Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1905-12-08

mr.
each lived on his own land.
One Saturday afternoon, Will was
watching them putting up a rough
board stable, giving a helping hand
whenever he could, when Mr.. Boyce
fell from the top Of the structure, STRIKE
ing on his head. Harvey dropped the
timber that he and VIII were lifting
the boy escaping injury by leapinE
nimbly aside-and ran to his friend.
who soon revived, sat up and looked
about him with a bewildered air.
Its all right, Wythe. OIL man.
cried Harvey. THANK the Lord. you
uin't much hurt, I reckon. l thought
you was lone killed. sure
His friend rose to his feet, leaned
against the corner of the stable and
with his hand to his brow, glanced
from Harvey to Will, with no sign Of
recognition.
where am II" he asked.
Here at home, dear Mr.. Boyce,"
said Will, layisg his hand on the mans
arm. @e. 's@ .haratI
why dc you call me that? What
has become of my own clothes and my
grip? What place is this and where
did you find me? I was walking from
Kirksville to Otter creek-I couldn't
hire n team-and the last thing I re-
member was n step behind me-"
"Blest If he amt come to his lenses
and clean forgot about the ten years
that's gone since dad an I found him,
just about whar he says! Harvey.
greatly excited, whispered to the boy.
"What'u we tell him?" 4s
What State was that I'M" inquired
Will, breathlessly.
Tennessee. 1 s'posed you knowed
whar we zane from"
IF your name Is not Mr.. Boyce,
Will appealed to the older man, please
tell me what it is and where you be-
long"
ut is Henry Strong and my homo IN
In Orange, N. J. I am travelling for
| the Stamper company Of New York"
without a word the boy turned and
/ ran home at the top or mis- speed, burst
in upon his mother. threw his arms
about her and gasped:
"Come, mother! Nv found father1
Here's your cape-don't stop for a hat
come and see him." and almost car
rying her, he hurried his mother along
the path over which he had Just flown.
telling her, as they went, what had oc-
Cured. They found Harvey alone and
explained the situation to him.
"Well, ma'am, I reckon 1t is your
husband" he said. "He don't know ma
an it cuts me to the heart; he's al
way seemed to think such a lot OF me
an to depend on me. / didn't know
Jest what to say to him, so I c0axed
him to lay down, an I come out to
look for Will, hopin' he'd know what
to do. Will you step in nj see him.
ma'amw
Mrs. Strong, with shining eyes and
flushed cheeks. opened the door.
"Marian, my wifev' they heard, In
joyful tone, and a low murmur for
what seemed to Will an age, then his
mother, wiping away happy tears, CALI
cd him in. After a little he came out
aud looked for Harvey. whom he found
sitting dejectedly on a pile Of lumber.
TT is my father, Harvey. He and
mother want o to come and tell Us
where you found him n all about IT.
Tle don't remember the least thing"
Harvey told them how, ten years be-.
fore he and his father had found an
~insensible man in a lonely spot not far
from their home in the Tennessee
mountains, his only clothing . dirty
and ragged coat and a pair Of trousers.
There was nothing whatever to tell
who, he was or from whence he came
When he came to-seemingly not much
lurt-he had completely forgotten his
past life. When asked his name he
stan1ncrci out what tises;,s t.ceikS to be
Wythe Boyce, and this they called him.
He remained with the Jones family.
and Harvey, then a well grown lad OF
Is. felt that some way the strangely
found man belonged to him more than
the others. Gradually many things
came back to Wythe. He could read
ana write, though little to read fell in
his way. Rough outdoor work he had
to learn and he and Harvey always
worked together. For more than a
year past he had been very restless,
and the two, having saved q little
money, Harvey proposed that they
should go North and get some land OF
their own, land here we are" he con-
cluded, wiping his moist brow on his
sleeve. Il reckon you III don't want
ME any longer" starting to go out.
Indeed we do, dear MI. Jones'" de-
clared Mrs. Strong, clasping n OF tho
blushing giants hands in both OF hers,
while her husband pressed the other
"But for you my husband might eve
have been restored to us and we can
not spare such a friend. Henry has
not seen our home yet. and will have
to get acquainted with his family all
over again. Won't you come to sup
per and help him to do SOP
THANK you. ma'am," with delicate
thoughtfulness; II won't 30 this even
ing, IL you'll excuse me. but will b
mighty glad to come some other time.''
and with a brave smile he watched
the man who had 50 long been his
close companion, going away with vile
and son clinging to him. At the turn
OF the road they looked back and
waved their hands and he responded.
When they were quite out Of sight he
sighed heavily and turned away
Opportunity.
Lucid and sane.
Papa asked the small boy who
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