Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1909-03-19

Ia DtCh iiliDOSS-Dlts all COIlCthtu, ~
make a more perfect match. The mar
had force and maturity and judgment;
he was q born leader, sharp at bar
gains, and given TO holding what he
had gained; he had moreover, an inn
prcssfve dignity and a tremendous sell
respect.
1t seemed to the old squire as II
Providence had raised up the man &c
take the place of the son who a beer
denied him. Therefore he had has
tened TO invite him home at the close
OF the service, and after the ample din
ner, had smoked with him in the great
front room. II mad talked owe the
crops and the prospects in Sugar Val
ley and the Bottom. n the state OF
the grocery trade, and the outlook, and
had grown every ONE more salts
fled with himself and with all the
world. Then, after the dishes had been
dried" n the dining room "redded
up" he nae called in Rose, who had
sat by the west window, the sun in her
hair, and she had fondled the cat, and
pretended to read the story in the
weekly paper while they talked, and
all had seemed idyllic and as ii should
have been.
The personality Of Karl Keichline
was strong and dominating. He was
self made and therefore self conferred.
He had fallen in love with Rose at
first sight, as he had expected to do,
and he had begun his wooing with CON
hdenCe That any woman in her right
mind, be she even the daughter of the
great Squire Hartswick himself, could
fail to be hattered by his attentions,
tad never entered his mind. He owned
three farms clear of debt, beside his
grocery business ana mis- home estate.
But even without these material good
things, bis personal charms were surely
enough. He was plump and cherub
faced, a man to give the impression of
great solidity and Importance, well
groomed, still young he fancied, and
still fascinating to the sex. Moreover,
he had heard whispers OF the old mans
wish, n he knew the great power of
his expressed desire. Truly, he held
the long suit and all the master trumps,
and he voiced. therefore, as he who has
already won.
But, alasl
Rose Hartwick was not a girl to be
impressed by mere proprieties. She
cared not a snap what people expected
of her, or for what was considered the
proper thing. What she wanted to do
she did, and the people might talk. If
she took 1t into her head to ride her
horse astride a mans saddle, she did
1t, n IL she disliked a thing she said
so fiat and honest, cut where it might.
| She was her own sweet, unconvention-
al self and nobody else, and the valley
loved her for it.
From the first Keichline had struck
her as irresistibly funny, so funny,
indeed that she giggled at the sight Of
him., His dignified, self important air
was almost too much for her. even at
the Sunday dinner. She felt an unholy
impulse to prod him with q hat pin
under the table to see him jump and
look shocked, or to creep slyly up be-
hind him as he sat spinxlike and inn
pressive and shout in his ear boo
o-o-o!" or to pull the chair suddenly
from under him as he was taking his
seat at his place solid and aldermanic,
and have him come down with a crash.
shaking the ~blancmange n the chick
en- jelly. h was only a girl, despite
her 90 winters-a sweet. joyous I'M
spoiled country girl. who had never had
a sick day, and who was trimming over
with the zest and the urge of joyous
young life.
on Keichline's third visit to the val
ley the squire had arisen after the first
cigar and gone u without a word,
leaving the two in possession of the
sitting room.
II was time for the second act.
There had been an awkward silence
for a moment, then the man had bris-
tied up in a most engaging way, had
wet his lips, and wheeled his chair
about SO as to face her. Somehow he
was not SO much at his ease as he had
expected to be.
That's fine weather now, isn't it?"
he began u~nctuously, in a tone SO diff
ferent from that which he had been
using to- the squire that ii seemed al
most to come from some one else.
Yes" she said prlmly, fighting hard
with the beginnings Of what she knew
was irrepressibie.
Very fine weather, very fine!" There
was conviction in his voice. Then sud
denly, as If he were giving a coniden-
tial tip about the markets, he added
intensely, Il think we shall have fine
weather tomorrow"
YES" she said again solemnly, hard
ly daring to breathe. Then she caught
sight of his little plump hands clasped
tightly across his stomach, the thumbs
twirling very slowly, and Ii was no
use. The giggle came out with a burst;
to save her life she couldn't have helped
II. He looked up with a jerk, utter sur
prise written all over his face. Then
realizing that he must do something,
he forced himself to a sickiy grin.
"Ah-why, o seem to be in a good
humor. Ah-that's good. | always
again OF the little fat thumbs, twirling
rapidly now, fought hard with her
handkerchief, then burst out again. He
stopped short in dismay, and looked at
her as If she were suddenly sick. Then
he glanced down over his clothes, felt
OF his necktie, and ran his hand over
his hair.
Yes" She checked herself with an
effort. You always like to SEQ"
She paused interrogatively.
"Ah, yes, as / was saying, l always
like to see All, yes, / take the
greatest delight TO see-ah@
He was ratified his face flushed
scarlet: he breathed audibly; N there
were beads of sweat on his forehead.
He cast another swift glance down over
his clothes; then he tried again to
speak but there was nothing to say.
"Oh. TIM afraid my eats got a bird"
she cried, casting a quick glance out
into the garden. Here, Dick, stop!'
She dashed out unanimously, and on
the instant ne was at the mirror look
ing himself over from every point of
view. Then he peered into all the cor
ners OF the room and even under the
sofa, for he had read stories OF con-
cealed small boys. He found nothing
wrong. There had been nothing to
laugh at.
There could be but one explanation.
He knew the sex chiefly from, what he
had read. and he had read somewhere
that girls always giggle when they are
embarrassed. The thought relieved
him, she would o get over that. He
sfrolled out into the yard, n forgot
his woes In contemplation of the rat