The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1898-08-26


AN then there was Shindle crick.
No place hereabouts like Shindle crick,
I can tell you. Us children useter have
p%icnics there, and I low it was some
of a treat when we could take our
baskets an walk six miles to eat our
vittles to Shindle crick!
"Oh, my, how I visit I was there
now! Seems like I might feel chirk an
likely agen eff I could get back to
Bethelbury for a spell. Law! I feel so
homesick times, seems like I must take
to get there somehow. But I amt got
money fort, an so I calc'late I'll hev
to stay whar I be. Eff I was jest a
mite more forehanded-but laws! I've
source enough now to keep myself III
vittels-folks is so dretful near-much
less go way for a spell. Who cares
for me-a pore stranger eatin' bread O.
charity!!"
"Oh, don't say that" broke in Miss
Janet, interrupting the long-drawn vail
with a sympathetic diclaimer. I'VE all
feel for you n I'd not be in the
least surprised if a way were opened to
you to go and see your old home and
get well n strong again. Here, let
me put this cold compress on your head.
And if o will swallow this tablet
I am quite sure it will help you. 1t
always does me when I have a nervous
headache"
Shortly after Miss Tweed left, her
brain busy with a project whereby she
might alleviate the nostalgia of Nancy
Knowles. A few days later the little
tenement vas closed, and Nancy had
started upon four weeks holiday.
Now she had returned, and Miss
Tweed was all eagerness to see whether
the old spinster had renewed her youth
amid the scenes of her childhood, and
whether her draught of happiness had
Janet never dreamed of gratitude. 1t
would be sufficient return to witness
the joyful effect of her good work in
the joyful woman's life.
She stood upon Nancy Knowles door,
step and piled the knocker with a gen.
Tic pcISlSIc1lCy. I1CoSA4Ily oAAC
a shutting of feet within the entry and
a moment later the latch Of the door
was lifted n she and her beneficiary
stood face to face.
HIN, it's you is it," said Nancy,
grimly.
Miss Tweed's radiant smile faded.
"Ah, Nancy" she said, gently, II
came to heal all about you delightful
time. Has it done you worlds Of
good?"
EFF you have a mind to stop jest
step in. The flies swarm dretful this
time O. year. Good time? No; I amt
he'd anythin' of the sort. Oh, HIM! I
wisht I he'd stayed to hum!"
why, Nancy, didn't you enjoy the
beautiful lanes?" asked Miss Tweed.
"You were looking forward to seeing
them again with so much pleasure. You
longed for them So"
"Me? Oh, I dunni's I longed 'tic'larly
after ennything. Leastwise after sech-
like. Hoy d'you low I was going to see
fields an them sorter things to a town
like Bethelbury, with trolley cars a.
runnin' through it SO you don't dare
stir?"
"Why, I thought your old home was
quite out in the country, on the top Of
a hill, with an orchard at the back,
and"
oval, who said it warn't? The house
is there, but laws O. man! Dye 'spose
I was goin' to stop long of Joel's folks
all hat spell? Why, I never see sech
children's JoeTs. Sech noise and pes
%teration! Seems like I should go crazy!
Sides, Joel's folks hev done suthin
dretful destroyin' to the house. Why,
it's the miser'blest old rack O. boards I
ever did see. The chambers are all 80
small an the ceilin's so low seems like
you'd smother. An hot! Land O. love!
How hot it do be! Not a breath, nor a
breeze; No, l."
But, Nancy, didn't you see the or
chard and that lovely natural seat on
the old apple tree, and"
Yes; I see the orchard, and got a
smart nip O. neuralgy a-settin' under
the trees one day. Wish'd I'd v
went. No; I declare fort"
But Shindle creek" urged Janet,
"surely you went to Shindle creek"
"Shindle crick? Now. how in the name
O. natur' was I goin' to walk a matter
Of six miles to get to a place damp
enough to chill yer marrer with malary,
soon's you set yer foot in it? Joel's
wife did carry me over onct in the wag-
on, but the looks of the place give me
the cold shivers. 1t amt a mite what
it useter be, an I wouldn't be hired
"a cot foot intor il with all them rocks