Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1907-01-17


flung himself into the room, slammed
his yaliSe on the floor. threw his hat on
the bed and, cursing himself as the.
greatest fool alive, dropped into q
chair
For two weeks | had been envying
that fellow. Engaged to pretty girl.
who had not made the common mis-
take of being born of poor parents. he
had gone to pass whole months va
cation in the same Connecticut village
where his sweetheart and her mother
We're staying.
WAS too surprised to do more than
stare ut Bill in establishment.
This morning." said he. Alice and
some of her girl friends started UP the
mountain for n hen picnic Mount
Riga. the people i'm Salisbury call ii.
wish il WAS big hole i'm the ground
About 10 decided To take Il walk and
accidentally meet them. | took
roundabout way, because there was
sure to lie more or less giggling when
l made my appearance, no matter how
nicely it was managed"
Here Bill helped himself to my first
best pipe and heaped few more bless
ings on his head.
We'll" said he after few strong
pulls ut the pipe. II soon reached a
cursed little hill which sat up against
the mountain like pimple beside
,fI. .lY.t Il A.
side of the measly bunch of dirt was
an enormous rock--left there by gla-
cier, ! suppose. The day 1t was drop
ped there was cold, but the day Bill
Morse found it was still colder. Climb
ing up to the lower side and leaning
Just then some one set off blast or
they began cannonading off Mole st.
Nicholas. Anyway the jar seemed to
shake the Mill. and that stone moved. I
braced myself against it instinctively.
The motion stopped. and then came
one of those flashes Of Intelligence for
which l am famous, as you know, old
man.
You have seen schOOlteacher take
his class into the yard and demon
strate that one boy can keep ladder
upright by looking out for the center
of gravity. etc, and that it takes them
all to stop its falling when you let II
tip. Oh. knew all about it! Bill
Morse knew. If ! let that stone get
started Ii would crush me- for Ii was
SO broad | could not spring out of the
way. | bored one shoulder into the
double dyed thing and finally twisted
round so as to face 1t. worked my way
to the edge. the cold sweat standing
out all over me, and jumped clear
Things were dark for moment. hut I
soon Strengthened out and look Ell to see
where the rock had fallen. 1t hadn't
budged."
was going to ask Bill IL he was an
CRY. but he had jumped up and was
kicking his valise around the room.
and | thought it was unnecessary.
Bob" he cried between the kicks.
words are poor things agree with
the man who said language was in
tended to conceal your real thoughts"
After few more kicks and fresh
pipeful Bill resumed: Il rushed round
to the top of that internal rock. deter
mined to push 1t over ii it didn't in
tend to take drop itself. | moved it
about an inch, and to do more than
that would require all Of the kings
horses. Oh, but Solomon was wise
one! He said all men were fools.
49,,
When ! realized what it was, | won
dered why Solomon had not mention
ed me particularly. | began talking to
the stone and was just beginning to
do myself and that beastly chunk jus
tice when that hen picnic came scream
ing down the mountain side. They
had seen the whole circus Alice gasp
ed out, "Oh, WWill, it's too funny"
and then put her hand to her side and
absolutely shrieked with laughter |
gave her one look and then told her IA
plain truth that | know she'll never
forgive. Then ! rushed back to the
hotel. got my things and here am.
It's all over. I'm a fool. and wretch
ed one, my boy"
l agreed with him, but didn't men
ton it. Then the light was turned out,
and we turned in. | slept but l don't
think Bill did. He moped around the
house and ate precious little. The
landlady was sure he ought to see
doctor If l tried to cheer him up, he
only scowled and cursed himself
Connecticut, the big hill, the little hill
and everything except the girl-a
mighty sensible girl. too. as you will
see. for a few days after as ! WAS
entering the house. out rushed Bill as
happy a man as you would want TO
meet. He had received note from
Alice and WAS OH his way to see her.
This is what she said:
Dear Will--We reached home today
told mother ! simply would not stay there
another hour when ! found you were not
bring your forgiveness with YOU / know
silly fool" for laughing so. and II YOU
! i not been angry YOU would not have
been sure enough man, and l would not
have cared bit for you. AS 1t is, love
you more than ever Yours only
ALICE.
p. S-But 1t was too awful funny to
see you save your precious life in that
manner and then hammer that poor, help
less old stone.
Tn Spitt.of the p s they arc .roiup Ia