Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1907-12-19

Miss Matte sat transfxed He
breath came in swallows. and he
heart beat irregularly. Here was nov
city with a vengeance! The big mar
turned and fastened his eyes upor
her. There was no retreat. She no
ticed with some reinsurance that hi.
eyes were grave and kindly.
As he advanced Miss Matte rose IL
agitation, unconsciously putting hol
hand on her throat. What could il
mean?
The gate was opened and the stran
ger strobe up the cinder walk to the
porch He stopped whole minute
and looked at her. At last!
well. Matter he said, don't yor
know me?"
A flood of the widest HYPOTHESIS
flashed through Miss Mattie's mind
without enlightening her Who was
this picturesque giant who stepped
out of the past with SO familiar sal
utatlon? Although the porch was i
foot high, and Miss Matte a fairly
tall woman, their eyes were almost on
a level as she looked at him in won.
der.
Then he laughed and showed his
white teeth. mo use to bother and
worry you, Matte" said he. "You
couldn't call it in ten years. Well, I'm
your half uncle Fred's boy Bill, and
hope you're quarter as glad TO see
me as / am to see you"
"Whatw she cried. Not little Willy
who ran awayw
1.-THE same little Willy" he replied
in tone that made Miss Matte laugh
a little, nervously, land what | want
to know is, are you glad to see me?"
"Why, of course! But, WILL sup
pose / should call you Will? l am SO
flustered-not expecting you-and it's
been so warm today. Won't you come
In and take a chair?" wound up Miss
Matte in desperation and fury at her
self for saying things so different from
what she meant to say.
There was q twinkle in the mans
eyes as he replied in an injured tone:
"Why, good Lord, Matte! I've come
1900 miles or more to see you, and
you ask me to take a chair just as II
I'd stepped in from across the way!
Can't you give a man little warmer
welcome than that?'
"What shall | do?" asked poor Miss
Matte
well, you might kiss me for a
start" said he.
Miss Matte was all abroad. Still
ones half cousin, who has come such
a distance and been received so very
oddly, is entitled to consideration, She
raised her agitated face and for the
first time in her life realized the pleas,
ure of wearing mustache.
Then Red Saunders, late of the
Chanta Seechee ranch, North Dakota,
sat him down.
I'm obliged to you, Matte" he said
In all seriousness ITO tell you the
truth, felt in need OF little comfort
ing-here I've come all this distance
and, of course, l heard about father
and mother-but l couldn't believe it
was true Seemed as If they must be
waiting at the old place for me to
come back, and when | saw it all gone
to ruin Well, then l set out to find
somebody, and do you know. of all the
family there's only you and me left?
That's all, Matte, just US two! While
was growing up out west / kind Of
expected things to be standing still
back here and be just the same as
left them-hum- Well, how are YOU
anyhow"
'Tm well, VIII, and'-laying her
hand upon his, don't think I'm not
glad to see you-please don't. I'm so
glad, VIII, / can't tell you-but I'm all
confused-so little happens here"
II shouldn't guess 1t was the liveliest
place in the world. by the look of it."
said Red. And as far as that's con-
cerned, kinder don't know what to
say myself. There's such a heap to
begin. But we've got to be friends,
though. Mattie-we've just got to be
friends. Good Lord. We're all there's
left! Funny / never thought of such
q thing! Well. blast it. That's enough
of such talk. I've brought you pres
ent, Matte" He stretched out leg
that reached beyond the limits of the
front porch and dove into his trousers
pocket, bringing out a buckskin sack.
He fumbled at the knot minute and
then passed 1t over, saying, You I'M
tie it-your fingers are sooplier than
mine" Miss Mattie's fingers were
shaking, but the knots finally came I'M
done. and from the sack she brought
forth chain Of rich. dull yellow Jumps
fashioned into a necklace. 1t weighed
a pound. She spread 1t out and looked
at 1t astounded. Gracious. VIII! Is
that goldg" she asked.
That's what" he replied. 'sThe real
article. just as It came out Of the
ground; dug 1t myself. That's the
reason I'm here. I'd never got money
enough to 60 anywhere farther than
q horse could carry me II hadn't
taken ny at placer mining and hit
her to beat h--er-the very mischief"
AIiss Matte looked first at the bar
baric. splendid necklace and then at
the barbaric. splendid man. Things
grew confused before her In trying to
realize that 1t was real. What two
planets so separated in their orbits as
her world and his? She had the Inn
agination that Is usually lacking in
small communities. and the feeling OF
a fairy story come true possessed her.
"And now, Matte" said he. Il dpnt