The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1909-08-12

creature In the grim old room. Ulie
made O movement as If to escape.
Here, hold right oni" Amos caught
him by the coat and pulled him back.
! want you to hear Loney pow-wow
go, Loney.''
There's nothing strange about this
house" She faced them as II 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 h Gap.
snow. and he camped on 1t, and later
made his log house on It. When he dug
his cellar, he found the cave, n when
he had 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 family Sc
cret."
Hear that, Ulie?"
Every one of us has had to swear
not to betray II. The children were
never told until they were 16, unless
their parents died. That's why Uncle
Allen never knew It. He left the val
ley before he was 16."
Don't that answer we, Ulie? BY
mighty, where does your ~pow-wowin'
and haexin' come In now?"
wal, that don't explain everything,
I'll tell We that" snapped b a dog
gedly.
Course 1t don't Say, we couldn't
get the pow-wowin' out OF your Dutch
skull IL we opened It and shattered
1t out with soft soap and water"
Come. wife, we must be goin'
already" Ulie vas 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.
whats your rush? Wal, I don't
knows / blame yeh. Go 1t while kou're
young. It's a long time tween honey
moons"
The two disappeared, simpering and
giggling, into the scrub-oaks.
That's a strange story, Iona, fear
fully strange" Rose drew nearer to
the girl.
And can you blame us? Every m
who has borne the name OF Heller has
had to repeat that curse OF the old set
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 sun, bring
ing into the room a shadow that vas
almost like q personal presence. Even
Amos felt 1t and was silent. Rose was
the first to speak. She was crying
softly. ri
And he's had his revenge she said
brokenly. Hes had his revenge"
Again there was silence. It was as
IL the spirit Of the grim old settler was
e~nveloping them as with a smothering
- 800 49, ~ M - L. a. wrNa-
IDLY.
But the curse is removed now,
Iona" She looked UP suddenly with
bright eyes. "It was said that no
Hartswick could ever enter this house
and live, but I shall live. The curse is
gone. Old Matthew Heller at last has
his will-Jim-Oh, Jiml" She CROPPED
dizzily In his direction. Ii
"What-Rosel Are you ILL.," He
caught her In his arms.
mo, no. It's you, Jim; you 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 one
breathed. Then Jim spoke like a judge
In the deathlike stiffness pronouncing
doom.
And I shall share II with those of
Matthew Heller's blood. We're together,
Rose. at last; the two houses are to-
gether now. Well keep the valley
lands, you and !, but well give the
store to Tom, won't we, Rose2 It's
yours. Tom--and Lona's, II she will"
Toni"
And you'll share 1t with me?"
IF I may" she whispered.
IF you may! My God! II you
may!"
"Look-lookl" Iona was sitting bolt
upright, an expression of wonder in
her eyes. Z
what is it, Lona2" they all asked
together.
"seel The old deed" She pointed
to a yellowed parchment nailed above
the fireplace. The sun, suddenly free
from the cloud, had darted q ray full
upon 1t. The dark presence was gone;
the room was radiant with light.
It was the old deed that gave 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 il
gone forever; the heirs OF Matthew
Heller at last have 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 az the sun sank lower in
the West, lighted up the old deed until
II seemed printed in letters OF gold.
.. . NJ. Hnrrr raAT~ o. .