The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1903-07-31

You are not a common man, after
ponies n sheep" said he, at last.
your fine clothes" To his 1 had Moth
ing to say, and again his eye worked
ove my riding suit of blue and silver.
For what are you coming to this
country, and from where do you come,
and what is your name?" he de-
manded.
AS 1 was not accustomed to be ex-
amined in this fashion by a fellow in
a tattered gray doublet and greasy
leathern b~rcecheS, / made no reply. I
did not wish to enter upon any quar-
rel. for 1T might be the husband of my
| hostess. and in any case 1 did not
desire a brawl in the house where 1
had been Hospitality received.
Some enc came in at the door. and I
looked round. but it was not the wo-
man; 1t was the little boy, who had
been outside to stare at the pony. Now
he came to my side of the hearth, and
stood gaping epen-eyed at my COM
panion. The latter took no notice
whatever of the child, and was clearly
be a peaceful shepherd, for a heavy
br~oedsword dangled at his belt.
His unreasonable n pulling wrath
was mounting higher and higher. His
features worked convulsipely. and
strange animal noises whistled and
g gnd q tn through his e,enehsd teeth sth
"Oh, the black English!" he cried;
oh, the dirty thieves, h black Eng
lish!"
Now I could contain myself no long
er, but burst, almost without knowing
1t, into a hearty shout of laughter.
HIS yen had caused me to start sharp
ly, so piercing and sudden was it, and
my disturbed feelings gave themselves
vent in the naerriment.
My laugh was drowned in the Shrill
TRADE which burst from him-curses.
as l should suppose, but not a word
could 1 understand.
The child slipped out OF the place
with a frightened look. 1 turned to
h fire with a composed face. and the
outburst stopped ead in mid career.
He had, it is likely, just remembered
that his words contained no weight for
me. He returned to his old song.
The bloody English" he said, slow
ly and bitterly; they killed a cousin
to me-"
Then, sir" said I. twas with a
rope, for a guinea"
A snarl OF rage ole hat 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" ne cried; "oh, yes, just
soon for that. But, first, first. my
that"
He strobe to the door, which had fall
en- to, flung it back and stood, drawn to
his full height and pointing out.
There is not a week." he continued,
in a quieter voice, "since l wass go
ing by Hereford and up towards
Shrewsbury. And 1 saw the rich fields
O md fJn Gr,a oo,,-4~,,. 41~ ~,,, - l.
owned once, n l said to myself that
the English are the great thieves Of
the world. I have hated them always
for it, 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 gra 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 u an
cestors of a thousand ear agone, one
need never run short of a bone to pick.
The thing was put to the a~rbitrament
of the sword, and there's an end to it.
The SaXons beat the Welsh, and Their
the Normans beat the Saxons. Faith,
it's turn and turn about"
"Yoy say that" he cried, his eyes
sparkling; you say h a you a beat
the Welsh. Here am I, beat me-"
You are giving my words a twist
which does not belong to them" said
I. thinking h fellow was beside him
self, and wishing to be free of him.
Come" he said, here we are, we
two. We will play out this old quar-
rel. Take u sword and follow me
to the grass outside"
For answer I 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, so1emnly, that
If you do not follow me at once, I will
cut you across the face with this little
stick where you sit"
I was on my feet at a flash.
1T ISIS WELL" said he, with al. ugly
smile; IT am a good Judge of a mans
eye. I wass quite sure Z had not much
more to do"
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