Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1896-07-02

JF
The atmosphere of the place made her a
child again.
that was made for her. A man, abe
reasoned, even though he were q curate,
would have q sense Of chivalry which
would make him loath to impose himself
upon a girl who frankly declared that
abe would not and could not love him.
He would disdain 10 take advantage OF
any pressure that was brought to bear
upon her by those whose command she
could not ignore. Again and again abe
limited In his presence at this state OF
affairs. hoping that his divination
would supply what abe left unsaid. But
his forte lay evidently not in this direc-
ton, for he returned her look Of anxious
scrutiny with . pushed frowns And
another couple Of days passed and an
other. until piecemeal and BY slow and
reluctant admissions the whole story
was finally revealed.
Mr.. Falck, 10 do him justice. was hon.
eotly SHOCKED when he learned that no
had been selected ~ tho instrument OF
this cruel parental tyranny. He was BY
this time deeply In love with Hulda
and had perhaps begun to entertain .
vague hope Il winning her ON his own
inertia Her appeal to him, ~ it were,
against himself was therefore . terrible
disillusionizer. But u he was In the
helpless state ol infatuation when the
presence Of the beloved on any terms IL
preferable 10 her absence. he accepted
her confidence In good part and comfort
ed and treasured her 70 the best Of his
ability. He suppressed himself with
stern persistence in his capacity Of lover
and strove heroically to oct the friend.
He identified himself % completely with
her interestA oven when they were OPP
posed to his own, that she was forced
day BY day to revise her Judgment Of
him and admire much In him which
abe had been predisposed to criticise.
Al she was cut OF from confiding in
Iagda because Magds couldn't keep q
secret from her mother) she was impel.
led TO resort more and more frequently
70 Mr.. Falck. whose patience was won
derful and upon whose sympathy she
could always count with delightful GER
tainty. She was particularly at pains
when her conscience pricked her to ex-
cuse her mother BY emphasizing her
great love Of her only son. which would
seem to make the sacrifice Of one girl
ont Of six an affair of minor conse.
Quence. Nh. Falck would then cite in.
stances from sacred and profane history
Of similar sacrifices and compare her to
Jephtha's daughter and to Iphigenia,
only with the difference that they were
sacrificed not BY their mothers, but by
their fatherA Il was indeed wonderful
how these historic parallels lifted the
affair out Of the everyday humdrum
reality and invested 1t with poetic dig
nifty. In fact. Hulda, when she came
TO contemplate her situation in this
light began 10 feel quite heroic, and
she WEI grateful 70 MI. Fnlck for open
ing this new vista In her life and sup
plying q little imaginative coloring to
the dreazy monotony Of her existence.
She scarcely suspected that It was her.
self who supplied this element, while he
merely cited the dry and colofleas facts,
But like every rich and generous nature
she knew no meum and tuum in the re-
gion Of mind and lavishly credited to
her poorer companion what she drew
nom her own abundant stores.
II was two days before Christmas eve
that an incident occurred which l fancy
neither Of the persons concerned had an.
tactpated The great annual ceremony
IN country houses called the slaughter
ing was in progress and the parsonage
was pervaded from cellar to Rarret by
savory odos& A ma~nservant with 4
white towel about his head was stand.
Ing IN tho hall welding q huge pestle
with which he was pounding q mixed
meat dough In . large marble mortar.
Evesy time the door OF the kitchen wa
opened fresh whi1fs Of tantalixinR dishes
escaped. and You nav Mra. Brinckman
and AagdA with white aprons ~envelop-
ing halt a their persons, liftine ladles
dlled with appetising substances In yari.
ous staeeso Of preparation. The three old.
CT girls had divided the care Of tho
household between them, each takine
her week y the kitchen under the rem.
eEal supervision Of the mother. and this
happened 70 Be- Magda's week.
aulda Wa seated ct the piano sinoinR
%. Mn FAao&. who, according "a m
hnhSk WA at1nl1&c~ 1865