Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1908-02-20

But when Eivira's father faced her
Mt her OVID freside few minutes lat
err there was no smile on her tired
face.
"fes, helped them she said def
antly, breaking the silence Of thirty
years.
at WASN'T your business" Squire
Lee clustered, but she stopper MN
with quiet dignity
"fes, il was. Samuel. II was my
business not to let Elvira spoil her life
as you spoiled yours, for you amt been
happy any more'n have. | amt say
in that Elves mother want a good
woman, but the Lord makes two people
for each other and puts them into this
world to meet and marry and die to-
gether, and If they go against his plan
min they suffer"
lie started eagerly to speak. but she
went on rapidly.
81 didn't have enough money for you,
and you shilly shallied between me and
Ida and finally married her without
sayin' word TO any one. aud so at
last | married Isaac. He was good
husband" A sudden impulse Of 10y
atty toward the dead surged within
her.
"Hetty." a joyous warmth breaking
into the squires voice" Hetty. you
said--you said any more'n you were.
Do you mean that you've cared, too.
all these years? Have you. Hetty?"
with compelling eyes on hers.
'Yes," she answered simply, 1--WE
cared. And there hasn't been day in
all these years when I've seen you
growing harder and harder that ! amt
said to myself, He'd been different if
he'd married the woman he loved FL
vie's just like you. She'd keep Charlie
of and on, and some day she'd go and
marry somebody else and be miser-
able"
IL didn't mean her to be miserable"
the squire stammered slowly. A great
wonder held him fast. Was this the
quiet, self repressed woman who all
these years had sat across the aisle
from him every Sunday morning In
church, this slender, vibrant creature
trembling In the might Of her demand
for happiness for his motherless girl?
Was this the woman whom he had be-
lieved without feeling?
"Hettyr he cried and held out his
hand.
She took 1t and stood looking sadly
up at him.
"Hetty, didn't think you cared In
that way. thought you hated me for
the way I'd treated you after goin'
with you for two years. | never
thought you missed me as I've missed
you all these years. I'd give them all
only to live over the two happy years
when we kept company. How differ
emit
you've remembered the widow
cried, and her wan cheeks flushed.
SIN very lonesome here, Samuel. but
won't be any more when | know
you've remembered. Now go out and
put up your horse. Tommy's away for
the holidays. and I'm all alone. The
young folks are comm back here for
dinner, and you must join us, sociable
like, and forgive them for runnin'
away"
"Hetty," pleaded the squire, the light
Of determination In his eyes, let's run
away too! My horse is better'n Char
lies. Wen get to the parsonage most
as quick as they do. Here, put on
your wrapsw he commanded.
'No, no, Samuel"-her face flaming
mot after the way l talked. 1t looks
as though l was hintin'"--
'We've wasted altogether too much
time already, Hetty. Put this scarf
over your ears. It's too cold for a
bunnit.v
'Oh. Samuel, we're too old to be so
foolishr' she faltered.
Were not too old to love-" he as
sured her as he tied on the scarf.