The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1905-04-07
CHAPTER
IN WHICH L wHET My FATHERS


lenge.
Twas a dayfall TO be marked with a
White stone, even III u Carolina cat
endar. The sun. reaching down to the
mountain-gir horizon in the west. hlled
all the upper air with the glory of its
departing. and the higher leaf plumes
of the great naples before my cabin
door wrought lustrous patterns in gid
ed green upon Il zenith background of
turquoise shot with crimson, like the
f%igurings of some rich old tapestries
had once seen in my field marshais
castle in the Mark of MoraNia.
Beyond the naples Il brook t%nkled
and FLASHED over the stones on its way
to the nearby Catawba: II its peace
full brawling, and the evensons of n
pair of cle%ar-throated warblers poised
on the topmoSt twigs of n of the
trees. should have been sweet music IN
the ears of a returned exile. But on
that matchless brides month evening
of dainty sunset arabesQues and brook
and bird songs, l was in little humor
for rejoicing.
The road made for the river lower
down and followed its windings up the
valley; but Jennifer came by the In
dian trace through the forest. l can
see him now as he O beneath the
naples, bending to the saddle horn
where the branches hung lowest: a
p'SNss ~ Va " SNA t'O
vincial, clad in fashions three years be-
those l had seen in London the
winter last past. He rode gentleman
wise. in small clothes of rough gray
WOODEN and with stout leggings over his
hose; but he wore his cooked hat atilt
like a troopers. and the sword on his
thigh was a good service blade. and no
mere hilt n scabbard for show such
as Our courtier macaronis were just
then beginning tn affect.
Now l had known this handsome
youngster when he was but a little
lad: had taught him how to bend the
indian bow and loose the reed-shaft
arrow in those happier days before the
tyrant Governor Tryon turned hang
had left me fatherless. More
over, l had drunk Il cup of wine with
aim at the M~ccklenburg Arms no long
er than yesterweek-this to a renewal
Of our early friendship. Hence. l must
needs be somewhat taken aback when
he drew rein at my dOorStone. dotted
his hat With a sweeping bow worthy a
courtier of the great Louis. and said,
after the best name of Sir Charles
Grandison:
Il have the honor of addressing Cap
tain John Iretoh. sometimes of his
majesty's Royal Scots Blues. n late
Of her apostolic majesty's Twenty
ninth regiment of Hussars?"
1t was but an euphuism Of the time,
this formal preamble. declaring that
his GRAND had to do with the prelir-
gentlemen. Yet 1 could scarce re-
strain a smile. For these upcroppings
of courtier etiquette with the free
stride of oEr western backwoods. None
he less, you are to suppose that l made
shift to match his bow in some fashion.
and to say: AT your service, sir"
Whereupcn he bowed again. clapped
han. to head and rendered me a sealed
packet.
From Sir Frances Falconnet. Knigh.
Bachelor CT Eeaumaris. volunteer cap
tain in his naiesty's German Legion
he announced with stern dignity.
Having no second to refer him to. I
broke tie seal o. che cartel myself.
Since Icy enemy had seen fit to come
gentlemanly manner, it was not fo:
ne to fiEd difficulties in the formalities
In good tr"tli, l was overjoyed to be
thus assured that he would fight me
fair; that he would not compe! me 10
kill him as one kills Il wild beast at
bay. For certainly | should have killed
him in any event: so much | had prom
ised my poor Dick Coverdale on that
dismal November morning when he had
l &AioNN'R .SoS ihiS wv a. ~ - Sta'
tim first of this mans treachery, and,
at the last. of his sword. So, as l say,
was nothing loath. and yet l would
not seem too eager.
II might say that l have no unsettled
quarrel with Captain Falconnet." | de
INJURED. when l had rcad the challenge
He spoke slightingly of a lady, and
lid but"
"Your answer. Captain Ireton.'
luoth my ~younsster. CURLY. II am no
empowered to give or tafe in the mat
ter of accommodations"
Not so fast. ii you please | re
joiacd. Il haze no Wish to d~isappoin
your principal, or his master. the devil
Let it be tomorrow morning at Sunrls'
in the oak grove which was once m.
fathers wood field, each man With hi
own blade. And l give YOU fair arm
ing. Master Jennifer; | shall kill YOU
~bullyragging captain of lighthouse a
| would a vermin of any other breed.
AT this Jcnnifer flung himself fror
his saddle with a great laugh.
IF you cam" he qualified. "Bu
enough Of these by your leave, sirs
I am near famisted. and as dry a
you sire TIE a bite ard sup before
mount and ride again? Ills a Ion
gallop back to town on an empty ston
ach. and with a outlet as dry as NJ
:. Gilbert Stairs wit"
Here was my f~rcsh-hearted Die
! Jennifcr back again all in Il breath
and l made haste to shout for Dariu
AID for Tomas to Jake his horse. an
otherwise to bestir myself to do tt
honors Of my poor forest fastncss {
| well as | might.
, Luckily, my %haphaZard Harder W.
, not quite empty, and there were pre-!
! eltly Il bit of cold dcer's meat and son
cakes of maize bread baked in I'll
ashes TO st before h guest. Al:
, there was a cup of sweet wine. hom'
= pressed from the berries of the India
. scuppernong. to wash them down. Al
afterward. though the evening was
+ more than mountain-breeZe cool. y
had Il handful of fire on the hearth 4
TIE cheer of ii While we smoked o.
recd-stemmed pipes.
v 1t was over the pipes that Jennit
: U%nburdend himself OF the gossip of Il
! day in Queensborough.
{ Have you heard the newest: But
e know you haven't, since the post-ride
came only tits morning. The war n
: shifted from the north in good earne
y at last. and we are like to have a tas
s OF II harlyings the J~erseymen ha
had since 80. My Lord Cornwalis
coo,o nc fa, &C "a mdcn they say: a.