The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1909-03-25

S's 'NICiS li'oA WHY NNS - oNEl
he made a discovery--a most unfore-
seen n 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
uncomfortable, and that he must win
her, be the price what it might.
CHAPTER v.
THE HORSE RACING ON THE
MOON RUN.
1t had been an open winter. For six
week the roads had been half-spoke
deep, not with mud, but with that
thick, yellow smear that clings like
birdlime. There had been flurries of
nov when the wind had roared and
when the black ring about the Heller
cabin had stood out sharp and vivid
In the drifts, but there had been no
sleightng. The snow had gone as quick
y as 1T had come, flooding Gum Run
a 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 out on the bot
toms, the voice of Roaring Run,
always a dominating note, had become
a hoarse below that echoed even 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. 1t began In a smother of wet snow
"a foot of it-like raw putty. A cloudy
day when roads had packed hard and
smooth, a fierce drop in the night of
40 degrees, n on Wednesday morning
the sleighing was perfect.
1t is not sure who first thought of
the trip; 1T may be doubted If any one
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 a chicken and
waffle supper at the old Snyder house
at the Cross Roads? On Tuesday even
Wednesday evening every young per-
son I'm 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
Hartswick mansion.
Front door or back? 1t called for
nice Judgment. Front doors are of lit
tie use in h Seven Mountains; for
they are for the minister and the doc
tor and funerals. But this vas Harris
moment, however. Who was he that
he should go to the front door of a
weekday end in the forenoon? He
heard a 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 a touch of flour on
her cheek, and more than a busting of
1t in a little lock that had struggled
rebelliously from Its mornings.
Come right in. Want to shaker"
She held up her floury hands, laughing
the while.
Think I'm afraid Of -four" he asked
jovially, selling her hand with a hearty
grip.
Take his chair. Mr.. Farthing." She
NO: no chair. I'm not making a
call. Keep right on with your work,
ooh, I'm going to-" She looked up
at him with bright eyes and laughed
In a way that thrilled him nightly.
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.
Il dropped in to ask II you were go
ing on the ride tonight" 1t Dol cour-
age, but 1t vas not his way to loiter
and wait for hints.
sure! Wouldn't miss 1t for any
thing" She paused a moment and
looked up at him with girlish enthu-
siasm. Karl phoned up that he was
going with his new horse"
you know-the one he bought over
Altoona way three weeks ago. They
say he's a beauty-fastest thing there
Is round here. He's a perfect bay,
so a says; seven years old. Is hands
high, and weighs 1900. How's that?''
AN you're going with Karl?"
Yes. Wouldn't miss it for a farm,
You're going aren't YOU with the lit
tie colt?"
"Yes-perhaps." Somehow the day
had suddenly. gone dark. 1t came to
out of his place. The prosperous + Ket shz
line had every advantage. She had her
self expressed the difference; the one
drove q magnificent great bay: the 9TH
er. a little colt. That indeed was the
proportion: He turned to go.
urged sweetly, turning from her bread
and looking into his eyes as frankly
as a child. you've only just got here
Il must go: I can't stay. I must get
to work." She went with him to the
door, and laughed aloud when he shook
her doughty hand.
See you on h ride" she called mer
rily. and he was down The path and
in the o n driving pell-mell home
before he realized Just what he was
about.
Lie ClOOU IudI was I'd SnaOO young
Jim's life a arisen now, and it was
racing. black n threatening. to the
zenith.
The sled ride began auspiciously. II
was q beautiful night. thick at first
with stars that glittered in the still
cold. Then the moon came up, roll.
ing, large and round. over the snag.
of Turkey Ridge, casting long shad-
ows down the valleys. and then flood.
ing all with that marvellous glory tina,
comes only with the snowy night and
the radiant moon.
But the focal point of all the land.
scape was the ''bobsled," a long bod
led affair half full of straw. and packed
tight with young folk. who SAM ant
laughed n abandoned themselves tc
the wftchery Of the hour as only young.
sters can. In front and behind wers
the single couples-boys who had q
rig of their own and a girl. and stalt
pairs at tho critical Junction between
courtship and matrimony.
Up at the head of the line wa
Karl Keichlins. with Rose beside hin
In his smart new sleigh. His horse
was indeed q magnificent one-a met.
%tlesonae. hard-bitted. long-geared fel.
low that kept his driver constantly OF
the alert. It was evident that tn,