The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1909-05-27

There seemed to him no past nor flu
ture, no here nor there. only now and
lier-and it was enough just to look.
All, see" With her are flung about
her head, and the ribbons flashing and
twisting, she vas dancing swiftly back
ward down the path. He tried to follow
her, but he seemed to ave no power
to move. Her eyes We're suiil full upon
him.
Iona" he called.
"Goodby.' She. waved the streamers
gaily, then disappeared into the house.
door eagerly until the twilight had
deepened into the darkness, but he saw
her no more.
The next day was Saturday. He went
down earlier than usual; the SUI was
still in sight owe the ridge. though
of brass. The old cabin lay dead and
deserted. The blinds We're drawn close.
there was not even a smoke. He hest
tated a moment. then raped at the
back door, and after a long wait he
raped again. No one there. He turned
and canned the path to the creek. All,
as he turned again, there she was, not
door without noise. He Jumped almost
guiltily.
"Why-why-you here?" he almost
gasped.
Come in,' she said gravely.
Why. no. Perhaps We can-"
Come In" He followed her without
a word.
The kitchen was quite dark when She
closed the door. \ few Goals glowed
in the tor fireplace, but they fur
nished no light. Without a word she
threw on a handful of something that
rustled softly; then he heard no sound,
The silence was awkward.
"That'S been a fine day - ba observed
at random.
Yes"
Had the spring fever?'
Il have. Had to drive myself to work.
Jim's had it, and it makes him blue. 1t
work so"
There was no reply. Then the flame
leaped up about the twigs; 1t climbed
rapidly; and lighted up the whoe apart
ment.
He saw only the girl. She was sitting
on a stool at the side of the hearth,
and the fire brought out every detail.
Then a great cat appeared from the
shadows and began to rub against her.
She fondled it %absently, and began
talking to 1t the artless nonsense that
girls talk to cats. He was awakened
by a rafting in the shed room adjoin-
ing. Some one was coming.
Say" he spoke up quickly. Have
o brought up the water YETI"
no"
"All right then. come on"
NO, no: sit here. We won't get any
water tonight"
o course we will" He arose i'm
petuously and started for the door.
"No-don't.'' There was a note of
command in her voice, but he did not
notice 1t.
Come N. 1t ont be dark outside
for an hour yet. Come on." He swung
IL through the door, and after a wa
From the porch they went through the
back yard with its litter of old wood
and farming tools and decaying odd
and ends. Suddenly, before they had
come to the path of the rail fence, she
stopped.
sinking upon a limestone frag-
ment. He turned with a puzzled look,
then arranged one of the buckets for a
seat A fringe of ragged cedars gave
them almost the seclusion of a room.
For a time neither spoke. A TRANCE
new mood was upon her, and it awed
him.
The sun disappeared, snuffed out
even before it reached the horizon.
The dull below of the Run, swelled
high with it's spring flood, came up
steadily from below. The twilight.
vague and unreal amid the half seen
smoke, was deepening fast. A chorus
of frog voices spattered shrilly from
along the stream: ohins and black
birds were In full swing with their
evening songs.
Whats the matter. Lona?" he asked,
after a while. you're not like your
self"
"Ah?"
NO; you're not"
"HOw am | different ."
X don't know. 1t seems almost as If
something was troubling you"
"What could?'
u don't know; but IN you get
lonesome here? Say, why don't you
get out more? Why don't you?"
oh. bah The valley people!
But, Iona, you forget; I'm one OF
them. and so are you"
I'm mott" She turned and faced
him d%efiantly.
"What do you mean?"
and you're not; you're different"
Different"
You're like me-and we hate EN-.
We just hate emf"
"Lona!" There was a look in the
girls eyes that frightened him. -.
CONTINUED N-xe Week.l