The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1900-09-29
81

IL hft )lCt
BY BRET HARTE.
The conversation fell upon the pc.
ltical news of the previous night or
rather seemed to be lazily continued
from some previous more exciting dis-
cussion, in which II of the contest
ants, q red-bearded miner, had subs
!, sided into an occasional growl of sur
ly dissent.
It struck Clarence that the Missou-
rian had been an amused auditor, and
even, judging from a twinkle in his
eye, a mischieyous instigator of the
controversy. He was not surprised,
therefore, when the man turned to
him with a certain courtesy and said:
"And what, sir, is the political feel
ing In your district2"
But Clarence was In no mood to
be drawn, and replied, almost curtly,
that as he had come only from San
Francisco, they We're probably as We'll
informed on that subject us himself.
A quick and searching glance from
the strangers eyes made him regret
it, but in the silence that ensued the
red-bearded passenger, evidently still
ranking at heart, saw his %opportu.
nifty.
Slapping his huge hands oil his
knees, and leaned far forward, until
he. seemed to plunge his flaming beard
like d frebrand-into the contro-
versy, he said grimly;
"Well, l kin tell you gen'Imen thisi
1t amt goin' to be no matter wot's
the political feeling here or thar-it
amt goin' to be no matter wot's
states rights and wot's fed-ral rights
it amt goin' to be no question
whether the gov-ment's got the right
to relieve it's own soldiers that those
secesh is besieging in Fort Sumter, or
whether they haven't-but the first
gun that's fired at the flag blows the
chains off every blamed niger south
of Mason and DiNon's Incl You hear
mel I'm shoutin'!! And whether you
call yourselves 'secesh,' or 'nnion, or
'coppcrhead,' or peace men, you got
to face it'll"
There was an angry start III one OF
two of the seats; one mar caught at
the swinging side strap and half rose,
d husky voice began: Its a con-
founded and then all as suddenly
subsidized.
Every y was turned to All insig-
nificant figure i'll the back seat: 1t
was a IN holding a child on her
lap and gazing out of the window
with her sex's profound in
politics:
Clarence understood the rude chit
| airy of the road we'll enough to COM
prehend that this unconscious but
'omnipotent figure had, more than
once that day; controlled the passions
of the disputants. They dropped back
weakly to the seats. and their mutt
terings rolled off in the rattle Of the
wheels:
Clarence glanced ut the Missourian.
He was regarding the red-bearded
miner with a singular curiosity.
The rain had ceased, but the aft
ernoon shadows were deepening when
| they ut last reached Fair Plains, where
| Clarence expected to take horse to the
rancho: He was astonished, however;
to learn that all the horses in the
| stable were engaged, but remember
Ing that some of his own stock Were
in ]pasturage with a tenant at Fair
Plains, and that he should probably
have a better selection, he turned
his steps thither.
Passing o.t of the stable yard he
recognized the M%issourian's voice in
whispered conversation with the pro-
prietor; but the w men withdrew
into the shadow as he approached.
An i'll defined uneasiness came over
him; he knew the proprietor-who al
SO seemed to know the Missourian,
and this evident avoidance Of him was
hlgnlleaht: ms reputation
as a dountlni unlon'st haa preeeuea
h1m' out th,s Woula ho1 accouhl loi
their ohaue IN u ulstrlct SO stnohsis
seutlern IN sslnpathy as EUR Elaihs:
more iihpresseo ny inc occurrences
tnah ne cared 70 aulhlti Mheh " las.,
al.er sone uelas, ne iiau secured ms
norse' XIV WIS ohce nioIe II .ne say
uie, ne kept u snafP * 1or ms
qnohaaH companion.
i,ut mere announcer circumstance nuu.
eu1o ms susP.clons' there was d nhain
foau ieaaihg 10 santa lheZ, the next
ana the fanc1o, ana thls eiaf-
nee han paIposeiy taken IN order 10
Wateh the Missourian--pu mere was
q cut-o1t dlrectly 10 y rancho,
knowh oniy 70 hap1tues OF the anGno
After a 1c" moments RAPID rlolng
on a mustang much superior 70 any
IN the hotei Staples ne was sallsnea
that the stranger must have taken
n cu!-oH. fu,tlng spurs = ms
morse, ne trusted suite Precede nm
70 the rancho-l1 tnat was MS desti-
nation.
AS ne uashed alohg inc 1anniilar
a BY q strange perversity OF fan
cy, instead or or ms purpose,
ne ounu hinseil reealling me hrst
tune ne had r1doen TINT way the
flush OF ms youth Il hoPefniness.
g1ri.sweetnear ne was theI go
ing to reioln--was now the wlfeRof
another; n woman who had been
her guardian was now his wife.
he had accepted without a pang the
young glrIs dereiictlon, but it was
through the revelation that he wa
now about TO confront the derelictlon
OF ms own wife.
AND TINS was the reWarl of his
youthful trust Il loyalty! \ bitter
laugh broke from his lips. " was
part OF his stlll youthful s~elf-dalusion
! that he believed himself wiser n