The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1903-08-07
Wo n as that, we should say in

argument. At this mi two =,
LiIee deep musical twangs. as Of :
nafp, rang into and through the ho,1ca
.urhed my head, and saw standing il
me doorway a figure of a boy.
came forward, and revealed the
aase ana head of q man. 1t was an
s;ns'i-soo4l!ls dwarf. scarcely four fee,
hlan.a ragged, bflrefooted fellow
i1oldlhs n his hand a small harm f,ny,,
which he continued to pluck Low, 49,
notes. 0eA fos' ueE
iiis mead was bare, covered only h.,
d llllck mat OF dull red hair. which raj
over MS face, and from among If small
1efce eyes cleaned darkly. He smiled
! upon my companion and stared har "a
q. me. heard a low. choking sound
~ my elbow, and turned to see my
los.ess. with q white face and hip
aisi.enen eyes, locking from one to tbs
other of the last Corners. Her hrr.orn
rose and swelled as if with dreadfn
apprehension when il happened that
the sWorNsnan turned and ohsprvad
her. - '''e
he raised his hand and spoke to her
eagerly and rapidiy in a low. carpssino
tone. In another instant she regair1eG
command of herself, and began once
more to be busy With the food. but
eagerly and fearfu11y, her easy. unhast-
INS 'tSNt lA4lS d1-pGItGu. Inc dwarf
seated himself unbidden, his harp rest
ing upon his knee.
People seem to walk in and ont of
this place as freely as If it were an
inn" said I. GU
oh, yes; why not ~ said the tai,
man. carelessiy. ~'Everywhere on the
nils you can sit by the fire. and eat
something when Q pass a house. Il
ISIS the custom With us Now, in Ens.-
ialld they would put a dog to tear
your clothes and bite you if Won walkad
straight to the fire"
oh. no. said /. THE English are
not SO bad as that"
~ has happened to me. indeed" he
replied, a more than once. Here.
every n passing would come into this
house and take q rest, or something
like that
AS il in proof of his words, the latch
clicked again and the door opened. This
time | knew the figure which stood on
the threshold, for all that she was
mufiled high.
They are coming my road again" I
thought. My hostess slipped down the
rooIE swiftly, pressed the gray figure
backward into the thick dusk that was
gathering. and swung the door to after
them. AT a sharp word the dwarf
flung his harp to the poet and went up
the wall like a cat, and vanished
through the hole which served as. win
dow.
What's the as of all this
said /.
Indeed, l do not know" said the tall
man. gently running his fingers over
the harp and drawing out soft, sweet
notes. Then he struck into a bold, live
~ air, playing loudly, and singing as
he played.
"You have two ideas in this, my
friend thought 1: First. to persuade
people that o n the harper are
both here. the n singing n the 9TH
er playing; secocd, to avoid conversa-
ton with me-"
! felt full OF an ursssireSs for which
l could. not accoun l had nothing to
go on but the fright of the woman of
the cottage at the sight of the dwarf
harper aud the fact of the cueer little
creature flying out through the win
dow. Local matters which could not
concern me in the least might account
fer these things quite readily, and yet
I felt myself Impressed with a sense
of things of a deeper mystery and Of
a darker complexion.
"A slight sclaping on the wall drew
my Eyes to the window, and in came
the red head OF the dwarf. His eyes
flashed With malicious glee full on my
companion, n he sprang down into
the room and leaphd for his stool. He
seated himself, seized the harp, and
continued the air without the slightest
pause. Under cover of the strulnming
and singing he said a few words to my
companion but could not catch them,
o could l have hsen any the wiser
If l had.
The tall man eyer lighted UP with
equal fire, n he continued to chant
his song in a still louder and gayer
tone. The door opened, and my hostess
returned alone. She gave a sigh of
relief on seeing the harper II his
neither took the slightest notice of her.
She returned to her POT and began
to stir milk into the Slab mass, when,
With q few rousing wangs and a clear
high note from the singer, an enc was
made of their ditty.
Without further ceremony the tall
mar fetched a bowl from a shelf on
the further side OF the cottage, took
the wooden ladle from the wornan's
the pot. She seemed to eypostulate.
as If begging him to wait q little, but
he laughed and began to cat rapidly.
Els companion at once provided for
himself in a similar manner, and the
scalding pnrridge disappeared down
their Threats at q wonderful rate. In
less than ten minutes they had de-
roured a huge bowlful each, and then
they prepared for departure. l rose
also, and the bard looked at me with
surprise.
Il thought you were stopping here
for the night" he said.
Not at ALL" said i. Il intend to put
up at an inn which l understand lies
eight miles ahead, straight along this