The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1905-03-23

fore the end OF my tale IL reached.
In the days Of my recovery news came
to ns that a solemn sacrament had bean
taken between the parties In Devon and
Cornwall. and the country nc peace. Lit
tie cared. at the time: but was content
now spring was come-to loitcr about
the tors. and while watching Joan &C
her work. to think upon Della. For.
albeit. had little hope 10 see her again.
my late pretty comrade held my thoughts
the day long. l shared them with mo-
body; for tho tits probable had let some
words fall In my dclirium. Joan never
limited at this. and never found out.
One day-'twas early In May-we
went 10 Bodmin Fair. where ! bought
Joan n hand mirror. which l handed 70
her as we were riding home.
what / the world be thlsy' she ask
cd. taking and looking at II doubtfully.
"A glass 20 see your face In" i ex-
planned.
BE this my face?" She rode for
ward. holding up the glass In front of
her. why. what n handsome looking
gal be. 20 be surei Jack. art certain
It's my very own faceT'
ITO be sure" said /, amazed.
"wellr' There was silence for a full
minute. save for our horses tread on
the high road.
by the way" said I. did you mark
n carriage just outside the crowd by the
Cheap Jacks booth with n white-halr-
ell gentleman seated insidcy'
John nodded. Master Hannibal Ting
comb; steward o Glcys."
What
jumped In my saddle. and with Q
pull at the bride brought Molly to q
standstill.
"of Gleysy" I cried. Steward OF Sir
Deakin Killigrcw that WASP"
Right, lad, except the last word.
That is should'st rather say"
Then you are wrong. Joan: for he's
dead and buried. these Eve months.
Where Is this house OF Gleys? for to-
morrow I must ride there"
TITS easy found, then. for Il stands
on the south coast yonder. aud no house
near IL: FIVE miles from anywhere. and
sixteen from Temple. due south"
The cottage door stood open as we rode
into the yard. and from II O faint smoke
came curling. with n smell OF peat. With.
In I found the smould'ring turves scat
ter'd about az on the day OF my tirst ar
rival. and among them Joan's father
stretch'd. fiat on his face: only this time
the cat was curl'd M quietly, and lying
between the old mans shoulder blades.
l marked a purplish stain on the
ground by the old mans mouth. and turn
ed him softly over.
.Inan saA \ ssha'a AaaArf
She stood above US and looked down.
first AZ the corpse. then ut me. without
speaking for a time: at last:
Then l reckon he may so well be
buried"
Girl" ] calrd out. being shock'd at
this callousness, "'tis your fathsr--and
he Is dead.'
"why. that's 80. lad. An no were
alive, shouldn't trouble thee 10 bury n"
And so. before night. we carried him
up to rhe bleak tor side. and dug his
grave therr: the black cat following US
To look. Five feet deep we laid him. hsv-
Ing dug down to solid rock: and having
covered him over. went silently back TO
the hovel. Joan had not shed a single
tear.
The next morning. following Joan's dr.
rections and her warnings against quags
and pitfalls. I was soon riding south
across the moor and well on my road 10
the House OF Gleys.
IL was high noon--and dull, checricss
day--bcfore the hills broke and let me
have sight OF the sea. Nor till the noise
OF the surf was in my ears did | mark
the chimneys aud naked gray walls OF
the house | Was bound for.
4 thin line OF smoke blown level from
the chimney was all the sign of life In
the building: for the narrow lights OF tho
upper story were mostly suffered. and
the lower floor was hid from me by a
high wall enclosing n courtlage In front.
One stuntcd ash. with bourhs tortured
and beat toward the mainland. stood by
| the gate. which was lock'd, A smaller
door. also lock'd. was let into the gate.
and IN this again n shattered iron graf
ing. Hard 10y danglrd a rusty bell pull,
a; which tugg'd strriily.
on this. a crack'd hell sounded. far in
| the house. aud scared flock OF starlinEs
out oi disus'd chimney. Their cries
died away presently. and left no sound
but rhat OF the guls wailing about the
cliff NJ my feet. This was all the an.
swcr | won.
| ITO no rontinnedl