The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1909-03-25

SlOW-k1nuIlnB, IaL-Indn , TbBt BTtW nOl-
ter. He would never return; not even
the sources great property was suf1-
cient to repay him. He would go there
no more.
But before that. very week was over
he made a discovery-a most unfore-
seen and unaccountable discovery; he
Had really and honestly fallen In love
with her. He awoke all in a moment
to the fact that life without her was
inconceivable. and that he must win
her, be the price what 1t might.
CHAPTER ".
THE HORSE RACING ON THE
MOON RUN,
II had been an open winter. For six
weeks the roads had been half-spoke
deep, not with mud, but with that
thick, yellow smear that clings like
birdlime. There had been fiurries of
snow when the wind had roared and
cabin had stood out sharp and vivid
In the drifts, but there had been no
sleighing. The snow had gone as quick
ly as It had come, flooding Gum Run
Gap until 1t roared like a mill-race over
q quarter of mile of road, and barring
Karl Keichline from his Sunday ser
vices for weeks at a time. The valley
creek had spread far U on h bot
toms, Inc the voice of Roaring Run,
always a dominating note, had become
a hoarse below hat echoed w Into
the remotest hooks of the valley.
On the evening OF the day on which
Rose had discovered Jim Farthing's
little horse, the winter came on In earn
est. IT began In a smother of wet snow
"a foo of it--like raw putty. A cloudy
day when roads had packed hard and
oT1o nnfh a Aar0a hrnr In the NIGHT nf
40 degrees, and on Wednesday morning
the sleighing was perfect.
1t is not sure who first thought of
the trip; II may be doubted IL any n
did. 1t was one of those spontaneous
affairs when all awake at the same mo-
ment and find that they are thinking
the same thought. why not a sled ride
over Moon Run and q chicken and
waffle supper at the old Snyder house
at the Cross Roads? On Tuesday even
ing not one had dreamed of 1t; on
Wednesday evening every young per-
son In the valley was ready.
When Jim Farthing got the news his
first thought was of Rose. He would
take her with his colt; he would drive
right down and invite her now. With
in 10 minutes he was In front of che
| Hartswick mansion.
Front door or back2 1t called for
| nice judgment. Front doors are of lit
| tie use In the Seven Mountains: for
| they are for the minister and the doc-
tor and funerals. But this was Harris
wick Hall, and he hesitated. Only a
moment, however. Who was he that
he bhould go to the front door of a
weekday end in the forenoon? He
heard q brisk, light step. seemingly
started by his knock, when Rose her
self stood framed in the door.
"Ah, good morning" She looked
down at her costume and laughed. Her
sleeves were rolled to the elbow; and
her dress was concealed by a Bingham
jumper. There was q touch of -four on
her cheek, and more than O busting OF
1t in a little lock that had struggled
rebelliously from it's m%oorings.
Come right In. Want to shake"
She held w her fioury hands, laughing
the while.
think I'm afraid OF -four" he asked
jovially, selling her hand with a hearty
grip.
"Take this chair. Mr.. Farthing." She
pushed him a kitchen rocker.
mo: no chair. I'm not making q
call. Keep right on with your work
"Oh, I'm going to-" She looked UT
at him with bright eyes and laughed
in a way that thrilled him nightly
I'm making bread; and you cant stoI
you know, after once you've begun
She turned to her heap Of dough and
began to knead with vigor. Young jim
could have watched her all day.
II dropped in to ask II you were 60.
ing on tho ride tonight" 1t took cour.
age, but 1t was not his way to loitel
and wait for hints. z
Sure! Wouldn't miss 1t for any,
thing" She paused a moment anC
looked up at him with girlish enthu.
siasm. Karl phoned UP that he wal
L ueOfno rxyffh hta mann hnronD "#..H.
"Ohl"
"You know-the n he bought owe
Altoona way three weeks ago. The,
say he's a beauty-fastest thing ther,
is round here. He's a perfect bay
so pap says; years old, Is hand
high, and weighs 1900. How's that !?
"And you're going with Karl?"
Yes. Wouldn't miss 1t for a farm
You're going aren't you with the lit
tie colt2"
"Yes-perhaps." Somehow the da,
had suddenly gone dark. II came t
him with q bitter rush that he wa
out Of his place. The prosperous Keich
line had every advantage. She had her
self expressed the difference; the on
drove a magnificent great bay; the 9th
er, q little colt. That indeed was tn
proportion. He turned to go.
Don't hasten, Mr.. Farthing,' sh
urged sweetly, turning from her brea.
and looking into his eyes as frankl,
as a child. you've only just got here.
II must go. ! can't stay. I must ge
: to work" She went with him to tn
door, and laughed aloud when he shoe
her doughty hand.
"See you on the ride" she called mer
! rily, ana he was down the path an
! In the road and driving pell-mell HON
; before he realized just what he wa
: about.
! The cloud tina was to shadow youn
Jim's life had arisen now, and 1t wa
racing, black and threatening, to tn
, zenith. E
! The sled ride began auspiciousIy. ]
a a beautiful night, thick at frs
: wiki stars that glittered in the sti
cold. Then the moon came up, roll
ing, large and round, over the snag
of Turkey Ridge, casting long shad
2 ows down the valleys, and then flood
: ing all with that marvellous glory tha
! comes only with the snowy night an
the radiant moon.
! But the focal point OF all the land
> scape was the 'bobsled," a long bod
2 led affair half full of straw, and packe
tight with young folk, who sang an