Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1909-08-13

| creature In the grim old room. Uiie
made a movement as II to escape.
Here. hold right oni" Amos caught
him by the Goa and pulled him back.
y want you to hear Loney pow-wow
jest a little mite. All right; let her
go. Loney."
There's nothing strange about this
house, She faced them as IL ex-
planning the matter not alone to Ulie,
but to all. Matthew Heller was the
first white man who ever came into
this valley. 1t belonged to him. He
came in the winter through the Gap.
There was a strange bare spot In the
snow, and he camped on 1t, n later
made bis log house on Ii, When he dug
his cellar, he found the cave, and when
he a trouble with Mr.. Hartswick he
fixed up the two ends. He walled up
one branch, and most of the family are
buried there. That's our family Sc
crct."
Hear that, Ulie?"
Every one of US has had to swear
not TO betray II. The children were
never told until they were 10. unless
their parents died. That's why Uncle
Allen never knew 1t. He left the val
ley before he was 16."
Don't that answer we, Ulie? BY
mighty, where does your WoW1n
and haexin' come in now?"
Wal, that don't explain everything,
I'll tell we that" snapped the man. dog
gedly.
Course 1t don't Say, we couldn't
get the pow-wowin' out of your Dutch
skull If we opened 1t and shattered
ii out with soft "a and water"
Come, wife, we must be goin'
Already" Ulie was clearly uneasy. He
was watching Iona as IL she might at
any moment bring an internal spell
upon him. Good by, folks" He was
backing cautiously out into the sun
light.
What's your rush? Wal. 1 don't
knows ! blame yeh. Go it while kou're
young. It's a long time tween honey
moons" ,
The two disappeared, simpering and
giggling, into the scrub-oaks.
That's q strange story, Iona, fear
fully strange" Rose drew nearer to
the girl.
And can you blame us? Every one
who has borne the name of Heller has
had TO repeat that curse Of the old set
tier, n the curse was never to be
lifted until Matthew Heller had his
revenge, until his lawful heir was king
OF the valley lands"
A hush fell over the little group. The
intensity OF the girl. and the strange
ness of the place, awed and silenced
them. A cloud covered the sur bring
ing into the room a shadow that was
almost like a personal presence. Even
Amos felt 1t and was silent. Rose was
the first to speak. She was crying
softly.
And he's had his revenge" she said
brokenly. Hes had his revenge"
Again there was silence. 1t was as
II the spirit Of the grim old settler was
~enveloping them as with a s~mothering
garment. The darkness increased WIS.,
IDLY.
But the curse Is removed now.
Iona" She looked up suddenly with
bright eyes. 1T was said that no
Hartswick could ever enter this house
and live. but / shall live. The curse is
gone. Old Matthew Heller at last has
his will-Jim-Oh, JIM" She CROPPED
dizzily in hts direction.
"What-Rose! Are you ill?" He
caught her in his arms.
mo, no. It's you, jim; o are the
king now-king Of the valley lands
my king" She spoke the words almost
In a whisper.
There was silence for 10 heart-beats
silence so intense that no n
breathed. Then Jim spoke like a judge
in the deathlike stiffness pronouncing
doom.
And I shall share 1t with those of
Matthew Heller's blood. We're together.
Rose, at last; the two ouses are to-
gether now. Wen keep the valley
lands, you and /, but we'll give the
store to Tom, won't we, Rose? It's
yours, Tom-and Lona's, IL she will"
Toni"
And you'll share 1t with me?"
III / may" she whispered.
IF you may! My God! IL you
may!"
"Look-look!" iona was sitting bolt
upright. an expression of wonder in
her eyes.
what is it. Lona?" they all asked
together.
'Seel The old deed" She pointed
to a yellowed parchment nailed above
the fireplace. The sun suddenly free
from III cloud. had darted a ray full
upon 1t. The dark presence was gone;
the room was radiant with light.
1t was the old deed that ave to
Matthew Heller and his heirs forever
the whole Of this valley bounded by
the ridges and the gaps.
And It's good again, Iona" Tom
whispered softly. ''The old curse Is
gone forever; the heirs of Matthew
Heller at last haye obtained their
rights; and all because one little girl.
standing all alone, did what her heart
said was right"
And the ray OF the Indian summer.
increasing as the SUI sank lower in
the West, lighted up the old deed until
1t seemed printed in letters of gold.
THE END.