The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1904-10-27

petual girding and bitterness against
perverted her nature.
One day she crossed the line. Huh
George" she sneered, you don't need to
marry her!"
That day George Stevens left his moth.
er's house, he thought, forever.
But God disposes.
One morning Doris Parker. the distant
cousin who stayed with his mother, came
to the tenant house where George was
staying till his own should be finished
She's had stroke. You better come
home, George"
The old woman-she looked suddenly
aged and withered and ghastly-clutched
him with dreadful eagerness.
Promise me you'll give her up
George"
IN stay with you till you get we'll
mother"
Mrs. Stevens rallied slightly. George
marriage was indefinitely postponed; he
could not leave his stricken mother.
One morning she summoned him. 81
amt going to live many days. l feel it
comm I've made another will. All
my propputy goes to Doris Parker. unless
you let that Dutch girl go. And If you
don't I'll leave you your mothers dyin'
curse!'
"Oh, mother, mother!"
What are you goin' to do?"
The young man raised an anguished
face. Give me till night to decide,
mother"
She made gesture of assent with the
feeble head on the pillow
George saddled his swiftest horse and
rode away to wrestle out his problem
alone, torn between filial yearning and
plighted love.
Clara Hartmann and her mother ran
out into their yard that afternoon at the
sound of woman's shrieks. A frantic
spread-eagle figure bore down upon them
Doris Parker. scorched, disheveled,
hreathless.
Land O. mercy" gasped Doris,
where's the men folks?"
"Threshing at Heintzes', " said Clara.
What's the matter?"
oh, Lord!" moaned Doris, 81 was
startin' the gasoline stove an it exploded
The house is afire!"
the German woman, wringing her hands.
1T is three miles de men Isl"
where's she?" demanded Clara.
I'm her bedroom downstairs! oh,
land! What can you do?"
But Clara was running swift and
straight as a young deer toward the
white house on the hill with the tower vi
smoke above.
She broke the catch of the screen door
with one wrench of her splendid young
body. Dashing through the hall into
the smoky bedroom she wrapped the
eager-eyed invalid in her quilts and bore
her out.
Il reckoned somebody'd come" said
the old woman, composedly, as Clara.
laid her on the grass. do you
'spose you could get my wooden box of
papers on the shelf over the bed? An
my log-cabin silk quilt?"
Clara darted into the smoky hall She
came out moment later with the box
II couldnn't find the quilt" she gasp
ed. apologetically.
mo, it's in the closet. 1t amt any
consequence. Here! Stop! Don't you
go into that house again."
But Clara, with one backward
glimpse of laughing, lovely face. had
in the smoke wreaths.
When she emerged bearing the quilt
Mrs. Stevens was sitting up.
"You obstinate critter!" she remark
ed severely. as Clara dropped the quilt
at her feet. You've gone and got your
bangs singed. You're Clara Hartmann,
amt your"
Eyes, ma'am," faltered Clara. smit-
ten by sudden terror.
Mrs. Stevens looked down the road.
There come the men at last! Doris
Parker never had no head. Well" she
incisively, II guess you an
George II have to give me a home.
Mines gone an I'm gettin' old an I
don't fknow as I'm goin' to die this
trip"
There is little George now with yell
low curls. whom his grandmother
adores, but whom she frequently pro-
cas- obstinate as both of 'em
MT togethero