Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1896-09-03
CHAPTER VI.
The Fate of May Rivers Letter.

The Fate of May Rivers Letter.
The letter TO Ernest Hartrey written,
ii yet required to be delivered; and six
ty years ago The transmission OF docu-
ments from country villages was by
no means as simple as ut present.
May east about in her mind TO find q
safe messenger TO Hartrey Park, and
determined upon employing a poor,
half-witted lad. who could, when he
liked. be shrewd enough; and accord
ingly, with the letter in her pocket. she
walked through the village III the hope
of meeting with the lad-for he seemed
to be without fixed habitation. wander
ing hither and thither, as fancy led
him.
John Gridley heard from his master
that May had a hope she might he able
to raise the required thousand pounds,
and when he heard it he stared in
amaZement.
.'Sht raise a sum like that, 1t is inn
possible! How can she do it, he
cried.
But Matthew Rivers was rs much in
ignorance as his clerk respecting the
means his daughter intended to en-
ploy; but with the difference, thar.
while the maltster felt no curiosity,
and cared only fer the result, John
Gridley was eager to ascertain the
means T., which such a result could
be brought about. He watched and
waited, waited and watched: and when
MAY left the cottage TO seek a messen-
ger in the poor fellow who, only half
alive To what n going on around
him, always hoyeeed about the neigh
borhood, John Grridley followed her ut
q little distance.
Passing by "A grave yard. over which
the venerable stone tower OF the
church. gray with age and partially
covered with ivy and bright lichens,
kept guard. May saw him whom she
sought sitting by one of the tomb
stone staring vacantly at the inscrip-
tirn.
Passing through the little swing gate,
she approached the poor fellow noise
lessly. and quietly laid her hand upon
his shoulder. Stealing behind her came
a dark shadow in the form OF John
GridIey. who. unperceived, concealed
himself behind a tomb. g Il which the
gisl he loved and the idiot were stand
ing.
When the half-witted lad felt the
hand laid upon him. he started TO his
feet and clenched his fists; but the mo-
meat he saw who it was who had
touched him, his whole manuer
changed to one of cringing reverence.
Poor fellow, he had Il hard life Of ii.
Declared from employment, Knocked,
and scoffed at by many, laughed ut
and ieered at, ridiculed and despised;
but May, wherever she went, carried a
%softening influence, and thle do
knew that from her he should receive
nothing but kindness.
Many n time had she rescued him
from the prosecutions of the boys, " no
would often gaad him nearly 10 mad
ness with their taunts and jeerS: and,
however Angry or enraged he might
be, n genial word from her would turn
aside his wrath. To the world in gen
eral ne was but Il senselesS outcasr,
but to May he was an object of pity.
He knew this. and recognized in her
his only friend.
.'You know me. Amos?' she said. in
her soft voice; you are not afraid OF
mef'
"No. no, nor mumbled the idiot, his
whole face Frightening up. and look
ing almost intelligent as he spoke.
Amos. / want you 10 do something
for mel want you 10 serve me-
He stared vacantly for a few min
utes at her. and then the meaning of
her words dawned upon him.
II will do anything for YOU he an
swered. You are always good TO me-
You never are angry"
'You see this letter." said she, tax
ing that which she had written tc
Ernest Hartrey from her pocket.
He saw it, and so did John Gridley
who, leaning forward from his hiding.
place, was listening %intently.
''You will take it for me TO Mr.. Err
nest Hartrey, ut Hartrey Park"
This sentence she repeated Seyera
times; and as Amos gathered the sens,
of what she said, he nodded his heac
vigorously
Eyes. yes, / know. Hartrey Park
I know-I know
"And you will give ii To no one buf
Mr.. Hartrey himself-you hear me-"
..Yes. yes." said the idiot.
s.And /, toov' muttered John Gridley
beneath his breath.
at is very important, ana Mr.. Hart
rev will give you something to brin:
back 10 me, Of which you must he very
careful, ana come with IL as quickly al
you can"
"Yes-yrs-yes. I know-I under
siand-Hartrey Park--I never forget!
However, May did not leave the idi