The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1902-03-14
CHILLY"

"A most unnatural child-sullen,
sluggish, sneaking," the rector affirm
ed. p~unctuating the indictment with
pauses in his effort to be exact. A
shadow OF protest fitted over his wife's
face. First, Billy was motherless.
Secondly, under cover of a garden
hedge one day she had watched Billy
take aim at a crow, and his eyes, eager,
sweet and blue as %larkspur, had ap-
pealed to her unforgettably. Decided
~, Billy's eyes when they could be
seen, counted.
It was said OF the rector that he
knew every man, and child in
the county; and they, by eason OF his
sweet cordiality of manner, knew and
loved him. The rector owed his popu-
larity more to a single grace than to
the whole big sum Of his ~vjrtues-a
grace OF sympathy SO rare. SO discrim-
mating, so replete with charity as to
make him quite unoficially, Of course,
but in a very real sense, the confessor
Of his people.
But with Billy the rector could
make no Roadway. Billy was his
thorn in the fiesh, an ever-present APP
peal to his sympathy, but lodging ev-
cry expression of 1t with the elusive
ness Of . phantom. His kindliest
overtures glanced the armor OF the
child's serve One day the rector
took him perforce for a drive, hoping
70 thaw this stolid unresponsiveness.
He told his most thrilling stories, Billy
remained utterly aloof. The rector
was approaching . state OF actual dis
comfture when Billy himself snapped
the tension by dropping adroitly from
the phaeton. He disappeared in the
brush like . scared rabbit The rector
decided to bide his time.
It was In harvest time that Billy's
mother breathed her last, swiftly.
TRANQUILITY, meekly grateful for her re-
lease Billy's father had bullied her
into q stingless grave. Billy's father.
. burly. irascible farmer, had long
since tired Of his sickly wife: he was
doubtless glad OF his release. But he
felt 9 fresh displeasure against her;
2 had died in his busiest season
without consulting his convenience.
Btlly's conception Of death was very
nebulous. He observed the funeral
preparations with a sort OF wonder,
though the unwonted stiffness and
darkness made his heart futter. It
was not until the rector led him to
the bier and tenderly told him to kiss
biz mother goodbye. and the tall man
With black gloves screwed on the lid.
that Billy began to apprehend. The
chill Of desolation came upon him and
a., sobbed softly. u~nobtrusively lest his
father should hear. He had smarted
too often tor the offense t o take risks.
At last the casket was lowered and
the rectors voice became more solemn.
Billy sobbed audibly. He drew a.
nsAr the rector % he dared and i'm
creased the distance from his father.
Presently Billy heard . thud. ashes
- ashes, dust to dust" and the rector
had thrown : clump Of dirt at his
mother! He moaned aloud in his an
gutsh. TO Billy. who knew nothing OF
symbolism. the act savored only Of un-
friendliness. He interpreted it III the
light Of his own experience, and In
roadside warfare with his hind. Billy
md learned tho value Of pebbly sand
- ammunition.
Hence the rector's di1lculty with his
young parishioner.
The farmer lost NO time In bringing
hons = buxom widow whose quarrel
some progeny 900 crowded Billy out.
~ nOatalgta Tor the woods seized him:
~ became n0madic In his EFFORT &C SELF
eifacement. and his father. who hated
~ sight q his under-sised Offspring
sssllnkdng around like I whipped dor"
uoS not sorry. No wonder Billy pass
- - 'ssullsn. sluggish. sneaking..
81lly exulted II woodcraft. He knew
~ b0gU hollows where the violsts
and ~blood-root grew; tho songs OF the
birds were the familiar voices Of his
ls4ends, and he studied the habits Of
- birds and chipmunks with tho
1pgvOr Of : naturalist. Billy did not
- h. mothers kisses 20 poisnantly
n the forest.
IA the n Of time Z new interest
e1nms Into Billy's life. One day in
r&rN&&E tN.a%H