Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1896-12-23
JlaIdI 81 !; !! & lIj y:
sMrsNORlTllEySgs

A Dakota night. The prairie,
N wrapped in mysterious shadows,
Il \ rolls away to the south and van
ishes among the ghostly stars Through
the sedges of the marsh the night wind
signs fitfully; and the frogs, from their
reedy haunts, eroak a hoarse accom-
panment
For Hans Brynjulson, smoking in the
door of his shack" and looking out over
the moonlit plain and coteaux, there Is
but one word in the heart, one. song on
the lips Of nature.
Christinal
Well, indeed, did Hans remember her
l-aids of golden har-her sparkling eyes
the fair beauty of her northern face.
They had parted-but that was long ago.
You will make your fortune in Amer
lea, Hans. Be brave. / will come when
you want me. God be with you, my
dear oner'
Not day passed but these words
leaped from the memory to the heart of
Hans Brynjulson. They were oftener on
his lips than We're his prayers.
The first year, the dreaded southwest
wind scorehed and withered field al.
most ready for the reaper, but Hans
saved enough grain to plant the land
again. The second year, crops were
backward, and the wheat was 'nipped"
BY frost and shriyeled and backened in
the husk. The third year crops were
beaten to the ground by hail.
How had Hans contrived to keep body
and soul together during these years of
trialY by mortgaging his possessions
his claim, his horses, his farming imple-
ments-eve rything--had been laid under
contribution to tide him over the hard
times
In his hands he had letter. 1t was
dark and he could not read it-but this
was unnecessary. He had conned il
word for word until he could have recited
1t by note. The letter was from Chris
tina. She told her lover. in simple words
that she could not remain away from him
longer. A longer absence, for her, was
worse than death. Surely, her willing
hands would prove mighty factor in
his hard life. The meanest drudgery at
his side and for him would be happiness
for her. The Stockholm sailed on the 1st
of December for New York Gould he not
send her money to pay her passage?
IL so, she would come third-elass all the
way. God bless him for the faithful
lover that he wasl
Poor Hansl He had never written
Christina of his heroic struggle with fate.
What should he do now? Tell her aIp
No, no. His heart rebelled against such
course. Fair, loyal Christina! He
would send her the passage money. But
where was he to get it? He started sud
denly to his feet. The moonbeams, strik
ing his haggard face, wreathed 1t with a
strange beauty.
sAy skall dot" he murmured in his
broken English; "ay skall see Messer
Yonson in da mornin'"
Say, do you know what that ere
crazy Swede from Pony Gulch has been
up TOT"
Chris Larlsin, the blacksmith dropped
the head of his hammer ON the anvil and
supported himself on the handle with his
barred, sinewy arms as be addressed this
sentence to Cal Higgins. farmer.
What now?" asked Higgins. whats
the latestY'
Gone an mortgaged himself to Law
yer johnson for $780,"
"'Tain't possiblef'
IT'S, too--but 1t can't be legal"
"S'pose the Swede can't pay up when
the mortgage is dueF
"Johnson'll foreelose, / s'pose."
"Then he'd own the Sc EIDE, hey?"
"More'n likely. Then he cd hire him
out by the day, ye see, an git his money
back in. that way"
''When's the mortgage due?"
"New Years Day"
"What did tho Swede want the money
forT'
Dunno. He went over to the post
office. bought a money order an sent
away ev'ry plagued cent?
Don't that beat air. exclaimed Hig-
gins, disgustedly; that's jest ike them
Swedes. Some fool spekerlati9n, III bet
a copper"
1t was Christmas Day.
In the hooks and erannies Of Wells |