Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1909-05-28
x--continued.

the ridge and sat up with a start
Another shower was coming up. The
lightning, at first mere spurts OF light
across the west cleaned red and sin
lister through the smoke. The wine
plunged over the ridges in wild panic
believing n shlreking. IL fell upor
the rickety old mill and wrenched II
with violence till Il groaned and ratified
and roared. The thunder grew louder
with every peal; the lightning fiickereo
and streamed balefully. Young jim
seemed oblivious OF IL. He heaped tht
wood ever and anon upon his fire, and
continued his steady contemplation OF
the flames. Then some subtle magne-
tism drew up his glance and there she
was in the doorway, looking him full
In the. eyes.
I'm not Just sure that the mills
safe In all this wind" She anne Up
to the fire, SO near to him that he could
have touched her. There seemed TO
be a wistful note in her voice.
"0h. It's stood worse blows than this.
In the winter, when the leaves are off,
h winds sweep down these valleys
fearfully."
ut II put out our FIRE, wont it?"
Shouldn't wonder; but we can have
one inside. Let 1t go. Believe I'll get
In some slabs while have a chance"
He fell to the work with energy.
Aren't you afraid OF thunder" he
called out cheerily. II hope not. for
this is going to be an old RATHER. 10
times worse than the other"
Moo, I'm not afraid" There was
the slightest note of doubt in the tone.
No wonder; the surroundings were in
deed strange n fearSome-the shud-
dering old mill; the intense darkness;
the fire, lighting everything weirdly;
and the nearing crash n below of
the storm.
This will cool off the Run, won't
ttG" she asked almost eagerly.
Sure. Well get out in the morn
Ing all right" He was flying back and
forth between the slab pile and the
mill.
Il hope we can" she echoed with a
suspicion OF usefulness. but can't /
help?"
"Oh. no.; I'VE got enough. Better
come in now. Hear the rain come down
the valley there! Glorious, amt 1t?
just love a night gust like this"
The storm was indeed breaking upon
them in full force. The thunder, with
crash after crash, broke over their
very heads: then IL beloved and
roared n tumbled from ridge to ridge.
The continuous volley with Its rip and
roar was deafening. The lightning, al
most blood red from the smoke. shook
Its fingers in their very faces. The
rain came, not in drops but in sheets.
IT roared IN the mill roof as IL hurled
from a steamer hose. II hurtled down
the wind In watery wrath, dashing wild
floods as from buckets. There seemed
nothing in the whole landscape save
water and binding CLEANS and crash
Ing noises. The fire by the brook
struggled htfully for a time and then
Missed out. The stream began to rise
by leaps and bounds until 1t was al
most by the door.
The mill roof had been well made;
1t leaked only here n there, and they
kant dry Him had "a roaring fire In
the stove, which made the little room
1Neally cozy and homelike. He chopped
at the slabs and fed them into the
flames, while she sat on a bench and
watched him. His confidence and
CHEEKY good fellowship We're contag-
ious What a glorious. self reliant fell
low he was! The thunder and light
nlng were nothing to be nervous about;
hs laughed at them. And. somehow,
despite the wildness and the crash
without, she did not feel frightened
or even III at ease.
At length the storm began to sub
side. The thunder rolled off into
the east; the lightning came In
sheets rather than In binding bolts;
the rain began TO slacken. In an hour
1t was all owe
did you sleep any?' he asked sud
denly.
II had just got to sleep when 1t be-
gan to thunder"
"weIl, it's all over now. You must
get some more sleep; it's a long time
before morning. Say, In going inside
the mill there. IL you want anything,
pound on the boards. Good night"
Before she could answer he was gone.
she lay down again in the bunk, drew
up the lap robe and the next thing
SHE was conscious OF was the sound
OF voices outside. 1t was broad day
light.
$50, you're at the bottom OF this,
heigh? Where is Rose?" 1t was her
fathers voice. angry and threatening.
She's In the mill" Rose sprang out
instantly.
I'm all right, pap" she cried.
This Is a pretty trick She could
see at a glance that he was angry,
through and through. Here Amos and
Alb and I've been hunting these noun
ain all night long. and your mothers
almost Wild, and you up here with that
scamp"
why. father he"
II O want TO hear a word about
it--iot a word. II he's UP here, then It's
or account of you / know that. He's
sneaked up here after you, and got
you in ahead of that fire on purpose
10 show of. l hain't a doubt he set II
himself. I'm going to look into this
pret-t-t-ty close, young man. Now, you
start. Clear out of here this minute.
- NnA AHhC lily dAQEuNcT 1Otflt diOne.
His anger almost choked him. Young
Jim shouldered his AK without a word
and turned TO start.
Wait Mr.. Farthing. Here. father"
Not another word. I-"
Father, I'm going TO speak, There
was a flash In her eyes and a ring
In her voice that silenced the man.
&Mr. Farthing was here In the noun
tains to look after his wood lot. He
met mi wholly by accident In the val
ley down here. III he hadn't / think
/ would have been burned: for I
wouldn't ave left Pomp until II was
too late. He knew the way into this
valley, n We came just In time. And
there was no way out last light. You
n o that. You've got no right to
speak as you did"
Wen gc home" he said gruffy.
~Ccme along with me"
Not till thank Mr.. Farthing." She
went impulsiveiy TO where the young
man was standing and took his hand.
II want to thank you for what you
have done, Mr.. Farming. I owe you
everything"
"Oh. it's nothing he said with ar
1ccted careicssness, hut there was a.
!. look on his face that even the squire
noticed.
Come aIons, Rose. be said with an
M Mrurxr &n0n #1# M