The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1907-10-17
CHAPTER I.

ing his way through one of the numer-
GUS little valleys of Westchester. The
easterly wind, with it's chilling dampness
and increasing violence, gave unerring no
tice of the approach of a storm; and the
experienced eye of the traveller was turn
ed in quest of some convenient shelter.
The county of Westchester. after the
British had obtained possession of the
island of New York, became common
ground, in which both parties continued
to act for the remainder of the war of
the revolution. A large proportion of
| its inhabitants affected a neutrality they
did not feel. The lower towns were more
particularly under the dominion of the
crown, while the upper were bold in as
serting their right to govern themselves.
Great numbers. however, wore masks,
and many an individual has gone down
to the tomb, stigmatized as a foe to the
rights OF his countrymen. while, in Sc
cret, he has been the useful agent of the
leaders of the revolution: and, on the
other hand, could the hidden repositories
of divers flaming patriots have been open
ed, royal projections would have been
discovered concealed under piles of Brit
ish gold.
Tired with the exercise Of day of un-
usual fatigue, and anxious to obtain a
speedy shelter from the increasing vio-
lence of the storm, the traveller determin-
ed to make an application for admission
at the next dwelling that offered, and,
riding through pair of neglected bars, he
knocked loudly at the outer door Of a
building, of a very humble exterior. a
female of middle age answered the sum-
mons. His request was listened to with
evident unwilingness, and eagerly in
| terrupted by the reply:
II can't say like to give lodgings to
a stranger in these ticklish times. There's
nobody but the old gentleman at home :
but half a mile further up the road is a
house where you can get entertainment
for nothing. Harvey is away-I wish
he'd take advice and leave off wandering
But Harvey Birch will have his own way,
and die vagabond after all ~
us this, then, the dwelling of Harvey
3irch!' inquired the horseman in an in
voluntary manner.
why, one can hardly say it is his
dwelling" replied the other; ''he is never
in it, or so seldom, that 1 hardly re-
member his face. Turn in the first gate
on your left" and she closed the door
abruptly.
Sufficient light yet remained to enable
the traveller to distinguish the improve.
ments which had been made in the general
appearance of the grounds around the
building to which he was now approach
ing. The house was of stone, with
small wing at each extremity. A piazza.
with neatly turned pillars of wood, gave
the place an air altogether superior to
the common farm houses of the country.
After leading his horse behind an angle
of the wall, the traveller threw his valise
over his arm, and knocked loudly. IN
aged black soon appeared; and acceded
to the request for accommodations. The
traveller was shown into an extremely
neat parlor, where a fire had been light
ed. After giving the valise irto the
keeping of his civil attendant, and polite
ly repeating his request to the old gem
tleman who arose to receive him, and pay
ing his compliments to the three ladies
who were seated at work with their nee
dies, the stranger commenced laying aside
colhC VI Ills OulSi Sai
The host was by several years the
senior Of the traveller, and by his manner
showed he had seen much of life, and the
best of society The ladies were, maid
en- of forty, and two much younger. MIR.
Wharton, for so was the owner of this
retired estate called, resumed his seat by
the fire. For moment he paused, as if
debating with his poiteness, but at length
threw an inquiring glance on the stranger
as he inquired:
ITO whom have the honor of speak
ing7'
/ "Mr. Harper
beside a work stand, while their aunt,
Miss Jeanette peyton, withdrew to super
intend the preparations necessary to en-
tertain their unexpected visitor. A short
silence prevailed. There was an evident
desire on the part of the host to enter into
conversation, but from an apprehension
of treading on dangerous ground, he sew
eral times hesitated before he could ven
ture to make any remark. At length he
said:
II wish from the bottom of my heart
this unnatural struggle was over, that we
might again meet our friends and re!a-
tives in peace and love-"
''It is much to be desired" said Har-
per, emphatically.
II hear Of no movement of conse-
quence since the arrival of our new al
lies" said Mr.. Wharton.
None have yet reached the public,
believe"
They appear active in the South !;
Gates and CORVALLIS seem willing to
bring the war to an issue there"
The brow Of Harper contracted, and a
deeper shade of melancholy crossed his
features his eye kindled with tran
sient beam of fire, that spoke a latent
source Of deep feeling. The admiring
gaze of the younger Of the sisters had
barely time to read it's expression before