The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1903-07-31

you are not a common man, after
ponies and Sheep" said he, at last.
You are a gentleman; I know it by
your fne clothes" To this I had Moth
ing to say, and again his y worked
oyer my riding suit OF blue and silver.
country, and from where do you come,
and what is your name" he de-
manded
AS I was not accustomed TO be ex-
amined in this fashion by q fellow in
a tattered ray doublet and greasy
leathern breeches, I made no reply. I
did not wish to enter upon any quar-
rel. for II might be the husband Of my
KIND hostess. and in any case ! did not
desire a brawl in the house where I
had been Hospitality received.
Some enc came in at the door, and ]
looked round, but it was not the wo-
man; 1t. was the little boy, who had
been outside to stare at the pony. Now
heScame to my side Of the hearth, and
gaping open-eyed at my COM
panion. The latter took no notice
whatever Of the child, and was clearly
g stranger. Further, he could hardly
be a peaceful shepherd, for a heavy
5broadsword dangled at his belt.
Els unreasonable and pulling wrath
was mounting higher and higher. His
features worked conyulsiyely. and
81 ~ dAl1lIlSLl IOlSCS gTWlllSIleO anu
groaned through his clenched teeth.
Suddenly he gave a most startling yell.
Oh, the black English!" he cried;
oh, the dirty thieves, the black Eng
lish!"
Now I could contain myself no long
er. but burst. almost without knowing
II, into a. hearty shout Of laughter.
HIS yell had caused me to start sharp
~, 50 piercing and sudden was it, and
NV disturbed fnn)if,oc cro ya tJ,ar,, n1,,ao
vent in the merriment.
MY laugh was drowned in the shrill
TRADE which burst from him-curses,
as / should suppose, but not a word
could l understand.
The child slipped out of the place
With a frightened look. 1 turned to
the fire with a composed face, and the
he had, 1t is likely, just remembered
that his words contained no weight for
me. He returned to his old song.
aThe bloody English he said, slow
" and bitterly; they killed a cousin
to me-"
Then, sir" said I. twas with a
rope. for q guinea"
a snar Of rage told that I had hit
in the clout.
"And dirty thieves" he screamed.
l smiled at his fury. He leaped to
his feet. I hitched my sword hilt
handy.
Just now" he cried; "oh, yes, just
soon for that. But, first, first, my
handsome English gentleman, look at
that"
He trode to the door, which had fall
his full height and pointing out.
7.AShere is not a week" he continued,
in a quieter voice, since I wass go
ing by Hereford and up towards
Shrewsbury. And I saw the rich fields
and the fine country that my fathers
owned once. and I said to myself that
the English are the great thieves Of
the world. I have hated them always
for 1t, and I will never hold back to
speak in the face Of any one of them
about it. Look here!!" He threw out
his hand with a stately gesture. I
looked, and saw a waste of low, roll
Ing hills, dreary in the gray February
afternoon; ~bleached, near at hand, with
the whitening bents, ribs Of naked
rock thrust up through the bare,
starved soil, and poverty and famine
writ large over the scene.
Why" said I. this is a ripping up
of old sores to an extreme. If we are
to quarrel about a conflict Of our an
ceStors OF a thousand years agone, one
need never run short Of a Done to pick,
The thing was put to the arbitrament
OF the sword, and there's IN end to it.
The Saxons beat the Welsh, and then
the Normans beat the Saxons. Faith,
it's turn and turn about"
"Yoy say that" he cried, his eyes
sparkling; "you say that o can beat
the Welsh. Here am I, beat me-"
You are giving my words a twist
which does not belong to Them, said
I, thinking the fellow was beside him
self, and wishing to be free Of him.
Come" he said, here we are, we
two. We will play put this old quar-
rel. Take your sword and follow me
to the grass outside"
For answer 1 turned to the fire. He
took up a switch which lay on the
floor. where the little boy had dropped
1t, and advanced toward me.
II swear" said he, solemnly, that
II you do not follow me at once, I will
cut o across the face with this little
stick where you sit.'
I was on my feet at a flash.
Tt ISIS we'll" said he, with al. ugly
smile; II am a good Judge of a mans
eye. I wass quite sure I had not much
more to do"
CONTINUED Next Week.)