Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1909-10-15
CHATTER VII.

exact route the quaclk had laid Out
for his Journey, he was aertaln that
1t would be easy enough To trace him
In that sparsely-settled region, and so
he turned his face in the direction in
which the equipage vanished when h
watched 1t from the barn.
It was not until the light OF morn
ing struggled through this universal
gloom that the weary and bedraggled
traveller entered the outskirts of the
then struggling but growing and busy
village OF Hamilton. Tired in body
and benumbed IN mind. he made his
way to the iioE 4, conscious only of his
desire and determination to o once
more upon the face of the woman
whose image was SO indelibly impress
"a upon his mind.
Approaching the desk he nervousfy
asked II the doctor was among the
guests, flushed at the answer, demand
"a q room, assembled the steep saair-
case, and, was soon in bed and asleep.
Fntigued by his long tramp, he did not
awaken until after noon, and then,
having hathed. dressed and broken his
long fast, he knocked at the door OF
tho room occupied by the doctor and
his wife.
There was a quick but gentle step
in answer to his summons. and at the
music Of that football his heart beat
t~umultuously. The door opened. and
before him stood the woman who had
brought about this mysterious train
OF events In his life.
She started back az she saw him,
with an involuntary Il tifnii motion,
but so great was her surprise and joy
that she could not control her speech
or action sufficiently to greet him.
WHO is Is there 7" cried the doctor,
in his loud, imperative voice.
MIR. Corson." she answered. in tones
that were scarcely audible.
"Corscn? Who Is Corson, and what
does he want 2" he asked, rising and
approaching the door.
The instant his eyes fell on the
countenance of the Quaker, he threw
UP both hands and uttered a prolong-
ed whiatle OF establishment.
.The p~reacher!" he exclaimed. "The
lost is found. The p-p-prodigal has
returned. Come in, and let us k-k-kill
the fatted calf"
Coarae as the welcome was, 1t was
full OF sincerity. and its heartiness was
like balm to the wounded spirit of the
youth. He grasped the extended hand
and permitted himself to be drawn in
to the room.
Pepesta, who had recovered from the
first shock Of surprise and delight,
came forward and greeted him with a
shy reserve. She gave him her hand,
and Ito gentle touch terminated his
soul. She smiled at him-a gracious
smile, and its light illumined the dark
ness Of his heart. His sadness van
ished. He once more felt an emotion
OF joy.
The excitement Of their meeting
selves, David in an easy chair, the
doctar on the broad couch. and Pc
peeta on a little ottoman at his feet.
the bright sunshine which beat upon
chear, vulgar, faded. On the floor
was an Old ingram carpet fun Of
patches and spattered with ink stains.
"A b~lue-bottle fly whixzcd and butted
his head against the wallis. and
the trafnc OF the busy little town.
Nothing coula have been more ex-
pressive Of triumph and delight than
the face OF the duack. Whenever his
feelings were particularly bland and
expansive, he had q way of taking the
ends of his enormous moustache and
twirling them between his spatulate
thumbs ana hngers. He did this now.
and twisted them until the oarse hairs
could be HydsGFAting against sadhs
&J =