Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1900-05-25
the heroes of a great conflict hung in

eoWH VI iS SioWInS ueOuleS, us AeuNS
headed snowballs, its pungent southern
wood. and starry s%yringas, and red honey
suckles. and the first white, scented catal-
pa branches to do honor to the occasion.
And here again, side by side, were the
two men, who, fast fcttered by a child
hood and youth of friendship, had gone
forth to war together.
The services were over at last. and the
crowd in the church poured out into the
sunshine. Again fife and drum made mar
tial music. The brief journey to the
cemetery was begun. 1t was here. after
the stiff wreaths and crosses which the
women had brought from the church were
duly distributed and speeches made by
some of the old soldiers, that John Bar
riston first caught a glimpse Of the young
man who had come late into church. He
stared in Observation-Disclosures towards
him.
What has brought you back?" he de-
mandcd.
IA row. replied his son. I'D a fight
with one of the fellows at college. l was
in the right, but l did him up n bit worse
than I meant TO. 1 thought I'd better
come home until it blew over"
The old man choked with rage.
And it's for this-for this-Tve toiled
for you, and shaved for OH. and all but
starved myself for you. How" he was
choking in his wratL-''how dare you"
II dare Il good deal-some,imes."
Just then a girl brushed by them. Her
gown caught on the point of a stone. She
stumbled. I~nvolnntarily Mark Barriston
extended his hand to aid her. She shot
him IL swift glance. In that look was
recognition and IL certain startled, pleased
surprise. Then she had passed on, and
Mark Barriston stood hat in hand staring
after her.
do you know who that is?"
Its Edward T1iorn's daughter" said
John Barriston slowly. The hoarse voice
shook over the words. "You must never
hold word with him or his. Or" He
lifted his great rough hand to the dazzling
sky, with a mighty oath, "or else you so
your way, %penniless and poor, save for my
curse!" :
That's unfair.!" famed Mark Barris-
ton. The old mans blood spoke then.
Its unjust! You read the Bible-and
You hate YOU brother. Tell me WHY"
But the passion of his father had spent
itself for the time. He looked suddenly
gray and stricken. He turned and walk
ed unsteadily away to where the close,
sharp spikes of an iron railing kept jeal-
GUS guard over the narrow mound it in
closed. All other boundaries in that sunny
little city were of wood. but these John
Rarriston had deemed too frail to keep
the world apart from hcr-the one woman
of his love, whose life had been Il brief
! and unsupported tragedy.
"Foo father The young fellow, look
ing after the lean old figure-seeing the
gnarlcd fingers clutched hard around the
iron spike on top of the railing, felt a
fierce ache in his throat. He turned
Went away.
When Mark Barriston-straight as a
Norway spruce and good to took upon
striding home in the sunset light, came
upon the wrecked carriage of Edward
Thorn. he was hardly surprised-only
most absurdly clated. Obviously, he could
not pass on. He might not take the who'll
ly disinterested credit accruing to the
stray Samaritan, hut mere courtesy de-
manded that aid be offered. And since
Mark Barriston had been AWAY Mt col
lcge he had learned n lesson which prairie
people are slow to appreciate-that while
kindness, however gruff and sullen, is
good, courteous kindness is infinitely to
be preferred. And so he uncovered to the
ladies' in the carriage with n grace that
was pleasing as novel to the farmer folk,
and offered his services. And when he
had gone to the nearest farm house for
rope. and had helped to splice the pole.
and all was once more in readiness for the
homeward drive. he would have turned
away but that Edward Thorn. putting
out his hand with Il word of thanks, de-
tanned him.
THANK yor much, Mr.-Mr.-you are
Il stranger hcrcabouts, l judge?'
My name is Mark Barr.ston."
"Mark-Barris-Ow! He leaned more
heavily over the side of his surrey. Twice
the lips set in the blonde beard opened
twice closed without speech. His eager
look dwelt hard Oh the boyish face II
lifted in the %mGliowing light. II might
have known" he muttercd. And then
he said slowly: Her e%yes-you have your
mothers eyees."
MY mother" echoed Mark. "You
knew her-you knew my mother?'
well. my hoy. Better" he said, and
so low his voice now he might have been
commnning with himself, better than
any one clse!!"
There was silence. a chill stole up
from the draw below. A gopher ran
ucrosS tHe roau. frightening the morse
which had broken the pole. An anxious
voice spoke from the rear seat.
ut is late, Edward. We'd better go
on"
"Yes-yes. Well" to Mark. "rm glad
10 have seen you. I suppose" with some
hesitation. II can't ask you to come to
our house,"
Tn afraid not, SIR"
He moved a step backward. The elder
man sighed-a wistful sigh it sounded.
When Mark reached home he found his
father sitting reading by lamplight. The
book was the Bible. his only literary pos
session.- The deep cut ines of the old
lace seemed deeper, the stern mouth more
infexible, the keen old eyes more relent-
lessly penetrating.
Tell me about your quarrel, lad" he
aid.
Mark told him. not sparing the ether
man. but equally o~utspoken in regard
to his part in the affair. There was a
long silence when he had finished.
"Well?" he asked at length.
".An eye for an eye.'" said the hard
old voice. ".A tooth for a TOOTH You'd