Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1909-02-05
Hidden
Perils
CHAPTER Iv.-(ContInued.)
BY MARY CECIL HAY

them from the distance had ulned thci
conversation to him.
1T Is rather humiliatins to think,
unused Rourke, "how entirely and help
lessly our lives are sometimes placed il
our physicians hands but / could neve
fear mine being in his hands; and-a
you say could trust him with the lif
l hold most precious"
Rourke said it lightly enough 70
what shadow from the future could dim
for a moment, the brightness Of that au
tumn morningf
were looks as IL he were making di
rectly for the farm" he continued, pres
emily. Are you expecting him, Uncl'
| Bart?"
"True, true. he does" said the ole
man. turning the matter aside ratheI
n~crvousiy, as ne watched Atbol cross {
stile above and hurry Town to join them
"Ill tell you what it is, Rourke," hi
added, as q brilliant idea entered his
head she saw you here and he's come tc
wish you many happy returns of the day
Young squires don't keep their twenty
fifth birthday every year; do they, my
lad!"
"Well, it, not usual" assented
Rourke; but he wondered at the old mans
haste In greeting Athol, and knew it was
to cut off some question he expected.
"Glad to see you, doctor. It's breezy
indoors this morning, and I turned out
for a change-found 1t, too, didn't I?
It's always the best change for old Abry
to have young faces and young forms
abont him."
Many happy returns of the day, Tren-
nam" said Athol, hopeless of a handshake
when he saw how it required all Rourke's
strength and skill to hold in his horse
during the interview. Another vixen,
ELI? How many times did she throw you
before you mastered herT
"a dozen at least harmless pitching
enough, you may imagine when l tell you
the most serious was a toss into q hay
rick. Going in head first, of course, made
the coming out awkward, that's ALL"
do you buy up all the unframed or
untrainable animals in the country just
for the purpose of practicing your skill
upon them? We must all own, l sup
pose, that you do thoroughly understand
how to manage a horse"
.He does 1t to frighten his mother"
said Bartie, with a twinkle in his eyes.
Hold hard, uncle put in Rourke.
'sIt's hardly SO bad as that. Now 1 sup
pose l must he OFF"
"You really leave us tomorrow, do you,
Rourke?" asked the old man, wistfully
OBTAINING him. "And shall l only see you
once again for two whole years?"
You might, you know, if you would
come to Hohve tonight, Uncle Bart. 1
should SO like you to come and help me
to keep my birthday. l should like to re-
member afterward that you came first on
this day. l had trouble enough to origi-
nate the ball. every one ought to reward
me by coming"
"yhy should you have had any trou-
ble?" asked Athol. Before going abroad
for two years, surely the squire Of Hohve
give a ball to his friends"
II expect he only did 1t to please a
young lady" said Abram, glanc-
Ing c~ariousiy into the young %.auire's
beautiful dark blue eyes. well, dear
lad, Of course you'll enjoy it"
Though my own uncle refuses to
Bartle laughed merrily yet there was
something unutterably sad in the longing
look he fixed upon the young mans face.
Fancy It! Fancy old Abry's figure
lodging here and there among the ele-
CANT county folk. Just you fancy you
see it when you are looking about you,
II you were talking politics
to the Lord Chancellor, I'd defy you to
help laughing At the thought, eh, Rourke?
No, If ever / enter Hohve again, my lad,
there'll be no such name rs Horton New
lev entered there
1.-TWO years will soon pass for Tren-
ham, Mr.. Bartle,' said Athol, '.and then
he will be home again to take the power
Into his " hands.
'True, true muttered Abram, in a
low, unsatisfed tone. But | wish
'Never mind the old sore, to-day, un-
cle,'' interrupted Rourke. "Good-by for
to-day. My real good-by will be to- NOR
row. Expect me early, for l shall not
70 to bed at all until l reach London
tomorrow night
II shall expect you from the moment
you leave me now until I see you I al
ways do" said the old man, his eyes still
cleaving to Rourke's face. Doctor, send
me a little more of the old medicine, will
you? That's why l asked you to call, but
I didn't want to mention it before my
boy. The old pain masters me now and
.svere,' said Rourke, when they had
gone together out Of the old farmers
hearing, tell me what is the matter with
uncleg"
HE did not wish you to know but
perhaps It Is AZ well you should" the
young physician answered, gravely. He
has what he himself calls heart disease
and I need not give it another name"
BE early tonight, vere." Rourke said.
"Spend a. many hours At Hohve as you
can, won't your"
Certainly I will, on your last night
but you will come here to bid good-by
tomorrow 7"
"of course but need that prevent your
giving me 4 handshake nowr
It was q close, hearty handclasp, though
the parting was to be for a few hours
only for the friendship between the two
young men was one Of those firm, deep
rooted ones which are less rare than
beautiful They were such friends as the
wise king dreamed OF when he wrote that
"a friend loyeth at all times" while
something in the nature Of the young
men, o. s:fe teatslfnE Of their lives, gave
them similarity. deeper than all their
striking coutrasts.
u wish vere's life were = smoother
ope and IN easier" thought Rourke AZ
ne cantered along the road beyond the
CoStase; Carrying lightly his twenty-five
years, and defying the RESTLESS thought
fulne0 which was part Of his nature. II
WisA he had Il enormous practice and {