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

Harper, after taking a view CT the stats
Of the wea .her, apologiZcd to Mr.. Nhnr-
ton for the necessity that existed Tor his
trespass;ng on his goodness for lons
time. To appearances, the reply was as
courteous as the excuse yet Harper
wore resigna ion in his department that
was widely different from the uneasy
manner of the father. Henry Wharton
had resumed his disguise. No conmuni-
cations passed between him and the
stranger, after the first salutat:ons OF the
morning. Frances had. inl,el, thought
there was something like n smile passing
over the features Of the traveller. Tho
eyes OF the affectionatc sister were turn
cd in anxiety on her brother, and glancA,
ing again on her unknown guest met his
look; and the heart of the GIRL which
had begun to throb with violence, regain
ed a pulsation as tempered as youth,
health and buoyant spirits could allow.
While yet seated at the table. Caesar en-
tered, and placed small parcel in ST.
lence by the side of his master.
What is this, Cesar inquired Mr..
| Wharton.
THE 'baccy, sir Harvey Birch, he got
home, and he bring you a little good
'baccy from York
Harvey Birch ~ rejoined the master,
stealing a look at his guest. II do not
remember desiring him to purchase any
tobacco for me but as he has brought it,
he must be paid for his trouble"
| To Sarah Wharton, this intelligence
gave unexpected pleasure; rising from
| her seat, she bade the black show Birch
into the apartment. In the deep recesses
| of the windows of the cottage were seats
OF paneled work with rich damask cur
tains Into one of these recesses Captain
Wharton now threw himself, drawing the
curtain before him in such q manner as to
conceal most of his person from observa-
ton; while his younger sister silently
took possession of the other.
Harvey Birch had been a peddler from
his youth. He was a native of one of
the eastern colonies. Ten years before
he had arrived in the vale, purchasing the
| humble dwelling at which Harper had
made his unsuccessful application. Until
age and inirmties had prevented, the
| father devoted himself to the cultivation
of a small spot of ground. while the son
pursued with avidity his humble barter.
| Their orderly quietude had soon given
| them so much consideration in the neigh
| borhOod as to induce a maiden of five
| and-thirty to accept the Office of presid-
! ing over their domestic comforts. The
roses had long before vanished from the
cheeks Of Katy Haynes when she entered
the family of the Birches. On the one
hand she was neat, Industrious, honest
and a good manager. On the other she
was talkative, selfish, superStitous and
nquisitive.
The war did not interfere with the
traffic of the pedlier. For a year or two
his employment was uninterrupted, but
at length dark and threatening hints be-
gan to throw suspicion around his move
ments. His imprisonments, though fire.
quent, were not long and his escapes
from the guardians of the law easy, COM
pared to what he endured from the perse-
cutiOn OF the military. Still Birch sur
vived. and still he continued his trade,
though compelled to be very guarded in
his movements whenever he approached
the neighborhood of the American lines.
On entering the room the peddler relieved
himself from his burden and saluted the
family with modest civiity. To Harper
he made a silent bow. Sarah commenced
her survey of the contents Of the pack
and for several minutes the two were en-
gagged in bringing to light the various ar
ticles it contained At length, having Sc
lected several articles, and satisfactorily
arranged the prices, she observed in
cheerful voice:
But, Harvey you have told us no
news. Has Lord CORVALLIS beaten the
rebels again.
IL IL ~
ton having defeated Gen. Sumter on the
Tiger river"
Indeed" cried the exultng Sarah;
"Sumter-Sumter-wh is he? I'll not
buy even a pin until you tell me all the
news" she continued. laughing, and
throwing down a muslin she had been e..
amining.
For a moment the peddler hesitated;
his eye glanced toward Harper. who was
yet gazing at him with settled meaning,
and the whole manner of Birch was al
tered. A slight indication of humor show
ed itself on his face as he said:
"Thev say at the Plans that Sumter
and one or two more were all that were
hurt, and that the rig'lars were all cut
to pieces. for the militia were fixed snug
ly in log barn."
Not very probable said Sarah, con-
temptuously, though l make no doubt
the rebels got behind the logs"
Il think" said the peddler, coolly,
again offering the silk, Its quite in
genous to get a log between one and a
gun. instead of getting between gun and
log"
The eyes of Harper dropped quietly,
while Frances came forward with a smile
in her face as she inquired, in a tone of
alfability:
Have you more of the lace, Mr..
Birch?"
The desired article was Immediately
produced and Frances became q pur-