The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1903-12-11
CHAPTER xxx.
SIR JOHN

Inc morrow brought anlple proof
that Sir John Postgate kept. a sharp
watch on Butley Croft, for as the shad-s
ow upon the great gildeds dial marked
noon, up he rode, his son at his side.
l was near the. head of the main ave
nue. chopping a huge fallen elm branch
into sizablc pieces for firing when the
clatter of their horses feet came be-
hind me. / took no notice, and Sir John
hailed me.
Who are you and what ma you be
doins. here?" he cried.
| chopped away as stolidly as posi-
BILE, q whip lash snapped or my hat
as the son ficked lightly at me. I
looked up M oh, how ~uneasily my dis
guise sat upon me under those keen,
grim old eyes.
Dim Saesneg," I growled. g
Both of them stared at me in good
earnest now. Pray" began the old
man, but interrupted him with a swift
rush of a couple of my parrot sentences
and pointed to the house. The extra
ordinary gibberish set the younger man
laughing.
"ATis a fellow from Tower of Babel
simpered Jack Postgate.
AT this moment put came Roger
Thorne, eager TO interpose between U.S..
Whom have we here??" cried Jack
Postgate. Ticking his whip across me
again, While my heart swelled furiously
within me.
"A welshman, Sir john replied
Roger, "a poor Taffy with never a word
Of our language"
And what brings him here?" de-
manded the elder a taking no more
notice Of me, and riding forward to
the front of the house.
I heard Rogers voice speaking as he
marched beside the horse, but / could
not catch his words, and l turned again
to my wood chopping and smote the
branch Justify, wishing 1T We're Jack
Postgate's insolent neck. ~
/ had disliked him since we We're
boys, and we had fought Out the battle
of the day more than one with our
fists while our fathers were busy with
deadIier weapons.
In those encounters it had taken all
my time to gain the victory, for he was
lear three years older than |, but it
would be another affair now, n I
looked after him and clenched my fists
and longed for the chance.
He looked no Puritan figure either, as
he pranced along on his spirited nag:
he was as fine as a peacock. His hat
was plumed, his sword belt as richly
embroidered and his rapier hilt as
gaily worked as n cavalier l had eve
seen. There was not SO U Lace,
perhaps, as a fop on our side loves, but
his clothes were bright, and of his par
tv Jack was certainly a dandy of the
first water.
The father was of the old school,
snow-white linen, ~sad-colored dress, a
simple strap to carry his sword, a plain
steeple HI shading a thin, severe face
The son I disliked and despised;; the
father l disliked. and in my present
position, feared. It is the custom with
us to fix round general names upon all
Of the opposite party-snufhlng rogues
canting hypocrites, and the like; Y II
Is idle work, and in the end every mar
must be judged by himself.
Neither Sir John Postgate's party MOI
principles were to my fancy, but
could no allow him to be other thai
an inflexibly honest and upright man
IF his duty, as he conceived 1t, re-
ouired that l should be laid by the
heels, he would so lay me, but to my
disfavor he would wrest nothing. ]
had rather ten rogues 10 my enemies
than one such man.
True, the rogues, will dig pits for you
vet the nance are many that they
themselves will fall into the pits they
have digged; whereas a maj OF single
purpose follows his aim with a con-
stancy at once dreadful and intrepid.
After a time I shouldered a bundle OF
wood and made my way to the back O
the house. and entered the kitchen. j
was empty, and a fancy to see what
was going on in the fore part dartec
into nv mind. ] Went quickly across t.
a second room and slipped up the bach
stairs.
row passage ran to the gallery over
looking the hall, and / trod quietly
along It. Voices came to my ears ane
Ircraned my neck out from the sheite1
of the passage. Below stood Jack Post
gate. Sinking and smiling and making
his finest speeches to Enid. She wa:
listening to him with an attention
which I bitterly grudged him, until
comforted myself by thinking she wa:
polite for my sake, so unreasonable AM
importunate is n lover.
Then Sir John and Roger came up tn
hall together, and the dry old inde
pendent paused before her fresh young
beauty. Enid smiled back and held hin
in gay talk, and Jack cut in again ant
again, and was left unregarded, a
which I took great pleasure. But
dared not sta long lest my rambhnt
should be discovered and awaken sus
picion, so returned to the Kitchen am
sat down to await my dinner.
Tn the afternoon l was again bus.
hacking wood, for to labor uncomplaln
tngly at a mental task greatly helpe'
my disguise, when | lifted my eyes an
saw my love coming toward me. Sh'
stood opposite me for a long tim an
regarded me carelessly, as II ldl:
watching my busy axe while h tool
the air, then sauntered closer little b!
little. I began to carry my logs to
pile lust beyond where she stood, an,
We conversed as I passed and repassed
and your interview?
II think 1t was a success. He wa
extremely civil. Roger had explained t
him that + had come here because Q
7, the disturbed state of our neighbor
hood; and I told him Of the Red Men 9
4 the Dusk
After all. they CAV o a usefu
story to spin"
HE listened attentively. and the
told me how things stood here, We
begged me, however, to use the hous
as long as / pleased
IA gracious invitation, indeed, to
lady under her own roof