Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1909-08-13
The House of the Black
: ,.s.. Ring e.,z...4. 200.

tell the secret to any human soul. he
told me the moment ! betrayed IL,
Matthew Heller's fingers would clutch
my throat. Oh!"
, And you told Clinca?"
Never. 1t was Leon. Father told
him when he did me. Hark! oh, my
! God! What's that?-Matthew Heller!'
A half-heard thud came up from be-
low them. The girl was rigid, her eyes
full of ~unspeakable fear.
There's some one In the cellar" he
announced after a tense moment.
"Oh, Tom-come-quick!" She made
a movement as IL TO fly from the haunt
ed house, but he held her In his arms.
1t was as II there was a s~huddering
presence In the room brooding over
them almost threateningly.
There's more han one he muir
INJURED intensely, listening as II for
some ghostly visitant. There's a wom-
al there. Ali" Clear and distinct
there came up through the floor a ia
miliar intonation. There could be no
MISLEADING ii.
Careful that old pot lid don't swat
yeh."
Amos"
oh" She fell back half In a faint
from the sudden revulsion.
You say this leads up to the kitch-
en?" IL was Roses voice. A moment
later she opened the door.
'Why-why, Loney! Is that you?
You here? Why, Loney, you're pale's
a ghost.-Here, Jim, hmos-Loney and
Tom are here" The two appeared at
the doc simultaneously.
by gummy, Amt this bright though
after that darned hole!" Amos set
down his lantern and looked about him
blinkingly. And so you're up here,
are We, Tommy? And Loney, too, by
George! Good-good enough! Say, old
man, when's the happy day? You want
to give me time to wash my neck and
get q new pair OF calf skin boots"
Uncle Amos!"
'T hain't said nothin'. All I said is
that this Is a happy daytime weather
couldn't have better. Makes me feel
Jest like a boy, l vanny. IL 1t want
Sunday, I'd dance we a clog right on
this old shanty floor. Tain't wicked to
sing hymns, though OF Sunday, is it?
Wal, then, here she goes:
"Hooray fer Penn-sil- way-ne-ar wunst
Where folks Is fat and cam;
Hooray fer s~crapple. schnits and krout,
Unit pegs what takes tie pam.
Hooray! How's that fer Ike Watts? 1
tell you that beats the PONIES of Lole
and Scott's marmelade all to ponhoss
Already. Heinz But I've gut to hev
more air; it's close In here. Hooray
fer Pennsylvania" He swung hila-
riously out at the door, and they heard
his song far down among the scrub
OAKS.
1T seems good TO see you out again,
LOney. This is you first ride, isn't
IL? Glad of IT." Jim crossed owe be-
hind the sofa and tool her hand cor
daily. Tom looked rel at them with
beaming face.
"Loney's doing fine," he cried. doc
tor Isn't coming any more, unless he's
sent for. He says she'll be wells ever
by Christmas"
"Oh, I'm not sick now She looked
UP at the group about her with a wan,
faint smile, but her eyes were near to
tears. You've all been good to me-"
you must come now to see Jim and
me and you must stay a week. We in
sist upon It," Rose seated herself by
the girl impulsively and took her hand.
That's It," echoed Jim. Mother
Hartswick spoke of Ii only this morn
ing"
I'll be glad to come she began.
feelingly. but at that moment the voice
OF Amos Harding rang suddenly In
from the scrub oaks.
"Heigh, folks. look o. here! Here's
where you get your gen-u-wine happi-
ness! Heigh, al come out and see the
happy couple, Caught 'em right out
on their honeymoon" He was lead
ing In high glee Tile and the late wild
DIV Kuhn.
Don't be bashful. Here, people. salute
the happy couple; salute the blushing
BRIDE"
II hain't goin' in there STILL AT the
edge of the black ring Tile had halted
suddenly. We've gone fer enough,
Amos
"oh, come on with yeh. There amt
no speerits in there now; I've pow
vowed and hacked 'em myself. Come
on He pulled them with a great
show OF force into the cabin. Say.
good -lookin' couple, amt It? Honest
now, did you ever see a handsomer
one?" He stood off critically. his head
on one side. And It's all on account of
me. I tell you, folks. this Is my mas
terpiece. Ms Dribelbis. you've got a
good deal to thank me for"
"Oh, pshawi" The bride snapped
out the words with killing
wal, row.. you look o. here" con-
tinued Amos solemnly, do you re-
member how wild Tile was for one
spell? Wal, sub, when he was right
at the height of his greatness / took
him and give him a little talk. 'Ulie,'
sea i. fatherly like. you're binder n
q beat. Here you be hfther
and yon. like a hen with her head of.
after this silly young thing and that silly
young thing, and you've looked plum
over the best lookin' n pertest young
woman in these here valleys. SEE l."
oh, you git out" ilrted the bride,
girlishly.
Honest, now. You jest > Ulie
here. Say, didn't I. Uiie? You take
my advice. Tile. SEE /. You don't stand
much show: she's smarter'n white
lightnin' and she can hev h pick Of
the valley the minute h turns heI
hand over. but you try her. SEE !. It'll
take careful courtin.' SEE l, and you
may hev to ask her a dozen times. but
you hang right to II. You've gut thu
bare ghost Of a show seq 1. but III
tell you one thing on h square. y
my beloved companl should suddenl,
be called UP yonder, you wouldn't he'
no more show than q 0 bird In to
phet,s seq l."
You're 4 soft old squash head
Thar she snapped, simpering tn
while In spite OF herself.
wal, now, that Amt no joke neither
but then sQuashes ain't the wors
things In this world. And there's 9th
ers lest as bad. Say. lille. how
your pow-wowin'? Faith good? ii
tell yeh one thing. Us. Dribelbis. your
L NnA