The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1909-03-25

In a twinkling. II was understood that
on the home trip Rose was 20 drive
and they were TO have q r road.
AT the rear OF the procession. ut-t
terly unnoticed and ~unthought Of.
were the Farthing brothers and the
colt. Tom was driving and Jim sat
curled down, black and silent and pre-
occupied He had not even wanted to
drive the horse.
Through winding valleys. between the
~zigzagging parallels OF rail fences. into
strangely from the ragged walls, out
into tangles OF scrub oak and yellow
pine, and through lanes OF ~rhododen-
dron weirdly clinging to its green To-
liage even among the January SHOWS
mile after mile wound the gay cav
alcade.
Bright, sunny days viii soon pass
came the sweet chord from the sled
-gtrlish sopranos and altos blending
perfectly with tenors and basses, for
these people of the Seven Mountains
can sing, like all others Of German
blood.
An, the bright, I'M days had al
ready passed way for young Jim
at least. SO 1t seemed to his ~brooding
soul. What use to think OF winning
her from this c~ontented, prosperous
money-bags, who basked in the favor
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 a
pair OF willing hands? He had not the
ghost Of a chance.
I'm of to the wars; TO the wars
must 60"
came the clear strains from the sled.
."On to the wars''--a wild impulse arose
xKyffhlnN ItWn 80 10 anVnAkHNnar ~ h.
a deed that would thrill her and win
her. But there were nj wars to go to,
no field OF hazard where q stout heart
might all in a moment snatch fame
and fortune-more the pity. The old
days were best; there was a chance
then for all. But he u do some
thing to win her; something indeed
he must do, and at once. But what?
And thus he sat bumped up and
dreamy, M saw nothing OF the moon
light, and the wild scenery OF the
gaps and the mountains ragged n
picturesque all about. And he scarcely
realized when at last they arrived at
the little mountain inn n 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; 1t would scarcely pay to go
out among the farmers for better ac-
commodations.
Then they sought the house, great
boys that they were, 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 its wonderful ac-
compartment of "spreads' and
other good things repast to
dream about: i was no cold;
courses and noiseless walters and vel
vet voices: where the diner In dress
suit nibbles daintily at this and that
and exchanges epigrams and soft moth
ings with the exquisite creature at his
right. Every n 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 q gravy Mt for gods, came
again and again into the circle of de-
~structton, m still there was call for
more. Great, brown piles OF wasies,
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,
drenched 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 and dishes. Cold for
mality and the Mr." and Miss" OF po-
lite society were miles away over tho
ridges. 1t was "BilP' and Dan" and
Hat" and Liz" Will dared May to
eat another waffle, and she smeared
one with apple butter on the instant,
and put It where It belonged amid
roars OF laughter. Then II was her
turn to challenge him. And thus the
supper galloped to it's close.
Up near the end OF the table sat Kari
Keichline and Rose. He was an Inn
posing looking mar as Jim saw him
from far down the board-square and
solid, with a clean shaven, cherub face,
which had not line or shadow. A man
Of pork" Jim growled in his throat:
yet he could not but recognize the
strength OF his rival. A man who
through his own efforts has secured a
competency at 40, and who, moreover,
has gained a ruling place in his native
county, Is not one to be ignored from
any standpoint. BY every valley stan
dard the match was a perfect one, and
Jim recognized ii. But, after all, what
could a girl like Rose see in n mere tub
Of a man like that?
r.rN AN..a MI