Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1909-04-16
CHAPTER VII.
THE FITTING DINNER.

All fools day in the Seven noun
tains is the time for "~fiitt'ns,' be the
sign II the moons phase what they
may. Everywhere on this April morn
ing you will meet long lines of vehicles
loaded with household ~goods-every-
where a kaleidoscope of movement: old
families leaving, new ones arriving;
cattle n sheep and hogs driven along
the highways; higgins of every pat
tern piled with q grotesque confusion;
women and children perched high
among the boxes and bureaus and
dressers; old bed posts sticking out at
every angle; and reapers and moving
machines dragged along behind hay
ladders through the April slush. One
day later you will seek in vain through
all the region for any trace of a
"flitt'n.'"
Like all other institutions in the
mountains-butcheripgs, schnittings.
%infares, apple butterings, weddings
"flitt'ns" are governed by certain in
flexible traditions. AS a rule, only near
relatives are invited to q 'hitt'n."
Should this exclusive circle, however,
not possess the requisite number of
higgins then others are very well
come, for IL is unlucky if there be not
teams enough to take everything at one
grand trip. Finally, like all things else
in the Dutch belt, ever funerals, the
affair must be crowned with an ample
dinner furnished by the filter and pre-
sided over by the good fitting wife.
So much of fittings.
Dan Tressler vas moving into Sugar
Valley. Six weeks before nothing had
been farther from his intention, but
much may happen in six weeks. 1t
had come TO him like a flash in clear
weather.
step In here, Dan" the squire had
said to him n day in February.
Come into my office, will your" And
he had gone in, greatly wondering.
Your lease expires April 1st, don't
IT."
Yes"
Tn sorry. out / can't renew it,"
"What-what's that?" 1t was as il
the air had suddenly been pumped
from the room.
No; l can't renew 1t. You SEQ"
why, squire, I've lived On your farm
nine years. Haven't l suited yeh?
I've put a lot of money out. I've tax
en- pride in 1t. I've"
Sorry, Dan, but 1 can't help it.
You've run 1t well; / haven't any fault
to find. but that nephew of mine three
years ago wanted the lease. I'd al
ready made it out to you, but he made
me promise I'd give him the next
chance. 1t seems L signed a paper. I'd
forgot all about it till he reminded me
of it yesterday. He said he was going
to hold me right to It; there's no use
of my kicking. I'm mighty sorry,
Dam"
but the improvements I've made,
Its hard luck; ] see that. But you
know 1 didn't ask o to make EN-"
But the farms worth double what
it was when I took IL. Tve sunk more'n
a thousand dollars on it in work and
money; you'll
"As I say, that's your own matter.
didn't require 1t. You did 1t on your
own responsibility. It's our lookout"
but If I was satisfying yeh. why
did you promise him the place? Why
didn't you tell me?"
THE rascars a sharper; that's the
long and short of II. There's no use
trying to hide it; he got the best of
me, and you know mighty few can say
they ever done that. i didn't realize
what he wanted till 1t was too late.
and I'd entirely forgot about 1t till he
came in yesterday. He's got me tight
and fast. There's no way out Of II.
Dan. I'm powerless as a child" And
Dan, after a moment OF protest, had
given in. despite the fimsy excuse. for
1t IL useless, however great the provo
cation. to ram ones head against a
stone wall. Now he was moving into
Sugar Valley, and ~ farm wagons
stood In his yard.
The morning had swarmed with sur
prises. The first had come when Amos
Harding had driven up with the squire's
best team: then had come Rose with
her buggy full OF baskets n bundles
to help with the dinner-clearly the old
man was doing all he could for Dan;
but the browning sensation was Jim
Farthing. who had driven In late with
his fathers great team of Percherons.
The workers held their breaths: any
thing might happen now.
Young Jim was in joyous mood; ne
had caught q glimpse OF Rose In the
kitchen. and the effect had been magi-
cal. There had been small chance 70
speak to her since that eventful nigh,