Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1907-12-26
BY 0crek vane.

Il don't wonder you are surprised
to see ne. You seem Al the end OF
civilization here. They told me il was
pretty bad. but l had no idea ii WAS
quite so bad as this and she gave Il
little shivcr.
Ii was certainly not a cheerful scene.
Thc littls wooden station seemed To
have been planted in the middle nf the
prairie. which now in the curly au-
tumn. looked shorn and desolatc. The
township struggled along in AN aim
less, unfinished fashion for about a
quarter of Il mile as though trying
to make the most of itself.
II nave some way to go, still she
said. Can o tell me where ] can get
a conveyance of any kind looking
vaguely.
We'll. this is hardly Regent street.
zation in it's mildest form" he answered
with II short laugh. Our means of
getting about are strictly limited. But.
surely, you cannot be alone, here"
Yes. [ have come straight from
Montreal. l wanted to give my nus
band a surprise. ! am afraid i have
been rather foolish. but he never told
should have been miserable ii | had
known"
Your husband?' the MAJ repeated
slowly. rs he up here?"
Yes. ne has been farming at Red
nest for three years. and l have only
seen him once or twice all that time.
He said it was too rough for me to
live up here. and / was not strong
enough to stand the ard winters.
But" in%torrupting herself, lit viii soon
be getting dark. l must not stop ak
ing any longer
Il shal be able to arrange something
for you presently. L think" he said.
..if ,-o,, 1-;l1 ln,x-, - a., a
n friend in with Il blackboard. 1t is
so long since we met. I am all in the
dark: tell me Il little what you have
been doing"
The few loafers who had turned out
to meet the train had taken their de-
palture. and they We're seated alone
in the little shelter. The girl looked
up rather impatiently at her colnpau
ions remark
I am afraid you must put up with
my society for half an hour he said.
''unless you prefer to be left alone
and l would hardly recommend that.
Some of us have been SO long away
most too primitive. and you might
attract more attention than you
would appreciate"
Thank YOU she said. looking
round a little nervously, II shall be
glad if you will stay. OF course. 1 ann
anxious to get on but l will try To be
patient. 1t is fortunate for me met
YOU"
1T is not often l hear such Il remark
rs that he said with u harsh laugh.
Did you say your husband was at
Rednest? | wonder il | have ever met
him"
DO you live hcre?' she asked in sur
price. Il can hardly imagine it,
Why not
"Vell Won ~ c N IL fforo,+. ~ L.. 49,
last place in which ! should have ex-
pected to hear of you. You come from
London. you look as though you be-
long to the world. What can YOU find
to do here?"
What does satan find for idle hands
everywhere" he replied.
mo. 1 don't think you have done any
farming" the girl said simply. with a
glance at the slender white hands
loosely clasped on his knee and the
slight erect figure. 1T must be terri
bly, hard work out here. / am so thank
full that Charlie has lone with it at
last
oh. he has given it up, them"
Yes, he only came to make enough
money to buy a partnership in Mon
You don't know how he has
worked and saved. People say he has
been every fortunate. but l am sure
he has deserved it. l know he has been
feeling very dull and lonely lately. poor
couldn't quite hide it in his
letters-so when he wrote and told me
the good news was too happy to keep
quiet; l had to come right on and see
him. How surprised he will be-" with
a happy laugh.
so you are going to help him pack
up and bring him back home in tri-
umph? The prince will nave conquered
all difficulties INC earned a right to the
princess, and o will live happy ever
afterward like in the good old fairy
tales. Is hat the program"
Il am afraid it sounds rather sim
pie and foolish to you-nothing to
been praying and hoping for such a
long time, o are so glad when it all
comes right at last"
rs it foolish to be happy? Then 1
wish l could be foolish. too"
And can't you be? i don't like to
think of you being unhappy. Ralph."
hesitating Il little over the name. "You
ought not to be. You have SO much
so many gifts"
But not enough to win you. When
you sent me away. YOU turned them all
to dust and ashes. Whatever I might
have had once-whatever 1 might nave
been-was only of valu to me if YOU
valued it,"
Hush! ! cannot listen-you have no
right to speak to me like that. II did
any wrong it was most unwittingly
DONE"
Forgive me: the words broke out
against my will. The mistake was
mine alone: l wa so anxious to find
u deeper meaning in your kindness.
You have nothing to reproach yourself
with. any more than II would blame
4 star If some II on earth should look
up and worship It,"
But 1 should blame myself if I
thought that anything 1 had done had
helped to make o unhappy or to spoil
your life. l do not think YOU ought
to be here: this rough, %up-country ex-
istence is not the thing for Won, Won
are wasting your talents"
If a man drops down. he said slow
~. 1T is his own fault-the result of
something in his own nature. He is n