Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1907-12-26

don't know what to say. On, VIII
liam, Ii seems too good to be truer"
What you crying about. Natter"
said he, In sore distress "Now hold
on! Listen to me minute! There's
something l want you to do for me-"
what is itT she asked drying her
eyes.
"For dinner tomorrow" he replied,
'let's have a roast of beef about that
size," Indicating washtub.
The diversion was complete.
"Why, VIII. What would we ever
do with it?' said she.
do with it? Why. eat itw
"BUt we couldn't eat all THAR
"Then throw what's left to the cats.
You amt going to fan Town on me
the first favor / ask" with mock seri,
BUSINESS.
You shall have the roast of beef
Pears to me that you're fond of you
stomach, WILL" said Miss Matte, with
a recovering smile.
81 have good stomach that's al
ways done the right thing by me when
I've done the right thing by It," said
Red. And, moreover, just look at the
constitution | have 10 support. But
say. old lady, look at that" pointing
to the clock. "Eleven-thirty: time de
cent people were putting up for the
night
The words brought to an acute stage
a wandering fear which had passed
through Miss Mattie's mind at inter.
walls during the evening Where was
she to look for sleeping accommoda
lions for man? She revolted against
the convention that in her own mind
as well as the rest of Fairfield forbade
the use of her house for the purpose.
Long habit of thought had made these
niceties constitutional. 1t was almost
as difficult for Miss Matte to say 'TTl
fix up your bed right there on the
sofa" as II would have been for Red to
pick a mans pocket, yet when she
thought of his instant and open gen.
crosby and what dismal return
therefor 1t would be to thrust him out
for reasons which she OWNED would
have no meaning for him, she heroical-
ly resolved to throw custom to the
winds and speak.
But the difficulty was cut I'm another
fashion.
"There's little barn in the back
yard that caught my eye said Red,
'and If you'll lend me a blanket I'll
roll 1t out there"
"Sleep In the barn! You'll not do
any such thing!' cried Miss Matte
you'll sleep right here on the sofa or
choose"
IF it's all the same to you, I'd rather
not. So help me Bob. I'd smother in
here. Had the darnedest time coming
on that ever was-hotels. Little white
rooms with the walls coming in on
you Worse than rattlesnakes for keep
ing man awake. Reminds me of the
hospital Horse fell on me once AND
smashed me up so that l had To be
sent TO get puttied up again, and
never struck such a month as that
since / was born. The doc told me
biuSin IliONt, bul AOltI hlDl u thuCA
him out of the window if he tried to
stop me. and up got. I'd have gore
dead sure if they'd held me a week
more. / speak for the barn, Matte,
and / speak real loud; that Is, I mean
to say I'm going to sleep in the barn,
unless there's somebody heap larger
than you on the premises. Now, there's
no use for you to talk-I'm going to do
just as | say"
well l think that's just dreadfull'
said Miss Matte. I'D like to know
what folks will think of me to hear
barn." Her voice trailed off a little
at the end as the gist of what they
might say If he stayed In the house &C.
Cured to her. "Well," she continued.
'if you're set 1 suppose can't object"
Miss Matte was not good hand at
playing part.
"I'm set" said Red. Get me a
blanket" As she came In with this
he added, Say, Matte, could you let
me have a loaf Of bread? I've got a
habit of wanting something to eat In
the middle of the night"
Certainly. Don't you want some
butter with it? Here, I'll fix It for you
on plate"
mo, don't waste dish washing. I'll
show you how to fix It." He cut the
loaf Of bread in half, pulled out por-
ton Of the soft part and filed the hole
h,xfk
nothing to bother with afterward."
That's right smart notion, VIII,
but you'll want knife"
In answer he drew out leather case
from his breast pocket and opened 1t.
Within was knife, fork, spoon and two
dat boxes for salt and pepper. you
zee, I'm fixed," said he.
"Isn't that a cute trickT' she cried
admiringiy. You're ready for most
anything"
SURE" said Red. Now. good night.
old lady" He bent down In 30 nat
ural a fashion that Miss Matte had
kissed him before she knew what she
was going to do.
Down to the barn, through the soft
June evening. went Red, whistling a
Mexican love song most melodiously.
Miss Matte stood in the half opened
door and listened. Without was balm
and starlight. and the spirit of flowers
breathed out IN odors. The quaint and
pretty tune rose and fell, quavered,