Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1909-03-26

I in a twfnkling. It was understood thar
on the home trip Rose was to drive.
and they were to have a free road.
AT the rear of the procession. ut
terly unnotieed and unthought of.
| were the Farthing brothers and tie
colt. Tom was driving and Jim sat
curled down, black n silent and pre-
! occupied. He had not even wanted to
drive the horse.
Through winding valleys, between the
zigzagging parallels of sail fences, into
| lark gaps where the songs echoed
strangely from the ragged walls, out
into tangles OF scrub oak and yellow
pine, and through lanes of rhododen-
Iron weirdly clinging to It's green TO
liage even among the January SHOWS
mile after mile wound the gay cav
aIcade.
Bright. sunny days will soon pass
away"
came the sweet chord from the sled
-girljsh sopranos and altos blending
perfectly with tenors and basses, for
these people of the Seven Mountains
can sing. like all others OF German
blood
All, the bright, sunny days had al
ready passed way for young jim
at least, SO ii seemed to his brooding
soul. What use to think Of winning
her from this c~ontented, prosperous
money-bags, who basked in the
Of the old squire and who could offer
her all OF comfort and luxury that her
heart might desire? AS for him, what
had he save health. and youth, and q
pair of willing hands, He had not the
ghost of a nance.
TIN off to the wars; to the wars
/ must go"
came the clear strains from the sled.
"Of TO the wars"-a wild impulse arose
within him to do something, To dare
a Iced that would thrill her and win
her. But there were no wars To go To.
no field of hazard where a stout heart
might all in a m snatch fame
and fortune-m0re the pity. The old
days were best; there was a chance
then for all. But he must do some
thing to win her; something indeed
he must do, and at once. But what7
And thus he sat bumped UP and
dreamy. and saw nothing of the moon
light, and the wild scenery of the
gaps and the mountains ragged and
picturesque all about. And he scarcely
realized when at last they arrived at
the little inn and the ride
was over As he helped to unspan the
horses, he was still 'off To the wars"
daring deeds that should make her turn
in disgust from the clod beside her.
and fly to him-ah, to him!
The inn had little stable room and
they were content to fasten the horses
under a long shed protected on all
sides save one. The time would be
short; it would scarcely pay to go
out among the farmers for better &C
Communications.
Then they sought the house. great
boys that they We're, pushing and slap
ping one another. joking and chatting,
full to the brim Of animal spirits and
laughter and whole souled enjoyment
OF the night. The girls were already
inside, taking off hood and wrap, dis
closing pink cheeks and sparkling eyes.
as full OF life and spirits as the boys
themselves.
Then came the chicken and waffle
supper, with it's wonderful ac-
compartment Of spreads" and
other good things-a repast to
dream about. II was no cold,
correct linn party with myriad
courses and nOiseless walters and vel
vet voices; where the diner In dress
suit nlbbles daintily at this and that
and exchanges epigrams and soft moth
ings with the exquisite creature at his
right. Every one was completely at
home and wholly at his ease. He had
come to enjoy himself to the utmost,
and that was the business of the hour.
The steWed chicken, tender and brown.
swimming in a gravy fit for gods, came
again and again into the circle of de-
structioE, and still there was call for
more. Great, brown piles of waffies,
bliStering hot, were brought in steady
stream to the tables to disappear like
water into sink holes. They were
pitched two at a time on empty plates.
with syrup or chicken gravy
as from "a hose, cut deftly into quarters
and eighths by swift shearing Of knife
and fork, and slowed away-one-two
three. And all the time there was
laughter of boys and giggling Of girls,
and jokes and banter and clashing of
knives and forks n dishes. Cold for
mality and the Mr." and Miss of DO
lite society We're miles away over the
ridges. 1t was Bill and Dan" and
Hat n Liz viii dared May to
eat another waffle. and she smeared
one with apple butter on the instant
and put it where 1t belonged" amid
roars OF laughter. Then It was her
turn to challenge him. And thus the
supper galloped to it's close.
Up near the end Of the table sat Karl
Keichline and Rose. He was an I'm
posing looking man as Jim saw him
from far down the board-square and
solid, with q clean shaven, cherub face,
which had not line or shadow. A man
of pork Jim growied In his throat;
yet he could not but recognize the
strength of his rival. A man who
through mis- own efforts has secured a
at 40, and who, moreover,
has gained O. ruling place I'm his native
county, Is not one TO be ignored from
any standpoint. BY every valley stan
dard the match was q perfect one, and
Jim recognized it. But, after all, what
could a girl like Rose see In n mere tub
OF a man like that?
(C~ontjsued Mex. Week.l