Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1909-04-24
The House of the Black
sEA..sss Ring e.sE!.4. .,e.

be by the old arbor seat. Say, VIII
your"
She looked down at him archly for a
moment, then she laughed as If he were
a very small boy who had proposed to
her. An instant and she swirled about
and through the door A burst Of
laughter greeted her appearance with
the bucket.
Too slow." he heard voice, and
there was another roar.
He wheeled abruptly; he would go
for his team he had finished his din
ner; what use to face their jeers?-
the dinner was over anyway. The 9TH
ers appeared after a moment; in 20
minutes the long caravan Of farm
wagons was Off towards Gum Run.
Young Jim lived the next "a hours
between alternate hope and fear.
Would she come or not? OF course
she wouldn't. why should she? But
who could tell what Rose Hartswick
might do? He was in the orchard an
hour ahead Of time.
The, place was more than a mere or
chard. 1t was park. with paths and
evergreens and a long windbreak to
protect the house from the winter
storms. The old squire for years had
made hobby OF II, beautifying IL little
by little until now 1t was really notable
with its Enthusiastically arranged fruit
trees. it's row OF spruces, and its rustic
the walks.
At the point nearest the house there
was a little arbor surrouned by thick
evergreens-an ideal spot, retired, yet
commanding perfectly a view of the
farm buildings and yard. Young Jim
sank upon the low seat and scanned
sharply every avenue of approach. II
she came at all, doubtless she would
come straight up the path; that was
the way she did things.
Then his eve detected something that
troubled him. The buggy in the yard
was lighter and gayer than the Squire's.
That was Karl KeiChline's buggy. The
sleek postmaster was In the house there
now, wooing Rose--doubtless asking
her to be his wife, and she would ac-
cept. She was practical and sensible;
of course she would take him. He had
everything to offer her, everything a
woman could ask. Why should she
think of Jim Farthing. who had neither
money nor prospects, who was almost
unknown to her in every way? 1t was
ridiculous. Moreover, the old Squire
hated him and had ordered him off his
promises.
There boiled within him a sudden
hatred that was primeval i'm its in
tensity, a hatred that fumed into his
soul and bit and blinded him, q hatred
of this prosperous clod who was buy
ing with gold and lands the body and
soul of the woman whom God, he knew,
had made for him.
1t was past three now and the min
uteS dragged on and on, until it was
near four; but still he sat there mo-
tionlcs as a panther on snag, his
chin in his hands, looking at the old
stone mansion and Karl Keichline's
buggy. 1t was fate, mere blind fate,
that settled things in this world. There
l,,St too, s,I .G.,ht .
had this man OF pork and money to
step in and buy her as If she were a
mere chattel? BY the eternal fate or
no fate he should not. Indeed he should
not. He would stop it yet; he would
gain her, If 1t cost him his very soul.
But yet what could he do?
Thus he sat and fumed and ragged
and despaired and hoped and planned,
and did not hear the steps on the path
until they We're close upon him. He
turned convulsively, like one who has
been caught doing a crime, and faced
Squire Hartswick. The old man had
been taking his favorite Sunday walk.
For a moment they looked into each
others eyes like two carnivorous
beasts that have come suddenly upon
each other. The Squire spoke first in
voice that was a snarl.
What are you doing here?" The
whole situation flashed upon him. The
man could be there for only one thing
to meet Rose. Could 1t be an ap-
pointment? The thought clutched at
his throat and choked him.
why, I've just been walking through
your orchard. Squire Hartswick. No
harm, hope"
Say, young man"-he came very
near to Jim, a black look of wrath on
his face. Remember what / told you
the other day? Did you hear what /
said to you then? What are you round
here for now? You tell me the truth.
You came here to see my daughter.
Isn't that true? Now don't you lie to
me-"
Yes, sir; did, but"
There's no but about it. You came
to see her. Had she promised to meet
your"
mo. sir; she hadn't"
Did she know you was coming?"
II told her was coming here"
And what did she say?"
she didn't say anything"
And you are here sneaking round
like a miserable cur and hiding around
bushes. There's no knowing what
you're planning to do. It's mighty
lucky l happened onto you. I'm a good
mind to arrest you here and now."
What for?"
''Trespasslng, and laying in wait to
Squire Hartswick," he broke out
confusedly, dominated in spite of him
self by the imperious force of the man,
you're taking a good deal for granted.
You surely"
stop 1t; stop right off short. know
this whole miserable business from be-
ginning to end. Now let me tell you
Gods truth: il / ever see you on my
property again or hear of you being on
no 1au n iatSf fa
as it'll CO."
but, Squire Hartswick, what harm
have l done? what"
1T don't make no difference what
harm you've done l mean what ] say.
Don't you ever speak to my daughter
again. Don't you even think Of her
again, or look at her, or by God I'll put
you where you belong; I'll Jail yeh
for life"
But this is free country, Squire.
There are some things you can't help
my doing" He faced the man with
magnificent courage and let free what
was in his heart. Il shall speak to
your daughter whenever I meet her,
and I shall look at her, and think of
her all please. There's no law against
that
''Then, by God, you'll take the conse-
quences. The old man fairly exploded
in rage. His face was purple; the blue
veins in his forehead swelled up like
welts. 'Pll Jail yeh before a week. You
get off N my land just as quick as God
A'mighty'll let yeh. Start! You'll hear
from me mighty soon, young man
mighty soon."
Young Jim, smothering with rage,
felt an impulse to fell the old man to
the earth, but he controlled 1t. He cor
trolled also the hot rush of words that
boiled within him like volcanic mud
and threatened to burst all bounds.
This was Roses father; moreover, he
had the power to cause his arrest and
have him punished for even the slight
est indiscretion. With magnificent self
control, therefore. he said:
very well, Squire Hartswick, I'll
leave your land at once" and he did
not stop nor look back until he had
reached the boundary fence.
Life became dreary thing for young
Jim Farthing after that. 1t was the