The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1899-08-11
which had taken her from him, H.
mumhlG Like m old mnn rnhhnI 81

q tohSA ASA lloAl ullus liz
mumbled like II old man robbed, as
tears splashcd his face.
At last he reached the boat. In the
bottom was a piece of cedar chip tied
to her handkerchief. -.raping at it
flercely, he GraSpcd it with shaking
hand. Then he rolled up his eyes, his
fingers fumbling with the knot. his lips
dawn white. Scrawlcd on the chip
With a peIcil was a message: I've
gone for good. You were kind, but l
could not abide you or the country.
I've gone with one as will take me all
over the world"
With his mouth working tenscly he
started to drag himself back. His
brain was flying high up and down
again. Darling lights played before
his eyes. The wLirling ground lcapcd
away from him. Crawling on, he
reached the door, where, down on all
tours. a dog. he flung up his head
and looked around the rooms wildly.
Everything in them spoke with a trum-
pet voice of her. lie let his head fall
on h sill. Then a groan came c cavity
H'f'S' 'A' ~ "tS N<lilll-
The next week Il new captain came
on the river steamer.
The birds flying across the river on
their way to the south saw II woman
dressed gaudily and in vulgar fashion,
making her way from The landing to
the little house on Nance's island. At
fhn doom n rnrnt r,, ,,b.1 -.
With a dazcd stumbling he walked
forth a little way to meet her.
Il have come back after these years"
she said, looking up to the little home,
which, small and poor as it was. seem.
ed to old out hope Of peace to her.
But he said nothing, only staring at
her with eyes in which burned a faint
spark. Once he shivcred at the croak-
ing notes in her voice.
Into the house she followed him dog.
gcdly. She picked up her duties where
she had left them years before, touch
Ing n chair here and moving something
there. She took a broom and fell to
sweeping fcverishly, until she flung it
down contemptuously and sank into a
ne" ~ a SslSp. l1c uiu WalcItt
her silently with slow burning eyes.
why don't you speak," she cried.
Her rising voice was hard and craze
king. There was a tlaunt ON her lips.
Her hands on her hips conveyed an in
science of boldncss.
II have come back to you in kind
ness she said, her tones going higher
md hnr vpi.n r,,o,y;r. ,,,,o ,,,,;,.
II know the worth Of n woman like
Inc. When my captain died, l could
have had many a fair chance, but |
thought Of you, and somehow I wanted
to come here. Aren't you going to
make up" she cried angrily.
God, what a difference in those
years! His lips pressed together stern
ly.
"Why don't you speaky' she scream.
ed How dare you treat me like
like She paused and then laughed
with her braZen notes.
But the dancing lights We're in his
brain again and before his eyes and
around him a boiling flame that roared.
Tho room was whirling. He saw it all
IVA YIN Spth6lSu Will AClGc COlOl
the floor, the chairs, the fat stove,
the utensils of tin. and among them her
face. the lips leering, the eyes staring.
Staggering to his feet, he CROPPED with
his arms. His hands clutched at some
thing soft and warm that yielded under
his contracting fingers. They closed
tightly. gripping hard to stop the whirl-
ing Of the earth. The fame shot up
madly, and, blinded in the dark, he fell,
lying stretched on the floor.
Years later, the upper end Of the is
land settled. pity still endured among
the people for the lonely man who liv-
ed Oh the lower end. They told stran-
gers touching there Of the young wife
whom he had never seen from the day
she ran away with the captain Of the
river steamer and he was left to his
solitude. No one knew the whole until
a young farmer went to ask aid Of the
old man at the harvesting. No re-
spouse coming to his knocks, he lifted
the latch and entered. The old man
was half kneeling against a chair, his
dead eyes thrust cut in their sockets.
Before him, where the planks Of the
floor were torn up, were lying the
bones and skull Of u woman.-New
York Press.