Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1906-02-02
,uen d N..le ,ewel as sallle she would

competent llttle worker, ina was what
the week had disclosed Of the new ac-
QUESTION to the household. But the
surprises were not confined to Miss Col
Inns and Bruce; Sallie had also been
agreeably undcceived. Her urst i'm
preston Of I;ruce's nunt WAS not fiat
terlng, and that she should prove any
thing but the eXactins ~taskmistress she
had thought to find her was Il reveal
ton. Six knew now that she would be
able to hold her situation, and dearly
loving her surroundings. this thought
occasionally brought the fragment Of a
song from her lips. There was vet an.
other thought, later on, that stirred her
heart into giving vent to these little
melodies which occasionally caught
Brucc's ear. lie invariably stopped to
listen when he heard her sing, for these
outbursts were trilled by a voice hat
was soft and inexpressibly sweet.
1t was not long before Miss Collins
began to suspect the possible source OF
the inspiration that had come into the
girls life, rendering her impervious to
fatigue. She was such a little thing
that Bruce had been treating her very
much as he might have treated a child
1t was so natural to catch her, In pass
ing, and press his lips to hers, or rub
his face for IN instant OH her soft
cheek, as he might have rubbed it on
that Of an infant. Sallie took 1t all In
good part, so what was the difference?
But Miss Collins thought differently as
this state Of affairs finally came to
her knowledge.
Bruce was engaged. Engaged to Il
fashionable city butterfly, who would
make but IN Indifferent farmers wife
compared to the jewel he would have
had In little Sallie; but since he was
no longer free, she would see to 1t that
these attentions to Sallie would cease.
AS 4 result OF this determination on the
part of the aunt, Sallie now became
conscious Of n change In Bruce, and,
like Il t~hunderbolt from a clear sky.
came at last the announcement Of his
approaching marriage. Not from Bruce
| himself, nor from his aunt, did she
gain this knowledge, but through a
chance remark she had heard at the
| village.
Bruce must not know, neither must
his aunt, nor her mother, nor anyone
else. She was thankful now that she
had never expressed her admiration for
him to any Of her friends. She would
brace herself for the ordeal, and re-
main till after the marriage, for to
leave suddenly now, when 1t was known
how dearly she loved the place, must
rnr}to h0v hafrov har cacrof Gha u,crII
not have them say she had gone to
the farm expressly to throw herself at
Bruce Conklin's head. Yes, she was q
! slip of a girl, as he had said, a silly
little thing to believe that he could
have meant anything by his ende ar
ments and his kisses. She was but a
child In spite Of her sixteen years 1t
was but natural h a a man should be
deceived by her appearance and take
the liberty to caress her whenever he
chose, as he might caress a babe in It's
she wondered.
A month passed, and as yet there
were no preparations in evidence for
the important event. What mystitied
her was n sudden and great change
that had taken place in Bruce. He
scarcely spoke to her now, or to his
aunt, either. Something had happened
to cast n gloom over the home, but,
whatever it was, it was clear that they
did not intend to confide in her.
"FIow does he take it,"
1t was at the post Office, while wait
ing for the mall to be distributed, that
| she overheard the remark. Two young
men just behinu her were %conversing in
n low tone Of voice.
Rather hard, l believe. But Bruce
Is Il sensible fellow, and l think n little
reasoning will convince him that it was
for the best. He could never have lived
happily with that sort of girl. l feel
| sorry for him, though. To learn, with
out a moments warning, that your
| sweetheart has become the wife Of
| some other man must be painful beyond
conception"
The window opened at this %juncture,
| and, but for the rush that followed,
Sallie felt that those nearest her must
have heard the beating of her heart.
Could she be glad, now that she knew
the nature of the trouble which had
been evident to her for some time? And
yet, in her se~lf-reproach, how could she
| stife this great Joy which was thrilling
| every fiber Of her being?
Two years had passed. They had
| restored Bruce to a semblance of his
| former self again, and had added a
little to Sallie's stature. Bruce laugh
ingly admitted n evening, when the
subject was broached, that she had
grown quite a good bit since their first
meeting.
MY hand right here" he said, indi-
| eating the spot on his breast. was
just level with the top Of your head,
and see now how much I must raise
it." He threw out his arm as he ceased
speaking, encircles her neck and drew
her closeto him.
"Sallie, 1 love you. You don't know
how dearly. Let me present you to my
aunt as the future mistress OF my
home. May II"
Sallie's brown eyes opened wide, as
she raised them searchingly to bis own.
Bruce, do you mean 1T"
do I mean IT."
But I'm SO little. I'm such a slip
Of a girl. What would your aunt say?'