Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1902-01-09

| and although Gilbert Rickerby was, as
far as the world was concerned, de-
| Gently buried and done with Leath-
wood had always a dreadful fear
knocking at his heart that some man or
woman might start UP out Of the past
| to show forth the fraud of the thing;
that of all the doors he had so careful
ly closed, one might be left sufficiently
open to let in suspicion. Thus it was
that he allowed Taggett n his wife
to remain there for a few days, until
as Mr.. Taggett expressed it-"they had
time to grasp the situation and look
about them"
Truth to tell, Anthony Taggett was
in no hurry TO grasp the situation, be-
yond seeing pretty clearly that he was
comfortable where he was, and could
go and come as he liked. For this feel
ing one must not be too ready to blame
him; he had had a hard struggle with
the world, and fought his way pretty
cheerfully, ali things considered; small
wonder that he was glad to rest for a
little time by the waysile, and contem-
plate. with that serenity which was
alike a part of the man and his profess
sion, the past-big with fa~ilures-and
the future-equally big with hope. Per-
haps she showed pretty clearly what
his feelings were on that matter in a
| conversation with Mrs. Taggett on the
morning of that eventful day which
brought Mr.. George Reeks TO Kicker
by's Folly.
My love, we are, In a certain sense.
in clover. We toll not, neither do we
spin; and although there is nothing
particularly glorious about our raj
ment'-he held out the skirts of his
shabby o and inspected them mar
rowly-'that is a matter which may be
remedied in the neal future. More than
all, my lear Medora, this pause in u
affairs gives us opportunity TO think
20 plan for ourselves, as we never yet
had an opportunity for planning any
thing"
'Yes-that's all very well, Anthony"
responded Mrs. Taggett, but you must
not forget that We are living in a
strange mans house, and on charity"
Charity, Medora!' Mr.. Taggett APP
peared much panied at the employing
of such a word in connection with him
self. There is no question of charity:
the man who condescends to act for a
space as my hDss, receives in return the
benefit of such views of life and men
and as ] care to give him
"And which generally send him to
sleep, interpolated Mrs. Taggett, with
a laugh.
THAT is his fault, and not mine" said
Taggett, severely. "And you must re-
member, Medora, that in this world
each man grasps for himself the chance
that tickle Fortune offers him; this is
chance; we rest, after unmerited
privations; we fill ourselves with the
fruits Of the earth-and no payment
asked, which is a Consideration-and we
store our minds with those glorious sit
uations which will, in the lear future,
aus a dull world to gasp and rub its
eyes. In a word, Medora, the whole
plan Of my proposed drama is changed;
the lift-boy is a thing of the past: the
pantechicon goes by the board, and the
first act opens in a double house, with
a murder in the back drawing room,
and the villain drinking himself to
death from remorse in the conservatory
and dying in toturec On a wicker chair.
Double set, my love, with passage
down the center and practicable
doors."}
Well, I'm sure, Anthony, I hope
something will be done with the drama
n of these days. When l married
you-fve years ago-your first act
started outide a village public house;
then. during the honeymoon, you got
inside the pubic house, with real beer,
drawn by the barmaid; a little later,
and we got up the village street. and
started all ove again, at the black
smiths, with a real horse and a forge.
and real sparks going up the chimney;
Incidental music to suggest the 'Har-
monious Blacksmith Then we became
aristocratic; and we opened with a
dance at the old manor-house on the
hill, with the squire cursing his son
(real 6urses!) and the girl who loved
him weeping in the freight; snow eff
feet outside. In fact, Anthony, we've
gradually got everywhere with that
drama of yours; and yet, il I may say
| so, we've never got anywhere at all"
"Medora, I have come to the conclu-
sion that the gods have gifted me with
too much Imagination. If you laugh, I
hear, or seem TO hear Immediately, an
echoing laugh above us from the gall
lery; if you weep, / hear a sob from a
rortly lady in the pit In sheer sympa-
thy. My own phres SEES are attuned to
suit the better parts of the house. In
a word, Medora, we are not real save
men we are hungry and cold; for the
rest we are but puppets. as this ac-
cursed profession has taught US to be.
I believe ! made love TO you in attitudes
n ~rehearsed my speeches beforehand.
end even took my cue from you, as /
have done so often Off the stage"
Mrs. Taggett sighed. I'm afraid it's
true" she said. But still, Anthony,
unreal as 1t is, i always feel I want to
get back to it-w ant to smell the old,
musty smell, and shiver in the cold
draughts. I wish we could get put OF
this place and make a start some
where"
My love, I Inn already OIL the look
out for q company which requires a
leading man-prepared to do anything
from Hamlet to the Pantaloon; and
whose wife is prepared to take even a
subordinate part, SO that she may be
near him, In fact, my love, with the
| desire to keen nv ewes omen for onv-