The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1903-12-11
NNN.
SIR JOHN

CHAPTER xxx.
SIR JOHN POSTGATE.
The morrow brought ample proof
that Sir JOIN Postgate kept a sharp
watch on Butley Croft, for as the shad-
ow upon the great gilded dial marked
noon, up he rode, his son at his side.
1 was near the head of the main ave-
nue. chopping a huge fallen elm branch
into stable pieces for firing when the
clatter of their horses feet came be-
hind me. 1 took no notice, and Sir John
hailed me.
who are you and what may YOU be
doing here?" he cried.
l chopped away as stolidly as posi-
bic, and a whip lash snapped on my hat
as the son hicked lightly at me. L
looked up and oh, how uneasly my dis
guise sat upon me under those keen,
grim old eyes.
Dim Saesneg,' I growled.
Both of them stared at me in good
earnest now. Pray" began the old
man, but | interrupted him with a swift
rush of q couple of my parrot sentences
md pointed to the house The extra
ordinary %gibberish set the younger man
laughing.
"'Tis a fellow from Tower of Babel
simpered Jack Postgate.
At this moment out came Roger
Thorne, eager to interpose between us.
"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 man, taking no more
notice of me, and riding W. to
the front of the house.
1 heard Rogers voice speaking as he
marched beside the horse, but I could
not catch his words, md I turned again
to my wood c%hopping and smote the
branch Justify, wishing it We're Jack
Postgate's insolent neck.
l had disliked him since we were
boys, and we had fought out the battle
of the day more than once with our
fists while our fathers were busy with
deadlier ape
In those encounters it had taken all
my time to gain the victory, for he was
near three years older THAI I, but it
would be another affair now, and I
looked after him and clenched my fists
and longed for the chance.
He looked no Puritan figure elthen as
he pranced along IN his spirited nag;
he was as fine as q. peacock. His hat
was plumed, his sword belt as richly
embroidered and his rapier hilt as
gaily worked as any cavalier l had ever
! seen. There was not SO much lace,
perhaps, DIS Il lop vi ~ u ioNSS' Dol
his clothes were bright, n of his par
ty Jack was certainly a dandy of the
| first water.
The father was of the old school,
snow-white linen, sad-colored dress, a
l simple strap to carry his sword, a plain
s steeple hat shading a thin, severe face.
2 The son I disliked and despised; the
!, father l disliked, and in my present
l position, feared. 1t is the custom. with
F., us to fix round general names upon all
2 of the opposite party-snuf1llng rogues,
canting hypocrites, n the like; but it
: is idle work, and in the end every man
l must be judged by himself.
} Neither Sir John Postgate's party nor
principles were to my fancy, but l
could not allow him to be other than
!. an %intlexibly honest and upright man.
I If his duty, as he conceived 1t, re-
uuired that I should be laid by the
heels, he would so lay me, but to my
disfavor he would wrest nothing. !
had rather ten rogues to my enemies
than one such nal
/ True, the rogues, will dig pits for you,
e vet the chances are many that they
e themselves will fall into the pits they
have diggcd; whereas g man of single
purpose follows his aim with a con-
: staucy at once dreadful and intrepid.
After q time I shouldered a bundle OF
Il wood and made my way to the back OF
n the house, and entered the kitchen. II
was empty, and a fancy to see what
was going on in the fore part darted
: into my mind. | went quickly across tc
d a second room and slipped up the back
e stairs.
At the head of the first fight q mar
row passage ran to the gallery over
d looking the hall, and trod quietly
along 1t. Voices came to my ears ant
v l craned my neck out from the shelter
:, of the passage. Below stood Jack Post.
y -. ..,;,,1y;,~ onJ co,i1ipC md r1aEjnc
r his finest speeches to Enid. She wa.
listening to him with an attention
h which I bitterly grudged him, until
comforted myself by thinking she wa!
polite for my sake, SO unreasonable anc
importunate is a lover.
n Then Sir John and Roger came up TIL
hall together, and the dry old indie
pendent paused before her fresh yount
beauty. Enid smiled back and held hin
d in gay talk, and Jack cut in again ant
again, and was left unregarded, a
* which I took great pleasure. But
% dared not stay long lest my rambling
It should be discovered and awaken sus
d picion, so returned to the kitchen AM
n sat down to await my dinner.
In the afternoon 1 was again bus.
It, hacking wood, for to labor uncomplain
lg ingly at a mental task greatly helpe
Is my disguise, when 1 lifted my eyes an
ly saw my love coming toward me. Sh
StoOO OppOSlle lIS loI q lOl5 III an
re regarded me carelessly, as If idl
er watching my busy axe while she too
re the air, then sauntered closer little b
Of little. I began to carry my logs to
ee pile just beyond where she stood, an
We we conversed as I passed and repasset
And our interview"
ne II hin 1t was a success. He wa
extremely civil. Roger had explained t
t. him that I had come here because {
at the disturbed state of our neighboI
IN hood: and 1 told him of the Red Men {
mt the Dusk"
vo After all, they gave you a usef,
at story to spin"
r He listened a~ttentively, and the
n told me how things stood here, ye
a begged me. however. to use the hous
We as long as l pleased"
a "a gracious invitation. in&eed. to
lady under her own roof"