Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1904-12-15

white to the bones Of my BODY"
1t was true. Indeed she was kin TO
Sir William and niece to Sir Peter War
rem. but to torment her we feigned TO
believe her one OF Mistress Molly's
brood. half Mohawk, and it maddenel
her. Besides. had moi the Mohawks
dubbed her Silver Heels a year agD,
when with naked flying feet she had
beaten us all in the foot race before
Sir William and half the people OF the
Six Nations? The prize had been a
Barlow jackknife. which before the
race | had looked upon as mine.
lyon are o Mohawk" l said resent
fully; also the guard is changed these
Zen minutes. and Sir William will come
to find you here a-prying."
bah. Mr.. Micky!' said Silver Heels.
cit is spoon meat you require 10 make
you run the faster after jackknives!
This outrageous taunt rufied me. and
I seized the chalk and wrote high OH
the slate:
"Silver Heels is Mohock she toes in
like ducks"
She caught up the buckskin to wipe
out the taunt. jostling me till the ferret
In my pocket jumped out and ran
round and round the room.
| jostled her; then she gave me q
blow and a quick shove, whereupon l
stumbled. pulling her to the floor to
rub her face with chalk. She twisted
and turned. kicking and striking, while
/ rubbed chalk into her skin till Of a
sudden she coiled up and bit me clean
through the hand.
The blood began yelling up, running
into my palm and along the fingers to
the floor. At that same instant / heard
the door of the nursery open, and
knew that Sir William was coming
through the hall to the schoolroom
From instinct l thrust my wounded
hand into my breeches pocket.
Don't tell!' whispered Silver Heels
In a fright.
She sped across the floor to the open
window and over the sill, dropping
light as a cat on the grass below.
Sir William came quickly along the
hall, and / had scarce time to step to
the slate when he marched in.
Sir William had changed his clothing
for the buckskin hunting shirt and
breeches which he was accustomed 10
wear when angling. He approached
the slate whereon my verses stared.
white and unfinished, and at first his
brows knitted, and he said, Fudge,
fudge, fudge!" Then Of a sudden he
sat down on the bench, clapping his
hand to his brow.
"Oh, Lord said he, "if you are not
born a scholar, twas the mint-mark l
could not read Alright, and M blame to
you, lad; no blame to you. Micky, boy,
shall we leave Caesar to go marching
with his impedimenta and his Tenth
legion? Shall we bid the nymphs and
dryads farewell forever, lad, and save
our learning for Roderick Random and
a bowl of cider and the bitter nights OF
December
His meaning was dawning upon me
slowly, for what with the pain Of my
hand and the dizziness l was perhaps
more stupid than usual.
"No," said Sir William, with a thump
Of his fist on his knee, ''the college
which my Lord Dartmouth has en-.
lowed Is a haven for those who seek
II. not a prison for men to be driven
to-"
He paused. The blood was now
stealing down my stocking toward my
shoe. / turned the leg so he could not
observe II.
Come, lad" he said. Frightening up;
learning lies not always between
thumbed leaves. only wish that you
bear yourself modestly and nobly
through the world; that you keep faith
with me; that your word once given
shall never be withdrawn.
This is the foundation. 1t includes
courage. Further than that, l desire
you, ono a purpose formed and a
course set, to steer fearlessly to the
goal.
81 know you to be brave and honest
know you to be a very Mohawk IN
the forest. believe you to be merci.
full and tender underneath that boys
thoughtless and cruel hide.
"As for learning, / can do no more
for you than l have done and have of
fered to do. | want you, Micky. We
Irish are fond Of each other, and | am
an old man now-I am nigh sixty years,
Michael-sixty years of battle. / would
be glad of rest with those | love-
My heart was very soft now. | look
ed at Sir William with an affection |
had never before understood.
There is II last thing / wish to
add" he said gravely. almost sadly.
Perhaps | may again refer to il, but
l pray that 1t may not be necessary.
1t is this: If il ever comes to you to
choose between his majesty our king
and-and your native l~and-which God
forbid.-go to your closet and kneel
down and stay there on your knees,
hours, days-until you have learned
your own heart. Then-then-God 90
with you, Michael Cardigan. That Is
all. Where is hat ferret? What! Run
ming about unmuzzled! Hey, yix, yix!
Come here. little reptile"
"Ill catch her. sir" said l. stumbling
f0rward