Griggs courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., Dak. [N.D.]) 1885-1902, 1900-01-04
child was so illusive-th.t was what d.

before the early autumn dusk she came
again. He heard her scuffling in the
leaves before he saw her, but when he
turned, she waved a tantalizing hand
at him, and seemed to vanish in the
falling shadows of the day.
''Where does that child come from?"
he asked one of the men as casually as
he could.
"She's the daughter of one of the
graders" replied the man. "Iknow her
father-he's Dane. His family only
came out here two days ago. Jorgen-
son got tired of baching it, suppose"
That night Halderson drove to the
towns edge and got his supper, and
then he drove back over the prairie
road again, past the orphanage, to
where the tar paper huts were. The
night was crisp, and the stars were out,
and beside the bed of the projected
railroad he saw a huge camp fire. 1t
looked wild and inviting, and Halderson
urged his horse on. A sound of music
greeted his ears, too-music Of fiddle
and clappers. AS he drew closer he saw
the men and women dancing about the
fire. There were so many more men
than women that they were under the
necessity of taking each other for part
ners, and, locked in each others arms,
the brawny Scandinavians whirled and
galloped about on the hard earth. Some
tiny children capered about, too,
screaming and laughing. And without
any partner, quite by herself, went the
leaf girl, circling and bending, tossing
her plant arms-the impersonation of
the wild, windy night.
Halderson, who had more than his
share of northern blood-considering
that he always thought of himself as
an American-felt the homesickness go
out of him suddenly. He waited for no
welcome. He tied his horse and joined
in the innocent revel, and presently he
and the leaf-girl were teasing each
other about the fire, he always pursu-
ing, she always vanishing.
The women made black coffee after
ward, and there was bread and meat
upon it for refreshment, and then Hal
derson drove away in the biting frost.
The doors of the little tar paper houses
were closed. But lights CLEANED from
the windows and twinkled in friendly
| fashion at the architect as he went on
his way.
After that the leaf-girl and he used
to talk together at the edge of the
grove. But she was as coy as a squirrel
that chatters at one from lofty
branch. She brought him little mes
sages, such as:
There was ice on the ditch this
morning. I tried it with my toe. It
almost held me. When it is hard I
shall skate. Halderson could imagine
that she would skate like the wind.
He thought to himself that he would
like to build an iceboat and put her
in it under the stars. Once she said:
II cannot laugh any more. I can
not run to-day. Something says to
me: 'Ingebord, you are not to laugh
and run to-day"
THAT is called a presentiment, -
said Halderson. "Your people are for
ever having them. But presentiments
never come true. They are old wives
tales"
II do not know any old wives. I
only know cannot rum" She held
her little head down and walked sadly
among the shadows. Halderson fol-
lowed her, and laid hand on her
shoulder.
"You must laugh tomorrow" said
he. ''It is wrong for you to be sad.
There are some things, like squirrels,
and birds, and you, who ought always
to be gay" But she walked slowly
with dropping head for all of what he
said.
The next morning brought news to
him of a bad dynamite explosion
among the roadmakers. The Leaf
girls father was killed, and his wife
was only Ingebord's stepmother. At
twilight she had not come, so he went
over to her. She was sitting in the
hut beside the dead man, keeping
| watch.
81 am saying all the prayers" she
said, gravely. II suppose he must be
much afraid at being dead. It must
be hard getting used to God" She fell
to praying again, and Halderson went
out.
But it was he who saw to a proper
burial for Jorgenson and the two 9TH
er unfortunate victims of the accident.
Ingebord was grateful, and came down
to tell him SO.
''But what am to do now?" she in
quired. ''AIy stepmother, she must
work to care for her own children.
She cannot also work for me-" She
looked with mou1nful eyes at the
murky sky, and the wind blew her sad
little garments about her.
II know" said Halderson, with an
inspiration. "See, tomorrow the good
sisters move in the far wing there of
the orphanage. It is ready for them
heated and lighted, and all. You
must be the first orphan. 1t will bring
luck"
She started at the word orphan, and
she turned red at the thought Of the
charity. Halderson saw and under
stood.
II shall see you every day then, lit
tie one. Come to bring luck to the