The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1900-08-10

$50 'tis," acknowledged the spinster
the color rising in her placid face be.
meath the scrutiny Of the stranger
But it's been left In my care. His
folks are all dead or moved away. An
besides" hesitating, ''he was a particu.
lar friend Of mine.'
"I'll be blest IL that amt curious
returned the man. II ulster know Eber
myself, when he was little chap
Lucinda looked at the stranger in.
quiringly. There was something in his
manner that gave her vague, dimly.
defined consciousness Of having known
him in the past. ''You knew Eben.
she said eagerly. WAS you related tt
the fam'ly?"
well, yes, I was sort of related" hi
replied slowly. I've been here when
was younGster. My names White
John White w , =. praps you've heard 'en
Lucinda shook her head. st guess
twas fore come here" she replied
''Eben was pretty well grown up fore
knew him.
The stranger made no response tt
this, but seemed on the point Of relaps.
ing into his former state Of medita.
ton.
Lucinda was uncertain as to what |,
was proper for her to do under the
circumstances. She did not want t.
appear lacking in hospitality to one OF
Eben's kin. II was goin' to hev a little
bite ov somethin' to eat" she ventured
doubtfully.
The stranger seemed to divine hel
thoughts. Maybe you wouldn't mind
my settin' down agin," he said.
"rd be pleased to hev you," return.
ed she, with formal politeness, opening
the reticule, and displaying her modest
array of eatables. you see," she went
on. confidentially. II allus put VI
1t ulster, when Eben an me he'd little
picnics fore he 'nlisted."
wall, that beats mel" declared the
stranger, ITO think ov woman re-
memb'r rim like that"
IT guess women are centrally pooty
good at rememb'rin'," rejoined Lucin-
da. Nov, jest help yourself to sand
wiches. Eben liked tongue best, SO
allus make that kind when . come
here"
"Queer! responded the man, II like
tongue best, too!''
"Hev another COOKIE" urged the
spinster, when the lunch was we'll un-
der way. "Eben said nobody made
caraway-seed cookies like mine
can I say he was right" replied the
stranger, helping himself again.
They couldn't bring him home fol
some time" she concluded, the tears
yelling up in her eyes. But ever since
he's bin here, I've tended to his grave
TITS pity he couldn't q known
how you was grievin' for him." said
the stranger, rehectively. 81 was In the
army, too" he added. after little.
II was shot in the battle of Gettys-
hung too ~ ho continual Gazing earn
estly at his hostess.
II declare, that is strange!" exclaim-
ed Lucinda.
sort Of" assented the stranger, ''but
that amt the strangest. was oatel
nv head-crazy as you please-for ever
so long, an when I come to my sense
ef you'll believe it, I found I'd been
traded or for another man.
Lucinda looked at him aghast u
dunno what you mean," she said.
''Well," he returned, that's what II
mounted to. They'd got my name
mixed up with another feller's-he was
looney, too, you see-an' fnliy he W
an died. So then, not bein' able to
my name on the dead list. an shipped
his body to my Il ks"
''Oh," gasped Lucinda, sympathet'
ically, totally unable to grasp at the
possible consequences Of such a COM
plication.
ssWeu." he resumed, ST thought I'd
Give 'em surprise by turnin' up alive
So got wells fast as could, but the
very day was goin' to start for home
I heard somethin' that took the wind
outer my sails"
There was an expression ofbeWildereo
inquiry on the listeners face.
IT heard" he went on impresslWeAy
that the girl was reckonin' on mar !.
rytra' had taken up with another man!
"Oh! said Lucinda, clasping mel
hands, as II in protest.
81 eyes! an Jest didn't care what come
next. I'd enlisted agins but they
wouldn't hev me-I'd been discharged
YOU know-so I took passage on 81 sniI
bound to Chiny, an I've been travelin
bout by land an sea consid 'raple.
stopped quite spell in Australy, an,
don't mind tellin' you, I've got some ,l
money sailed down, but that dom
make up for losin' her."
sLucinda's hands trembled as she
brushed the crumbs from her dress
ssYou orter found out whether tina,
story bout her was true" she. said.
Il don't s'pose I'd been SO ready t
b1teye It," he replied, looking closely
at his companion. "only she Mouldn1
marry me fore Invent away. SO Whei
+ heard Nose. Adams was foolinf 'rount
her, it was all plain as DAYLIGHT.
CHOSE Adamsr' calculated Lncinda
.swhy he married Susan Hobbs. neVel
heard as she was promised to, enyDods
else"
",rwasn't Susan Hobbs / was speak
In Of" he returned with dHlfberation
The peach bloom faded from Lucin
da's face, and a pitiful expression crep
into her blue eyes. you atn't-yos
can't be" she gasped..
ssYes. am!' shouted the stranger
Don't you know me, Incfndy?
knew you the mint I set eyes on you
but wanted to find out whether vol
was married or not"
"Oh, Ebenw cried Lucinda, tremu
lously, the tears streaming down ne
face. It seems too good to be true.
cts true as the gospel" he respond
ed, solemnly. "An'' want you shoult
know that nothin's on earth would he
KEEP me away all these years, Ell -
once suspicioned that you wanted me-
"Oh, Ebenl' said Lucinda, again
But smiles were chasing away the tear
now, and her hand was clasped Tight!
In her lovers
The farmers Oldest boy now puts Of
his heaviest boots, gets his grip on tn
pillow handles. and with the lines
around his neck. yells and shouts be
cause the span don't haw and gee rus
fright. in turning the corners. You
i never suspect that he was the sam