The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1909-08-12

creature in the grim old room. Ulls
made a movement as il to escape.
Here. hold right n . Amos caught
him by the a and pulled him back.
=! want you to hear Loney pow-wow
jest a little mite. All right; let her
go, Loney..
There's nothing strange about this
house." She faced them as II ex-
planning the matter not alone to Ulie.
but to all. Matthew Heller was the
first white man who ever came into
this valley. 1t belonged to him. He
came In the winter through the Gap.
There was a strange bare spot in the
snow. and he canlped on It. and later
made his log house on it. When he dug
his cellar, ne found the cave. and when
he had trouble with Mr.. Hartswick he
fixed up the two ends. He walled up
n branch and most Of the family are
buried there. That's u family se-
cret."
Hear that, Ulie?"
Every one Of US has had to swear
not to betray it. The children were
never told until they were 16. unless
their parents died. That's why Uncle
Allen never knew it. He left the VAL
ley before he was It,"
Don't that answer We. Ulie? By
mighty. where does your pow-wowin'
and haexin' come in now?"
Wal. hat don't explain everything,
I'll tell We that snapped the man. dog
gedly.
Course it don't . Say. we couldn't
get h pow-wowin' out of your Dutch
skull II we opened 1t and shattered
it u with soft soap and water"
Already Ulie was clearly uneasy. Ne
was watching Iona as IL h might at
any ONE bring an internal spell
upon him. Good by. folks.' He was
backing cautiously out into the sun
light.
whats your rush? Wa. I don't
knows I blame yeh. Go it while kou're
young. It's a long time tween honey
moons"
The two disappeared, s.mpering and
giggling, into the scrub-oaks.
That's a strange story, Iona, fear
fully strange" Rose drew nearer to
the girl.
And can you blame us? Every one
who has borne the name of Heller has
had to repeat that curse Of the old set
tier, n the curse was never to be
lifted until Matthew Heller had his
revenge, until his lawful heir was king
of the valley lands"
A hush fell over the little group. The
intensity OF the girl, and the strange
ness of the place, awed and silenced
them. A cloud covered the sun, bring
Ing into the room a shadow that was
aliLosl IKE u personal presence. Even
Amos felt it and was silent. Rose was
the first to speak. She was crying
softly.
And he's had his revenge" h said
brokenly. Hes had his reveEge."
Again there was silence. 1t was as
II the spirit Of the grim old settler was
enveloping them as with a smothering
garment. The darkness increased WIS.,
IDLY.
But the curse is removed now,
Iona" She looked up suddenly with
bright eyes 1T was said that no
Hartswick could ever enter this house
gone. Old Matthew Heller at last has
his will-Jim-Oh, JIM" She CROPPED
dizzily in his direction.
"What-Rose! Are you ill?" He
caught her in his arms.
NO. no. It's YOU, Jim; you are the
my king" She spoke the words almost.
In a whisper.
There was silence for 10 heart-beats
silence so intense that no one
breathed. Then Jim spoke like a Judge
in the deathlike stiffness pronounctng
doom.
And I shall share it with those OF
Matthew Heller's blood. We're together,
Rose, at last; the two houses are to-
gether now. Wen keep h valley
lands. you and I. but we'll give the
store to Tom. won't we, Rose? les
yours, Tom-and Lona's, II she will"
Toni"
"And you'll share 1t with me?"
II I may" she whispered.
II o may! My God! II you
may!"
Look-look!" Iona was sitting bolt
upright. an expression Of wonder in
her eyes.
What is it, Lona?" they all asked
sseel The old deed" She pointed
to a yellowed parchment nailed above
the fireplace. The sun. suddenly free
from the cloud. had darted q ray full
upon 1t. The dark presence was gone;
the room was radiant with light.
It was h old deed that gave to
Matthew Heller and his heirs forever
the whole Of this valley bounded by
the ridges and the gaps.
And it's good again, Iona" Tom
whispered softly. "The old curse is
gone forever: the heirs Of Matthew
Heller at last have obtained their
rights; and all because one little girl,
standing all alone, did what her heart
said was right"
And the ray Of the Indian hummer,
increasing as the sun sank lower in
the West, lighted UP h old deed until
1t seemed printed in letters Of gold.
THE END.
- 4Eg
No Room for Uncertainty.
From the National Magazine.
AS an indication Of the drollery Of
e~~~k 80 n.,-A~ FL s-EA-1 90