Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1896-09-24
4 HARVEST
@oFIARES.
~
copyright, l0o0, BY the Authoe.l
Copyright. laoa. BY the Author.l

cession of cable car trains shooting hith.
or and thither, sounding their monot-
onous alarm in the twilight, combined
into q picture the dusky conglomerate
immensely of which was tremendously
impressive. Hulda, clutching her COM
panion's arm, looked about at the
swar1ning crowds hurrying along the
muddy sidewalks, and she marveled how
she could have found her way here yes
terday without guidance. She wonder
ed, too, at the extraordinary ease with
which Hattie moved through tia multi
tude. gliding along like . Ash through
water, without jostlings or collisions
Quite content to intrust herself to the
leadership of this metropolitan charac-
ter, she trudged along for . couple Of
blocks, oppressed with . hopeless sense
of alienism which she fancied she would
never be able to conquer. Presently she
found herself in q street car and heard
Hattie talking to her with hushed ex-
element. telling her Of the stratagem
by which she had outwitted the pretty
typewriter. It did not occur to her that
there was anything wounding to Olaf
Bruins fiancee in this story, and as HUI
do only sat looking at her with an enig-
NAUTICAL white smile, showing no sign Of
~Offense. Hattie persevered to the bitter
end. She had expected a little praise for
her ingenuity and thanks for her devo-
ton, but having waited for awhile in
vain was forced to the conclusion that
Hulda had scarcely heard q word of
what she had been saying. Hulda's
heart was full to OVERLOOKING, and
strange, little anxious thrills, joyously
doleful and dolefully joyous, kept rip
pling through her, excluding all other
sensations. She had room for but one
thought-the thought of him whom she
loved. for whose sake she had left home
and kindred, whom she was now to see
again. She had expected to experience q
pure and lofty ecstasy in the mere con-
sciousness of being SO neal him, and
glad she was indeed, but yet strangely
troubled by forebodings which she could
not dismiss.
It wa about half past II O'Clock in
the morning when they stopped in
front Of a brown painted frame house
which turned its gable to the street. A
heap Of ashes and garbage lay in front
Of it, and afrightfully malodorous alley
separated it from the two adjoining
buildings. A s~latternly maid with a
nnudged faced opened the door for
them, and after a brief colloquy with
Hattie was induced to indicate the loca-
ton Of MI. Bruins room. The stairs and
the floor of the hall were covered with
q square patterned oilcloth, in which
holes were worn in sundry places, and
in the corner behind the street door a
pile Of sweepings was lying undisturb-
ed, it being evidently the custom of the
house not to remove it az long as it
did not interfere with the opening of
the door.
"Now," said Hulda, gaining q sud-
den mastery of herself, II shall have to
ask you kindly to wait for me here, or,
il you prefer it, you may return to the
Office. I shall not need you any more
now. You have been very kind to ma
and / am very grateful to you"
Hattie met this declaration with q
look of blank amazement. She had b.
tended to assist at the scene of recsa-
c~iliation and to participate as the benev-
olent friend of the heroine in the vari-
Gus chapters Of the romance until it
ended and "they lived happily eve aft
erwardL" Hulda's dismissal Of her SEEM
ed therefore, to say the least, ungracious.
"But, surely" she objected, eye
don't intend to have me leave ye here.
I shall sit down On the steps and wait
Tor ye."
Every we'll But I think you had bet
ter not"
"Oh, shucksl I guess ye may want
me yet Ye needn't hurry ON my &c
count"
Hulda walked up the cracking stair
case and paused outside the door which
the maid had indicated. Her heart ran
riot. Her blood hammered in her tenn
pies. A mist gathered before her eyes
and f1oated slowly away as she gazed at
1t. She must be strong now-strong,
strong. She murmured the word with a
passionate intensity and pulling herself
together resolved, come what may, not
to surrender to any weakness
She knocked at the door, and with
her heart in her throat listened for o re-
Spouse. She could hear some one move
about inside in q 1urried fashion, Stun
bling over q chair and raising or closing
Q window. She repeated her knock, and
after q pause Of half q minute the door
was opened from tho inside, and a young
man with tousled hair and q handsome
but dissipated face confronted her. He
wore q pair OF slippers down at the
heels, and his slender figure was wrap
ped in q shabby Overcoat.
what do you want?'' he asked pee-
vishly.
He could scarcely distinguish her fea-
lures In the dusk Of the hall, but yet q
startled look came into his eyes, and he
fell back . step and opened the door
wider.
Good heavensl'' he cried as the light
from the window fell upon her face.
"HnldA in Gods name, what are you
doing heres"
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