The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1902-06-26


ing Young Writer, fitting back in his
chair from the table and confidentially
addressing the ink receptacle, I'VE
come to the end of the story"
The beautiful Princess has been
rescued; the Prince has undergone as
many hair-breadth escapes as we can
really afford TO throw in for S., and
the naughtyogre has been killed off by
partaking of box of poisoned dragons
sent anonymously through the mails.
An up-to-date touch, that last, Botty,
my boy"
The container of writing fluid re-
naming unresponsive, he continued.
Some folks say, Mr.. Bottle, that
writer always pictures in his hero
himself, but | doubt that. | guess my
heroes are mostly composite creatures,
with just enough OF me in their make
I'D to furnish them with movable
Joints, so to speak. at the knees and
elbows"
But I'll tell you who poses for my
villains-all of them," detained the
R.Y. W.. with vehemence. Mister
Denny. Fate tried to conceal him,
suppose. but | wish she had gone far
enough to have him born in a settle
ment off the railroad in Afghanlstan,
and made Afghanistan an whatsoever
ed island, and instigated international
laws against exploring. Denny Is
smiling, good-natured chap, too, AMI
I could like him, were he not fool
enough to see the good qualities in the
girl | like, and to carry his audacity
to the point OF liking her also"
Nothing being forthcoming from the
insensate vial, the r. Y. w. kept 1t up,
with much satisfaction.
But let him smile and smile-hell
always be my villains. He's been the
hard-hearted usurer, that turned
out the widows and orphans In
the cold, cold snow; he's been the
faithless lawyer that destroyed the
will and left the rightful heir nothing
but a mourning ring and starvation
He's committed every dastardly deed
from treason and arson to bolting the
straight Prohibition ticket; and In
our present story, Bot. I'VE made him
the horrible ogre, a fendish outcast,
and carried his degradation to such
degree as to make him opposed to the
higher criticism, and in disgrace with
the administration.
1--WE heaped indignity, contumely'
and insult upon him. I've made him
a victim of moving accidents by held
and food. I've shuffied him of this
mortal coil by every known means
from the wheel and rack to choking to
death on a collar button, notwith-
standing which, | invariably find him
occupying her front steps or parlor
sofa o. night on Tuesdays, Thursdays
and Sundays.
But never mind Bot, I'm sure she's
mine
So what care |
Though Smith be nigh?
I'll live for Nan
For Nan I'll die"
A knock came upon the door. The
warbler arose and admitted, decided
Iy TO his surprise and discontinue, the
very lady, the subject Of his impas-
stoned duty ana OBJECT OF MS aHec-
tons. Perhaps he wondered how thick
tie woodwork was.
Why, what on earth, Nan" he
began.
Il have something to tell you, Dick"
replied the young lady, in tone that
might have been firmer.
You must have But won't you
have a chair?"
mo, it won't take but a minute"
she went on. Dick, I'm going TO be
married"
Now Dick" had often imagined
her telling him this very thing, and
himself nobly resigning her, acknowl-
sdging his own utter unworthiness,
wishing her JOY and so on. quite
human sort of picture and one that
most lovers have sometimes conjured
up Nevertheless, it hit him hard,
and the only speech he could frame
was the very unromantic, yet natural
question, who to-"
You know-Denny."
Put isn't this rather sudden?"
Maybe 1t is" said the girl, half de-
family, but his uncle died and left