Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1909-04-17
CHAPTER VII.
THE FITTING DINNER.

THE FITTING DINNER.
All fools day in the Seven noun
tains is the time for "fiittns," be the
sign and the moons phase what they
may. Everywhere on this April morn
ing you will meet long lines of vehicles
loaded with household goods-every-
where kaleidoscope of movement: old
families leaving, new ones arriving;
cattle and sheep and hogs driven along
the highways; higgins" Of every pat
tern piled with a grotesque confusion
women and children perched high
among the boxes and bureaus and
dressers; old bed posts sticking out at
every angle; and reapers and moving
machines dragged along behind hay
ladders" through the April slush. One
day later you will seek in vain through
all the region for any trace of
"flitt'n.'"
Like all other institutions in the
mountains-butcherip schnittings,
infares, apple -butterings, weddings
"hittns' are governed by certain in
flexible traditions. AS a rule, only near
relatives are invited to a ''flitt'n."
Should this exclusive circle, however,
not possess the requisite number of
higgins" then others are very well
come. for it is unlucky If there be not
teams enough to take, everything at one
grand trip. Finally, like all things else
in the Dutch belt, even funerals, the
affair must be crowned with an ample
dinner furnished by the filter and pre-
sided over by the good fitting wife.
SO much of fittings.
Dan Tressler was moving into Sugar
Valley. Six weeks before nothing had
been farther from his intention, but
much may happen in six weeks. 1t
had come to him like a flash in clear
weather.
-.
said to him one day in February.
Come into my office, will you?" And
he had gone in, greatly wondering
Your lease expires April LIST, don't
it."
Yes"
I'm sorry, but I can't renew it,"
"What-what's that?" 1t was as if
the air had suddenly been pumped
from the room.
No; ] can't renew ii. You see"
why, squire, I've lived on your farm
nine years. Haven't l suited yeh?
I've put a lot of money out. I've TAX
en- pride in ii. I've"
Sorry, Dan, but 1 can't help It.
You've run It we'll; haven't any fault
years ago wanted the lease. I'd al
ready made it out to you, but he made
me promise I'd give him the next
chance. 1t seems l signed a paper. I'd
forgot all about it till he reminded me
Of it yesterday. He said he was going
to hold me right to it; there's no use
of my kicking. I'm mighty sorry,
Dam"
But the improvements I've made,
It's hard luck; I see that. But you
know l didn't ask you to make 'em."
But the farms worth double what
it was when l took it. I've sunk moren
Al LON IN, 4
"As l say, SOS your own matter.
didn't require 1t. You did it on your
own responsibility. It's your lookout"
But If l was satisfying yeh, why
did you promise him the place? Why
didn't you tell me?"
The rascars a sharper; that's the
long and short of it. There's no use
trying to hide it; he got the best of
they ever done that. l didn't realize
what he wanted till it was too late,
and I'd entirely forgot about it till he
came in yesterday. He's got me tight
and fast. There's no way out of it.
Dan. I'm poWerless as q child" And
Dan, after moment of protest, had
| given in, despite the flimsy excuse, for
It is useless, however great the provo
cation, to ram ones head against a
stone wall. Now he was moving into
Sugar Valley, and IL farm wagons
stood in his yard.
The morning had swarmed with sur
prises. The first had come when Amos
Harding had driven up with the squire,s
| best team; then had come Rose with
her buggy full of baskets and bundles
to help with the dinner-clearly the old
man was doing all he could for Dan;
but the crowning sensation was Jim
Farthing, who had driven in late with
his fathers great team of Percherons,
The workers held their breaths: any
thing might happen now.
Young Jim was in joyous mood; he
had caught a glimpse Of Rose in the
kitchen, and the effect had been magi-
cal. There had been small chance to
speak to her since that eventful night
on Moon run. He had seen her many
times; he had even been very near her
for he had suddenly become most reg
ular in his church attendance, but with
Karl keichline at the door and the ole
squire at the front, there had beer
no hope for him. Now, however, they
were far away: the thought exhil-
arated him. He plunged into the work
with all his soul. Perchance she wa;
looking. And If she were, she saw 6
goodly sight: the great, square -shoul'
Edered fellow tugging away at the bis
boxes and bureaus and holding his enc
against two men on the other.
Once he ventured into the kitcher
for a drink of water, and found thu
room fairly quivering with energy; j
seemed full of women.
Come, no men folks allowed here
We're working in here" Rose was IL
command. There was snap in he
voice. and there was fun and mischief
It set the room into a merry burst
which somehow confused him nightly
But want some water"
"Oh, you do. All right, here you are.
She scooped a cup into the waite
bucket and like fash showered hin
with 1t. Then she laughed again
There, you've got it: now skip. Rul
where you belong, or we'll take no
water to you" He hesitated, but ther
was nothing else to do.
Here" she called, as he was turn
ing toward the door. Here's a dippeI
Catch!" She threw it with a def
swing, and he caught it in one hand
"Spose you try the cistern. There
where we get our water. Goodby."