Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1908-10-09
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
"A Fortunate !,
Sale
By MARY A. DENlsON z
N~~ss-NN~~s~NNr>~~yt~E
(Copyright.)

Il wish / could sell Brown Bess,'
said Susy Ross, rinsing the dishes she
had just washed.
"Oh, Susy!" cried her brother.
What in the world do you want tc
sell Brown Bess for?" her mother
asked, looking up from the dough she
was ~kneading.
Il could go to the academy, mother
for two o terms" was the answer
Then perhaps / could-get the school
at the Corners"
Nonsense, Susy, need you tc
help me" her mother said. Keeping
school Is a thankless business"
IT'S money" said Susy, land / dc
long to help myself, and you, too.
Money will do everything that needs
to be done
Yes, that's a fact" spoke up Tom,
land there's lots to be done. I'd like
to clear that five-acre lot for potatoes
and corn, bat | can't do it."
And the house wants shingling,"
her mother said plaintively, her care
worn countenance taking on another
shadow.
THE front doors got a crack all
the way across" Tom spoke up again,
and there ought to be a fireplace in
granny's room. Then there's the barn;
it's all We can do to keep the hay
dry"
I know all that" said Susy. Il
know the house is getting to be a
scare-crow, and the barn is worse, and
that's why | want to be earning.
That's why | want to sell Brown
Bess.'
And If you do sell her, you won't
get much" Tom said. she's so full
of her tricks-the craziest colt | ever
saw!"
I'm more and more afraid to have
you ride her" her mother said. But If
you should sell her, there's the mort
gage to be paid in October"
IF sell her." said Susy, quietly,
ut will be to finish my education"
That's always your cry" her moth
er went on in plaintiye tones; mo
matter what's needed; but | s'pose
we must give in, Bad as the roof
is, 1t shelters rs. What would we do
without a house over our heads?"
I'D sell the COW, too" put in Tom.
And then grandma would just
about s~tarve," the mother supple
mented.
Susy turned away from the table,
angry and grieyed, but she said moth.
ing, only ran upstairs to her own
room.
They don't see it," she sorrowfully
murmured. They cant understand
that it's for their good and comfort |
want to get that school. I'm willing
to wear old clothes and to walk three
miles and back every day for the sake
of finishing my education. Let the
roof leak awhile. Let granny sleep
downstairs where there's a fire. I'll
help them all In a year or two-but
they don't see it-they won't see ii.
If ! could only sell Brown Bess! I'd
go and beg time fer the mortgage, or
I'd borrow money-or, maybe | can
get enough TO repair the house and go
to school, too. If only Brown Bess
wasn't such a little vixen! 1t will go
hard to part with her, though; it was
fathers last gift"
Tears rushed to the dark eyes, but
she ~repressed them and went down.
stairs.
After helping her mother about the
house she donned her sunbonnet and
ran to the barn. Tom was rubbing
down Brown Bess. whose bright, CLOS
sy coat shone like satin.
Much as | can do to take care OF
her." said Tom. "She wants a regu.
Lar groom who would break her of her
nasty little tricks. See how she
throws her head up, and look at her
eyes flashing like feel Are you going
to the store? Mother wants sugar and
molasses and vinegar-and I've got to
80 in the field"
yes, I'm going" said Susy,
LnOuSn uFGau iJ, me Dill Is SO large.
II | sell Brown Bess, that's the first
thing III pay"
THAT and the mortgage" said
Tom. Well. I'll saddle old Dick"
Susy mounted to the back of the
slow old cart horse with gloomy fore
bodings. II was a warm September
day. Even in the midst of her anx.
iety. the beauty of the ride to Hillston
soothed and delighted her Every de-
tail Of the way was familiar to her,
yet when she came to the Silver
Ledge falls, and saw the white spray
over granite rocks and dane
Ing among tiny islands, she stopped
old Dick and sat enjoying the scene as
II she had beheld it be-
fore.
Good morning" a voice said be-
hind her.
"Oh, Charlie." she exclaimed with
q start. x didn't hear you com
Ing"
mo? The falls are so loud. / saw
you at the bend and followed. Going