The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1903-01-23
AnUnfir1ished
2W@8
ANGELA MORGAN = w. X. Hsarst

Onderdonk's farmhouse were already
h~eavy-eyed and apathetic.
People ~patronized the place to obtain
absolute rest and relaxation rather
than to indulge in the strenuous sports
or amcsements Of the season.
The men-what few there were
idled and smoked and went fishing. The
women idled, too. when they were not
minding their children or gosslplng or
strolling through the understanding
woods in quest of pine needles for pros
pective sofa cushions.
1t is during such periods Of release
from turmoil and responsibility that
the human consciousness, STEPPED in
sunshine and saturated with fresh air,
dreams and drowses n forgets its
past.
Such inactivity has almost a benumb-
ing influence; ambitions rest. Mem
cries are blotted out. One is kin to the
birds and beasts content to eat n
sleep and drink the open air.
There vas this stupor always in the
atmosphere of Onderdonk's at shutdown.
Even the exquisite colorinG of a glori-
fled west awakened nothing more than
yaWning comments, feeble, scattering
attempts at praise.
On an evening when the torpor vas
so heavy that the boardsr failed ever
of his effort. there came suddenly
from the old fashioned parlor the
sound Of a foreign touch on the piano
keys. 1t was a firm. masterful touch,
and it thrilled each'stupid listener wide
awake.
Other fingers had often essayed to
awaken music from the piano. Just at
dinner time there had been much bang
ing and stunning Of popular melo-
dies.
This was different-so vastly differ
ent that there was an immediate move
toward the window to discover who
the player might be.
why, it's that strange man in the
gray suit-the one who came at noon!"
murmured a fat mother, whose two
chubby children strove to intercept the
view.
Who'd have thought him a must
cian!" exclaimed n Of the younger
women. H ook a business man from
head to foot"
Not if you observe him WELL" dis
agreed her companion, promptly. mo
tice his eyes and forehead. He has the
artistic temperament. Can't you"
She paused abruptly as the players
sweet yet powerful tenor voice arose in
! song.
After that no one spoke again. They
were songs of the heart he sang.
\ The golden quality that gave magic
to his fingers through his voice and
shook his listeners to the hearts core.
Alert, GREATNESS, they heard hin and
lived again. Apathy was a thing of
the past. They were not mere human
beings now. They were souls. They
could feel. could love. Old memories
clamored. Life was a thing of restless
beauty, Of radiance, Of untold POSSIBLE
tiles.
So absorbed, so e%ntranced were the
listeners that they did not notice the
approach of figures up the path, and
were startled at a burst of merry
laughter n jest.
ITS Mrs. Wadsworth and her party"
whispered the fat mother. ""They are
just getting home from that picnic"
n Of annoyance greeted the in
truders. Mrs. Wadsworth was not pop
ular with her own sex at Onderdonk's.
There was open disapproval of her
frivolous ways, her attractive dress,
her monopoly Of the men. She seemed
out of place there.
And besides, as one Of the prim bach
elor girls observed: mo one knew any,
thing about her husband. Where was
he supposed to be? She never men
toned him n he was not dead, pre-
sumably." ~
Clearly there was something uncer-
tain about Mrs. WadsWorth's domestic
affairs. So the women did not cultivate
her.
Just now, as she approached the piaz-
"a With her escort, she looked provoke
lngly pretty and care free with the
faint rose Of the west reflected in her
laughing face.
Noting the disturbance which their
arrival was creating and catching at
last the sound of music from within,
Mrs. Wadsworth's party withdrew to
the far end of the piazza, hushing their
chatter to listen with the rest.
The opening chords of another SONG
We're struck. Mrs. Wadsworth's express
changed suddenly. 1t was 1.-The RIOS
ary."
Clear and sweet, yet tremulous as
with tears, rose the beautiful tenor
voice:
THE hours I've spent with thee, dear
heart,
Are like a string of pearls to me-"
Mrs. Wadsworth arose u%nsteadily and
crossed to the window. Her face went
white as she looked. She put up her
hand and touched the fat mothers
shoulder as If for support.
i u them over, every one apart,
MY rosary, my rosary"
People were staring and commenting
but Mrs. Wadsworth seemed not to care.
she Stood, trembling. Wide-eyed, with
parted lips and uneven breath.
Oh memories that bless M burn
She moved suddenly from the win
dow. Il think I'll go in" she faltered.
The screen doc closed behind her.
Those outside saw her pause just a mo-
ment in the hallway, then enter the dim
parlor.
T kiss each bead and try at last to
learn
To kiss the Observation-Disclosures
The voice broke abruptly. There was
a mans startled exclamation and a
Woman's sob.
The affair furnished splendid mate
rial for the gossips next morning.
ITO think of their having been sep
arated two years and of their meeting
here in that unexpected way! Why,
it's just like a bit Of fiction, isn't it?"
IT'S a wonder he would take her
back! I shouldn't in his place. said
the bachelor girl, severely.
WELL, you can't tell" murmured the
fat mother. Perhaps he was as much
to blame as she. It's often the case
you know. Anyway, they're certainly
happy now, and I think he was right tc
forgive her"
1t Didn't Work.
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