Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1906-09-26

| piled evasively: II did not; have
| not seen him since you forbade him tho
house."
This seemed to satisfy her father,
for he let go Of her shoulders, which
he had held in rough grip, and turned
to the seat in the chimney-side, where
he lit pipe.
Susan watched him, every nerve
a-quiver, every expression revealing
the strife between f1lial affection and
the Unborn refinement upon which his
conduct and appearance grated. TO
act the daughters part, and yet keep
disgust and fear within bounds, hid
even from her own heart, was a pitt
full effort.
She said goodnight and was going
off to bed, when he stopped her. "That
feller's got wind O. my find, and that's
why he wants YER
Susan returned to his side. Indeed,
you are mistaken, father. When you
discovered the coal, didn't promise to
keep it secret? And I have. Honest
truth l have!"
Her fathers small eyes contracted
in cruel leer. Eye hev, hev ye?
Then why does he gallivant after ye?
There amt no reason fer sech a high
and mighty chap hangin' round, unless
he knows my land is rich, and is willin'
ter marry We to git a-hold Of it."
She shuddered at This, and her face
grew white as he added with look Of
evil insinuation: "Or maybe he hain't
no thought O. marryin' We at all?"
Choking an indignant sob, his daugh-
ter said: He does mean to some day,
father, but he must first help his own
family to make their home. AS l
promised you, have let him think 1le
poor as he is, and so we must wait
until"
But her father interrupted with sud-
den suspicion: "Mebbe he saw where
I he'd been diggin' the we'll? He noses
around a good deal, like all the rest
O. the meddlesome set, worryin' on ac-
count O. our drinkin' the branch water.
Calls me lazy fer not diggin' a well.
So, to please 'em, dug one, and what
did l find? Coal! Coal everywhere!
I'll be rich, rich, and all from takin'
their advice, bless EN-" The light of
the miser shone in his eyes, and he
laughed low with triumphant derision.
why don't you want it known, ia
ther?" the girl pleaded. Nobody
would cheat you out of it; the land is
ours
"'Ours?' yes, but who kin prove it?
These tomahawk rights are damned
onsartin things, and some O the big
bugs in the village might take a no
ton to some O. that there coal. Then,
how long would few scratches in the
trees help me? No, strand he
brought his fist down on the puncheon
stool with a defiant thwack-"I'n lay
low for the present, and after a few
months the claim will be mine sure
as shootin'. There are better ways
than tomahawk rights, and ye kin bet
I'll use 'em. Nobody knows of the vein
but this smooth jawed lover of yourn,
and wish he was in hell"
"But, father, what makes you think
that Gerald-Mr. Creighton suspects?
Why should he? And if he did,
wouldn't he talk to me about it? lie
is always saying how sorry he is that
we haven't any prospects so that-oh,
father, try to think I'm right"
She knelt on the tiny rug at his feet.
"He is not mean; he has no underhand-
ed object; he is really true, and loves
newell, just because it's me-" and
the fair face was suffused as at some
fond recollection.
But the branch-water man pushed
her roughly away, while his face. al
ready red with drink, changed to pur-
pie under the violence Of temper.
Just because it's you,'" he Knocked,
*'just because it's a soft fool! Bur I
know how to look after We, eff We can't
take care of yourself, and damn me eff
I don't do it. It's one Of two things
eff he means to marry ye, it's to git
that coal; eff he don't-well, eff he
don't''-his voice died away to a threat
ening whisper, Kissed between clenched
teeth.
Full of vague alarm, Susan slipped
away to her own little curtained COR
ner, while her father, nursing wrath
and greed and plotting revenge, alter
nately smoked and dozed the night
away.