The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1903-08-14

me to attend to the mare, and then led
the way to the house. The door opened
directly to the kitchen, where a cheer
full fire was blazing, and his wife and !
two or three children were gathered
round it.
The universal and cheerful hospitals !
ty Of the Welsh was busted at once to
make me comfortable. I was placed in
a chair in the snug chimney corner.
and the good wife at nee set a small
round table at my elbow, and arranged
food upon it. No n a n English.
except my host, and his was so fluent
but that occasionally we arrived at
cross-purposes. Still, when we came
to a fix, we tried back and started
again. and In the end managed to find
where we were.
"Nant-y-Bryn," said he, on hearing Of
my destination. 1T am taking sheep to-
morrow. and must to go a way. We
shall go, h two, now"
This was welcome news to me when
I found that he was bound to q spot
within a few miles Of my jourhey's
end nj I gladly agreed to accompany
him.
The next morning I arose to find hat
the fine weather Of the past few days
had departed and that a sharp, sleety
drizzle was falling. AS I stood looking
Il Wv = kAAA SAoA AAo Va An oA~AS
kitchen, my host Joined me. Where
is the big coat with your" said he.
Spoil the fine clothes, this weather"
n he rubbed his finger, smilingly, up
and down the silver lace of my riding
suit.
oh" I replied. perhaps it will get
better soon."
NO" said he, decisively, sit sha go
worse and worse through the day. I
am sure of It. But no matter. l will
find you a coat.
He said a few words in Welsh, and
his little boy ran out of the house, to
return in five minutes laden with a
great b%lue-gray honespun coat, quite
new, and OF a texture to Withstand the
fiercest storm that ever blew. He ex-
planned that 1t was borrowed from his
shepherd. who would not be going from
home that day.
At once, upon seeing it, I formed q
design of purchasing it, as I knew not
now when I should see my cloak again.
and the shepherd was fetched to strike
a bargain. This was easily done to his
great satisfaction, and I rode away
] that morning across the hills, fenced
as securely from the biting, driving
sleet as If I had been in a castle.
Dur progress was very slow, since 1t
was timed to the pace Of the slowest
sheep, and when we came to the ham
let where my guide was to deliver his
flock, the dusk was falling.
There was no I'M at the place, but
one Of the houses provided some ac-
commodation for travellers, and I de-
termined to stay rather than push for
Nant-y-Bryn In the darkness. My kind
friend spent the night there also, and
the next morning we parted, with
hearty expressions Of goodwill on both
Sides. He had given me such partic-
ular directions for finding my way that
I,doubted not but an hours ride would
see the n OF my journey.
I had gone some two miles on my
way n was crossing a patch Of bro
ken. healthy land, when I saw n
other horseman some distance away to
my left. He was following a road
which gradually ran to meet mine, and
step by step we drew nearer like men
marching dow the arms Of a great ".
He was a young man, looking much
of my own age, riding a tall. thin.
black horse, Of no great quality, hand
somely dressed, and carrying a sword,
but, SO far as I could see. no pistols.
He looked me owe with an air Of great
superiority, for which I could see no
grounds, till I remembered myself OF
the coarse gray coat I was wearing.
We reached the meeting place OF the
two roads within ha~lf-a-dozen yards Of
each other, he in 'front.'. He spoke to
me in Welsh. and I babe him good
morning.
You are English, the,.," said he
colby.
II am" said I, "and have no Welsh.
All the time his eye was running over
my mare, and he drew his horse away
to put the whole width Of the road be-
tween us.
Does he take me for a highway
mani" I thought, and I smiled, for my
combination Of coarse ray Goa and q
nag under me fit for a EnrfOca cartoin1xr
pointed in that direction. had been
on a more travelled route.
In this smile I managed to displease
him, for 1t timed with a false step Of
his sorry horse. and he thought I
laughed at him.
The color shot up into his thin, dark,
handsome face, and his big black eyes
flashed at me hercely. I looked before
me. as II I had observed nothing, and
now saw in front, a large house stand
Ing half way up a steep slope.
Continued Next Weekly
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