Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1909-05-14
CHAPTER Ix--continued.

Not one word. Promise me-"
"Yes-yes; / promise. And you'll
promise 20 gvie me the final answer or
June first 2"
Yes; and 1t will be no; I can tel
YOU that now
"Oh. no, no., no, Rose. Don't say
that. And. Rose, IL it's yes-and ii will
be, ] know IL will-we can have the
marriage on June fifteenth, can't We
! shali insist on that
but / shall say no: mercy! / must
go; my dishwater 81 be cold as ice
she darted away suddenly through the
~slrubbery, and before he realized II
she was out of sight. He stood q mo
ment looking after her in a bewiidered
way. then went again TO the porch,
where he found the old squire smoking
his evening pipe.
The sun had faded out In smoke; a
grey dark was creeping among the
trees. Near at hand I'm the spruce top
n flock OF blackbirds were cackling and
scolding with raucous voices, and far
Their away In the naples by the barn,
the robins were chanting their vesper
hymns. Here n there In the noun
talns to the south were the dull CLEANS
of fire creeping In fantastic, snakelike
figures along the ridges. The smoke
had been deepening all day, and ii was
bringing on the night a full our ahead
OF time.
The Interview with Rose a cheered
Karl. When a woman hesitates and
temporises, there is but one ending pos
sible, and he realized Ii. OF course she
would accept him In the end. 1t was
the way OF maidens to be coy n to
say no at first: n must expect that.
Therefore, as he and the Squire sat in
the twilight with their pipes, he was
In Jubilant spirits. He felt almost like
coniding In the old man, but that
UyAI1J1 hA Fr,Nasatrsrn IIn lnI fhn nnnL
versation at length up to the subject
Of house-building. Which was best, a
solid blue-limestone house or q solid
brick. and what I'm his opinion would
be the relative cost?
Building II for yourself or to rent?"
asked the old man. sending out a feeler.
Why, for MYSELF"
when would you want to begin?"
The Squire had a wa OF getting at
the heart of things at once.
wy, / don't know. You see our
house Is small and is getting old. I'd
like TO begin right off and have 1t
boarded In by the time snow flies"
Want my honest opinion?"
wy. OF course"
Don't do It,"
Don't 10 it?" TIe turned suddenly
and looked at him.
mo, Don't do 1t. Fools build houses
and wise men live i'm EN- Now, Karl,
don't o think OF building n house
TIL you hear from me. I've got pretty
definite ideas about house building and
] want TO go over the matter carefully"
He turned the subject with a~bruptness,
and although "a was mystified. he
rode home through the Gap well con-
tent, satisfied that life. after all, Is
good and that merit in this world ever
finds its true reward.
When the Squire came In from seeing
IL ri nlf hC fntIF1 nnAA nInNxn In fhA
kitchen Seeding her cat.
you're a bad, bad boy" she was
saying, holding him up by the front
paws and putting her face close to his.
You're a naughty cat TO catch poor
little birds. Aren't you ashamed of
yourself"
The old man seemed TO be in great
good humor.
so you've settled II, have you, Dot?
H0. no. hoi" He chuckled her under
the chin. and cooked his head at her
Jovially. "Oh. you can't fool your old
pap"
settled what?e she put down the
gal and turned to him curiously.
"Oh. karfs told me all about his fine
new house. Going TO have IL boarded
in before the snow flies, heigh? l know
what that means. Now. Rose, you
don't wan to build any house. Don't
do IT,"
why, father, what
I'VE can't have you living way down
there in the valley, Rose" he went on
feelingly. He had blown out his Ian
tern and had come very close to her.
Mother and l want you here. You
wont go and leave as. will you Rose?
/ want you to bring Karl right UP here
TO live. Ill give him a share In things.
and it shall be all yours when we are
gone. every bit OF IT," There was feel
ing in his voice.
why father, I haven't said anything
80 Karl. | haven't promised him a
single thing"
"oh. but you VIII. or curse you
will. Rose.
'He asked me and I said, No square
and fiat. and ! meant IT,"
"Oh. no. no no. Rosie. Don't say
that
II did
But. Rose--say. Is there some n
else. Rose?"
mo; there isn't
You're quite certain"
'I don't want to marry anybody. /
don't see why I've got to be tormented
every minute by somebody wanting to
marry me"
But. Rose. you must marry some
timc."
why must II"
wal, one thing Is because your
mother n l aren't going to be here
long. You'll be left alone then with
this great house and this sre:.prop-
erty."
but ii II be years and years, Pap"
she said impulsively. 'sYouTl live years
yet. and III get married sometime OF
c~oIfse-if l must. There's no hurry
pap.
There are some things you don't
know. Rosie. I'm going quick when /
do go. I'm liable to drop off any time.
You know about my dizzy spells: I've
got all the symptoms your grandfather
HAD. and he died a younger man than
+ W. all go that way. I'm falling up,
Rose. | can feel II. I'm a broken old
q His voice choked.
"Oh. don't, pap. Please don't" She
threw her arms about him mpulsively.
Eve got only one great wish now"
ne went on feelingiy. and that Is to
leave this property all right and whole.
1 a trust Karl. Say. Rose, won't
you. to please me2'
lyon Won't have mo long, Rose. or
ra9thar either. II seems as IL you'd
like - please us when we ask only one
fhiug. and It would kin me. Rose. IL
you should ~disappoint as. Promise me
yoni II take Karl the very next time he
asks you. Won't You promise?"
'tCh, Pap. there's no hurry.
Indeed there is, Rose. ! want II