ford In q storm like this!'' she
exclaimed nuhast