Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1909-04-23
The House of the Black
81 !: ,.s.. Ring Copyright. .,es

too heavy"
| 'Pshaw. / could carry " of EN-
easy She made a little run and be-
/ gan pumping vigorously.
Here, let me do that"
"All right. It's most full, anyway
She stood aside with a swing.
Those great lubbers in there never
here, here, wait" She had seized the
bucket before it was fairly full and
was skipping toward the house.
Say. Miss Hartswick, wait-I want
TO tell you something, Wait. please"
He followed her eagerly. AT the door
she stopped with a fiirt and looked
back.
win you go 10 walk with me to-
morrow at 80" he blurted out.
'Tomorrow's Sunday"
Yes; | know tin the orchard-Tll
be by the old arbor seat. Say, will
your"
She looked down at him archly for a
moment, hen 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 slowi" he heard a 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 t
ers appeared after q 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. IL was a park, with paths and
evergreens and q long windbreak to
protect the house from the winter
storms. The old squire for years had
made a hobby OF it. identifying it little
by little until now it vas really notable
with its Enthusiastically arranged fruit
trees, its row OF spruces, and it's rustic
benches scattered here and there along
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. If
she came at all, doubtless she would
come straight up the path; that was
the way she did things.
Then his eye detected something that
troubled him. The buggy I'm 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 h would ac-
cept. She vas practical and sensible
of course she would take him. He had
everything 10 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
premises.
There boiled within him q sudden
hatred that q primeval in it's in
tensity, a hatred that fumed into his
soul and bit and blinded him, a.hatred
of this prosperous clod who was buy
ing with gold n lands the body and
soul of the whom God, he knew,
had made for him.
Ii was past three now and the min
utes dragged on and ON, until ii was
near four; but still he sat there mo-
tionles rs a panther on a 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
was no justice and no God. What right
had this man of pork n 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 1t yet: he would
gain her, if it cost him his very soul.
But yet wha 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 were 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 momen they looked into each
others eyes like two carnivorous
beasts that have come suddenly upon
each other. The Squire spoke first in
a 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
Ito meet Rose. Could it be an APP
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 mamie came very
near to Jim. a black look OF wrath on
his face. Remember what l told you
the other day. DID you near 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: 1 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 o was coming"
Il told her / vas coming here
And what did she say2"
she didn't say anything"
And POI 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 I happened onto you. I'm a good
mind to arrest you here and now"
What for?"
'Trespassing. and laying in wait te
commit crime"
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 of short. Iknov
this whole miserable business from be-
| ginning 10 end. Now let me tell you
Gods truth: IL I ever see you OF my
property again or hear of you being or
1t. I'll put the law to o just as fal
as it'll co.
but. Squire Hartswick. what harm
have / done?s what
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