The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1905-08-31
CHAPTER 1.
|, THE PARK

Not much OF n place 90 leave" as
he turned and swept the o~arely-fur-
nished room with n glance. But. still,
I'm sorry to 60"
lie was n slender young man. with
a keen. intellectual face. and carried
himself with a certain dignity. as be-
came one who had been Ave years the
village schoolmaster. He was only "a.
but looked much older. as the result OF
hard work and study. He did not nj
ways Intend To remain a simple peda-
gogue.
As his glance fingered on the faded
hangiugs. the uncomfortable looking
haircloth furniture. the faded rag car
pet. IL rested on "A small trunk In the
middle W h room, and he frowned.
II wonder what can keep the fellow %
he muttored. HE promised me faith
fully he would not disnppofnt.'
Just then "a tiTnid knock sounded on
tho door and presently n man entered.
a rough. ungainly fellow. I'm a dirty can
n suit. whose Wild hair and beard
made him resemble one OF those gro
tesque toys that are sold about the
streets during the holidays.
We'll. here I be- said the newcomer
In q deep. bass voice.
Very good. Jim. Now. you will take
this trunk TO the station. without say
ing whose Il IL. Let no one now ! am
going. Understand"
sure"
Here IN for your trouble and from
n slender purse the young man passed
over n silver piece. which the other. at
ter biting. thrust In pocket. Then he
shouldered the trunk, and. with a
Goodnight. Ruy'nor." went out with
his burden through the door.
Bennett waited until the heard the
mans step on the front porch. then.
with a parting look around the room
that had been his home for five years.
he blew out the lamp and slipped down
the stairs and into the night.
lie made his way rapidly along the
country road. which. without the 100
light to guide him. he could have n
erscd safely. he knew IL n well. Pass
ing "A few lark houses. he came "A. last
10 the entrance OF an extensive estate.
and paused for n m before the
great iron gate. IL semed TO him that
the stone lions bearing shields on the
pillars on ach side OF the way were
grinning at him d~erisivcly. II wonder
IL l shall ever see this place again" he
murmured. Am I acting for the best?
I hope so" Then. as he saw a faint
light still gllmmered In the gatckeeper's
little house. he passed rapidly or. Fur
Their he found a hole In the tall hedge.
and wriggling through, entered the
park.
Evidently, Il was not the first time
that he had found his way into the
grounds In this surreptitious way, for
here. where the old trees interlnccd. not
n CLEAN OF moonlight penetrated the
place. Yet ne walked on without
stumbling through the hlackness. COM
Ing presently TO another hedge. scarcely
higher han his shoulder. \ silvery
radiance shone over this part OF the
park. Here he paused for "a IN 10
listen. then STEPPED bac again into the
shadows. There was the sound Of
rustllng leaves, and then n man APP
pcared In the moonlight.
Dick could only MAKE u that he
was tall and ragged, for his face was In
the shadow OF an overhanging bough.
only for a momen did the stranger
stand there. when he turned and made
OF In h direction OF the house. the
lights OF which could be seen cleaning
In the distance.
What can this ruGian be doing
here?" muttered the schoolmaster. as
he came out into the path again. "a
poacher. no doubt. after Elison's Ash.
Better buy such things than have n
stocked lake to attract all the wander
ing vagabonds in the country"
He approached the hedge again.
peered cautiously over. and. catching
sight Of something white I'm the dis
lance. uttered a low whistle. The young
woman. FOR such the white object was,
running forward. opened "A gate I'm the
hedge near at hand. and came toward
him.
"oh. Dick she began Impulslyeiy.
lifting her face To his. what does it
what can 4, all mean?"
Il viii tell yOu-but not here. Come.
We are far o near the house TO talk ia
peace. and he drew her away into the
shadows. but still In sight OF the moon
III path.
Finding n fallen tree. he pressed her
TO sit down. and then took n seat beside
her.
Now. then. tell me quickly. Don't
you see. l am burning with anxiety"
she said.
There is little more To- tell you than
that ] think Il best To go away. II IN
only Il question OF time before I should
be sent. Your mother has learned OF
our attachment, and h could easily
break II of. she believes"
she little knows me- replied the
girl. firmly. After all. what can she
dog"
well. the first step would be- TO get
your father TO discharge me. and that. !
believe. he contemplatcs doing. though
he has been friendly To the last. Stiil.
she could persuade him. | feel sure OF
IL. Then. you see. | would have TO go
anyway"
But what is TO become OF me
what am I TO do?" almost in tears. She
was little more than n child. barely IL.
II don't want you to go-I won't have
IT. with a stamp or the foot.
MY dear, ! attn acting for the best"
firmly. MY usefulness here is over.
and to remain would ouly make matters
more d~isagrseable for you. as well as
me. ] am going TO the city. where there
N some nance for me To show my abil-
ity: IL i have ans. There ~ no chance
fdS me TO rise here. and when I have
made n competence, and am In "A posi-
ton TO take care OF you as you deserve.
why. we VIII marry. In spite or the
world"
And will that be very long-very.
very long," she asked, In "A doleful
voice, that caused him to laugh.
Not long. II the world appreciates
my transcendent genius" with a Zip
pant air. Not long. IL hard work and
APPLICATION vii lift me 20 a respectable
place IN society"
sim. / think II ls very mean OF you
To go" poutingly.
Don't think II IL not n wrench for
me to part from YOU"
But the girl refused to bc comforted.
and II was only through lavish endear-
ments and many promises That she be-
came more composed and reasonable.
and began TO share his views, that IL
was for the best.
But we can't part this way" she
protested. II must give you something
10 remember me by. Just walt here for
. until ! run over 10 the house.