Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1906-04-06

cefned they were the only ones living
who really counted. Kitty had told him
TO 60 to Rosie, but he intended to 60
to the devil instead. CT some other
place equally disastrous.
Kitty, In her turn, found many rea-
sons for self-pity, and wept oceans OF
tears ut the visions she conjured.
Larry, guiding his engine along the
track past the door Of Kitty's cottage,
kept his eyes turned sternly away and
the whistle of his engine silent. What
was the use Of his usual %greeting2
The cottage presented a blank front
with no Kitty mt the door or window.
How was he to know that she was hid
den behind a window curtain, an hour
before 1t was time for his coming,
watching and listening for the distant
oar of his train?
The days sped by until they mum
bered three. which to the parted lovers
seemed like years Of estrangement.
Larry avoided going where Rosie was,
and. manlike, felt that ne hated her as
the cause Of his trouble. Kitty, In pub
lie, was careless and gay. When she
was alone it was another story.
Neither were turning toward recover
and b yer weather Itself was in ac-
cord with their misery. Two OF the
three days since they mad quarreled
were dark mi threatened q storm. It
was a time of lowering skies, and in
the wind there sounded moaning voices.
The third day the storm broke early In
the morning, d%renching the earth with
Il cold rain that fell In torrents.
Its n bad time for the railroad"
in the evening or his duties Of inspec-
ton. I'm feeling bad myself. wild the
fever and a head that's splitting wild
aching, but I must watch, this night"
IS. : ct ne gge father" Kitty entreated.
You're too sick to go out In the storm.
Let me go In your place."
And for whyg" returned her father.
ITS not woman's work I'm doing.
ISape to the house, girl, wild a light in
the window for me and Larry. It's
the boys run tonight, wild a big train
load OF people. It's an excursion he's
bringing back. bad luck to the night and
the rain that's going to do harm. Do
YOU mind the culvert, girl, Just below?
I'm thinking It's there we'll have trou-
BILE wild the rising water and the soft
ground underneath. It's there I'll be
watching"
Kitty saw her father go out in the
night, with many forebodings. He was
really too III to be at his post, but what
could she do, save to stay at home and
obey his orders? She put a light in the
window as he had directed and sat
down to wait and watch for an I'M
danger which seemed impend-
ing. The tempest. increasing In fury,
dashed the rain In sheets against the
windows. The little cottage, buffeted
by the gale. shook on Its foundations.
Kitty, with her imagination kindled,
sat covering In fear, longing desperate
~ to do something, she knew not what,
but wishing most of aif that she had
Larry and her father In safe keeping.
Within the silent house the clock
licked and clicked loudly in the lulls
OF the storm. 1t was almost time for
father to be making his return trip
over the section. Kitty wrapped her
self In q shawl md went to the door,
out through the darkness. There
was nothing abroad but the storm, and
that was In a wild fury. The rain
drove around her ; the wind caught at
her shawl. almost s%nntching 1t away
from her hold.
Where was her father? Where was
Larry? IT was nearly the hour for his
train. Excursions were usually belated
and 1t was impossible to tell exactly
when Larry's train would pass. What
was 1t her father had said about the
~culvert9 Why didn't he retnrn7 The
ext moment her question was answer
ed. She saw him come staggering out
OF the blackness of the night, struggling
toward home, falling on his knees, ris-
Ing again with nm effort, and moving
unsteadily with uncertain feet that
seemed beyond his control. She rushed
to meet him and almost dragged him
into the house. where. overcome by
weakness. he collapsed, a wet heap on
the floor.
I'm done, GIRL he gasped. There
amt another move In me. The lantern
broke. I had to get home for another.
The culyert, girl, he cried: .it's under
water-there's danger. Help me to get
back. For Gods sake, girl, help me to
get back !"
He struggled to rise. Els limbs re
fused to fll their Office and he fell In
q hemp again. I'm done," he muttered