The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1909-05-27

breath, but he did not move or speak.
I'VE call that The Fling" she vol.
unteered.
We? But who"
it?"
TT was beautiful, beautiful" he hall
whispered, still looking full at her
There seemed to him no past nor flu
ture, no here nor there, only now and
her-and II raj enough just to look.
"Ah, see!" With her are flung about
her head, n the ribbons flashing and
twisting, she was dancing swiftly back
ward down the path. He tried to follow
her, but he seemed to have no power
to move. Her eyes were still full upon
him.
Iona he called.
"Goodby." She waved the streamers
gaily, then disappeared into the house.
Would she come back? He watched the
door eagerly until the twilight had
deepened into the darkness, but he saw
her no more.
The next day was Saturday. He went
down earlier than usual; the sun was
still In sight yer the ridge, though
dimmed by the smoke to a mere plate
"a ~ - - AAS SAN SoOAAA O. eOgA eAASA
deserted. The blinds were drawn close;
there was not even a smoke. He hesi-
tated a moment, then raped at the
back door, and after a long wait he
raped again. No one there. He turned
and scanned the path to the creek. All!
as he turned again, there h was. not
two steps away. She had opened the
door without noise. He jumped almost
guiltily.
"Why-why--you here?" he almost
gasped.
'"Core in" she said gravely.
why, no. Perhaps we cam
Come In" He followed her without
a word.
The kitchen was quite dark when she
closed the door. A few Goals glowed
in the stone fireplace, but they fur
nished no light. without a word she
threw on a handful of something that
rustled softly; then he heard no sound.
The silence was awkward.
That's been a fine day. he observed
at random.
"Yes.'
Had the spring fever?"
"I have. Had to drive myself to work.
Jim's had It, and IL makes him blue. 1t
makes father work. 1 never saw him
work so"
There was no reply. Then the lame
AS1RCa 0P obU0N Ni0 N"l66p ~ SAAAaAOCo
rapidly; and lighted up the whoe apart
ment.
He saw only the girl. She was sitting
on a stool at the side Of the hearth,
and the fire brought out every detail.
Then a great cat appeared from the
shadows and began to rub against her.
She fondled It absently, and began
talking to IL the artless nonsense that
girls talk to cats. He was awakened
by a rafting in the shed room edjoin-
ing. Some one was coming.
Say" he spoke UP quickly. Have
you brought up the water YETI"
mo-
"AiI right then. come on"
NO, no: sit here. We won't get any
"of course we will" He arose i'm
p~etuously and started for the door.
"No-don't." There was q note of
command in her voice. but he did not
Ii.
Come on. It won't be dark outside
for ar hour yet. Come on" He swung
out through the door, and after a wa
From the porch they went through the
back yard with its litter OF old wood
and farming tools and decaying odds
and ends. Suddenly, before they had
come to the path Of ths rail fence, she
Let's SIT dWHlle, Sne proposed,
sinking upon a limestone frag-
He turned with a puzzled look.
then arranged n of the buckets for q
seat. A fringe of ragged cedars gave
them almost the s~eclusion OF a room.
For a time neither spoke. A strange
mood was upon her, and 1t awed
him.
even before II reached the horizon.
The dull below of the Run, swelled
high with it's spring flood. came UP
from below. The twilight,
and unreal amid the half seen
smoke, was deepening fast. Al chorus
frog voices spattered shrilly from
along the stream; robins and black
birds were In full swing with their
Whats the matter, Lona?' he asked,
a while. You're not like your
self"
"Ah?"
mo; you're not"
How am I dif~ferent?"
II don't know. 1t seems almost as IL
something was troubling you"
Il don't know; but don't you get
lonesome here? Say, why don't you
get out more? Why don't your"
"oh, bah The valley people!
They're cattle!"
But, Iona, you forget: I'm one of
them, and SO are you"
Pm not!" She turned and faced
him defiantly.
what do you mean?"
"And you're not; you're different"
Different? 1"
You're like me-and we hate 'em.
just hate 'em!"
"Lonai" There was a look in the
girls eyes hat frightened him, :.
(ContInued Next week.l