The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1908-05-22
riat Only bslA1alr -
FREELY As she SAT BESIDE the BEL
WITH WIlvh5 HAND IN nfR1.'

strolled out together. in u~nloverlike
fashion walking on opposite sides of the
road, or else one behind the other. They
greeted one another calmly. and parted
with a "guid NIGHT to We, Willum."
"Guid NIGHT, ~lassie."
I noticed occasionally, as Jeanie sat
at her sewing in the afternoon, that she
wore a piece OF honeysuckle or q pink
rose in the front of her gown, and that
a sweet light OF content shone upon
her face, but yet she seemed so COM
tpletely absorbed in her household du-
ties, so unchanged, that one could hard
ly Imagine Jeanne to be suffering, like
the rest of the world, from the disease
of love.
Five years thus elapsed, five years
during which we heard no more of mar
rlage. Thrifty, indeed, was Jeanie. and
careful. Her bonnet was the plainest
IN the kirk, and her Sunday gown APP
peared to last eternally. She must have
put by money, with the c%anniness OF
her country women, but to our ques-
,itions (and they were rarely and prud-
emily putt as to how her engagement
was progressing, h would only an
the whole affair a mere matter OF
friendship when day we were sud
denly startled out OF our preconceiyed
motions.
AS 1 entered the kitchen Jeanne was
engaged Smelling peas. and all the time
big round tears were falling on the
lhusks.
jeanne, what is the matter?" 1
asked. completely taken aback at such
AN unwonted sight.
"Eh. mistress. dear!" said jeanne,
looking at me with her honest brown
eyes, and trying to wipe away her
tears. I'll have to gang ava the
NIGHT. fe mustn't be angry, I Gamma
bide. The lassie can ooh we'll, and Til
leave everything handy"
II know you've trained the kitchen
"Willum's ILL.," she said, and a fresh
gush of tears gushed forth. "and his
mother has Just sent for me to nurse
him: maybe she'll not want to engage
n stranger, ye ken. on account Of the
wages, and the stralnash. and she
for my guild man that's to be-"
or course you must go, Jeanie," I
said, quietly, thinking 1t best to sooth
her, for I did not recognize my quiet,
well balanced jeanne. Probably VIII
jun is not as i'll as you think. ANYWAY.
Jeanne thanked me shortly. and tile
grip with which her fingers held the
end of the table relaxed.
l feel ~dreadfully sorry as she stood
there. 80 strong, alert, and capable
looking. he very image of a splendid
farmers wife. However. 1 said no
more, and presently 1 saw her going
out OF the back door in her heat black
gown. carrying in her hand the bonnet
o which contained her clothes.
What happened afterwards at the
farm we only knew by hearsay. Will
lum's mother. a shrewd old lady. dis
liked her sons intended marriage,
knowing 1t meant n change Of mis-
tresses at the farm; yet. when he fell
al. and the care of the chickens. the
calves. and the butter left her no time
10 nurse the invalid, she Immediately
put her pride in her pocket, and desired
the presence of jeanne to save the
wages Of a servant.
Jeanne perfectly realized this, but
with the patient humility of owe she
neither rebelled nor refused. Willum
was Ill. Willum's mother wanted her.
1T was her place to go. She could lift
him in her strong arms. sing him to
lsleep with her rich voice. and with her
!deft hands prepare his food. She took
iher bonnet of, hung it up on a nail,
:put on her white apron, and at once
proceeded to willum's room. What
passed between them there is too sa-