The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1899-04-27

| Of one OF these men was "hiIo aiiA
pinched and livid. as though with FEAR
and malice: the face Of tbs othHr was
convulsed with passion, and blood was
trickling down It. Instinctively, child as
was. I knew which was the wronged
man. and which the wronger, ana
their faces became indelibly stamped
upon my memory. The name or the
wronger, also. would never have been
forgotten by me, even il in afterdays
had not cause TO remember It. l ran
home. in terror of 1t and him' anu
told the story to my mother with tears
and sobs.
Mr.. bruce was money-lender IN
our neighborhood. When he died. MS
son inherited his business Inc name
was over his Office, and | never saw
it in my boyish days without its oring-
| ing before me the faces OF two men,
| one white and livid, the other con-
vulsed with bitter passion, and with
the blood trucking down 1t, and IN
variably hated the one and SYM
pathized with the other.
Up to a certain period in my life
| met this son but once. He was man,
/ and / was a man. Perhaps he was
three or four years older than l was
| | stood with my hand on our little
wooden gate, and he came and stood
before me. | had no idea who he was,
never having seen him to know him.
His shadow falling across my pain
| caused me to look down upon him.
could do that; was taller than he, A
thin, inQuisitive face was that face OF
his, with eyes that were bright, bug
| had no softness in them. He could not
have been ashamed Of his face, for It
was perfectly smoth and hairless
Mine, on the contrary, had plenty OF
hair upon it.
Good evening, neighbor," said he
That was a claim to a kinship in
frienlliness.
Good evening" said I, scarcely
looking at him.
"A fine evening" was his next OBJ
servation.
1t happened not to be fine evening,
and / remarked that he talked like a
barber He accepted my correction
good humoredly.
Not being a sailor" said he, Il
don't know the signs Of the weather
as we'll as you"
You know when IL rains. l sup
pose," l said, with wave of my hand,
for slight mist was falling.
"Ah, yes, indeed" he replied, in a
tone of surprise, looking up as though
he were only now aware of the fall
ing mist. you have been long time
away"
had been absent on long voyage.
and had been home but few days.
I nodded, Yes, long time" and
would have left him, but that he SEEM
ed to have something more he wished
to say.
you have been to Africa. I hear?"
Eyes, to Africa, and other coasts"
I've read" said he, that gold is
dug up there by the savages."
That's so''
"And feathers, worth their weight
in gold?"
II don't know about their value.
Feathers are got there"
"And pearls in other places. and
coral?"
That's So
and you've been to those places"
"Ay."
His bright eyes that had no softness
in them cleaned still more brightly
and eagerly, but still 1t was In hest
tating tone-as though he were sus-
picious I should take advantage Of
him-that he continued his question
ing:
Have you got any," asked he.
ANY what"
Feathers and bits of coral and that
like"
laughed at him.
I've enough to do" said I. without
bothering my head about such things.
Besides. they're out Of my reach"
"Out of your reach!" he repeated.
cay. 1t takes money to buy them"
He chuckled, and rubbed his hands.
"And you've no money!"
Not more than / know what to do
with. Have you?"
At this question Of mine he gave his
body such a remarkable screw, that Il
appeared to me as though all in one
moment he was buttoning himself up
from top to toe.
1--WE got little" said he, with
slow twisting Of his fingers, land I'm
fond of turning 1t 0ver-turning 1t
over
We'll" said 1, with another laugh,
turn 1t over"
In trade, l mean. I'd like to buy
some OF them pearls and feathers and
coral"