Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1909-03-26
CHAPTER V.
THE HORSE RACING ON THE
MOON RUN.

deep, not with mud, but with that
thick. yellow smear that clings like
birdlime. There had been fiurries of
snow when the wind had roared and
when the black ring about the Heller
cabin had stood out sharp n vivid
in the drifts, but there had been no
sleighing. The snow had gone ms quick
ly as it had come, flooding Gum Run
Gap until ii roared like a m~ill-race over
a quarter of mile OF road, and barring
Karl Keichline from his Sunday ser
vices for weeks at a time. The valley
creek a spread far out on the bot
toms, and the voice of Roaring Run.
always a dominating note, had become
a hoarse below that echoed ven into
the remotest hooks OF the valley.
On the evening Of the day on which
Rose had discovered Jim Farthing's
little horse, the winter came on in earn
est. IT began in a smother Of wet snow
"A foot Of it--like raw putty. A cloudy
day when roads had packed hard and
smooth, a fierce drop in the night of
40 degrees, and on Wednesday morning
the sleighing was perfect.
IT is not sure who first thought Of
the trip; 1t may be doubted if any one
did. 1t was one Of those spontaneous
affairs when all awake at the same mo
ment and find that they are thinking
N'hN $500 NAASAAoiAA- why " Il olCA 4 lA'
over Moon Run and a chicken and
waffle supper at the old Snyder house
at the Cross Roads? On Tuesday even
ing not one had dreamed Of it,; on
Wednesday evening every young per-
son in the valley vas ready.
h Jim Farthing got the news his
first thought was of Rose. He would
take her with his colt; he would drive
right down and invite her now. With
in IN minutes no yuaS ID frnnf If Nhn
Hartswick mansion.
Front door or back? It called for
nice Judgment. Front doors are of lit
tie use in the Seven Mountains, for
they are for the minister and the doc
tor and funerals. But this was Harris
wick Hall, and he hesitated. Only a
moment, however. Who was he that
he should go to the front door OF a
weekday and in the forenoon? He
started by his knock. when Rose her
self stood framed in the door.
An, good morning" She looked
down at her costume and laughed. Her
sleeves were rolled to the elbow; and
her dress was concealed by a gingham
jumper. There was a touch of flour on
her cheek, and more than a busting of
IL In a little lock that had struggled
rebelliously from it's mornings.
come right in. Want to shaker
She held up her fioury hands, laughing
the while.
Think I'm afraid Of -four he asked
jovialiy, seizing her hand with a hearty
grip.
Take this chair, Mr.. Farthing." She
pushed him a kitchen rocker.
mo; no chair. I'm not making a
call. Keep right on with your work. :"
"Oh, I'm going to-" She looked up
at him with bright eyes and laughed
in a way that thrilled him nightly.
I'm making bread; and you can't stop
you know, after once you've begun"
She turned to her heap OF dough and
began TO knead with vigor. Young Jim
could have watched her all day.
Il dropped in to ask If you were GO
ing on the ride tonight" 1t took our
age. but it was not his way to loiter
and wait for hints.
Sure! Wouldn't miss it for any
thing" She paused a moment and
looked up at him with glrlish enthu-
siasm. Karl phoned up tina he was
going with his new horse"
"Oh!"
You know-the one he bought over
Altoona way three weeks & They
say he's q beauty-fastest thing there
Is round here. He's q perfect bay.
80 pap says; seven years old, Is hands
high, and weighs 1900. How's that?"
And you're going with Karl?"
Yes. Wouldn't miss 1t for a farm
You're going aren't you with the lit
tie colt?"
"Yes-perhaps." Somehow the day
had suddenly gone dark. 1t came to
him with a bitter rush that he was
out of his place. The prosperous Keich-
line had every advantage. She had her
self expressed the difference; the one
drove a magnificent great bay; the 9TH
er, a little colt. That indeed was the
proportion. He turned to go.
Don't hasten, Mr.. Farthing," she
urged sweetly. turning from her bread
and looking into his eyes as frankly
as a child. you've only just got here"
II must go. / can't stay. | must get
to work" She went with him to the
door, and laughed aloud when he shook
her doughty hand.
"See you on the ride" she called mer-
rily. and he was down the path and
in the road and driving pell-mell home
before he realized just what he was
about.
The cloud that was to shadow young
Jim's life had arisen now, and 1t was
racing. black and threatening, to the
zenith.
The sled ride began auspiciously. 1t
was a beautiful night, thick at first
with stars that glittered In n Stnl
cold. Then the moon came up, roll
ing. large and round, over the snags
of Turkey Ridge, casting long shad-
ows down the valleys, and then flood
ing all with that marvellous glory that
comes only with the snowy night and
the radiant moon.
But the focal point of all the land
scape was the "bobsled." a long bod
led affair half full of straw, and packed
tight with young folk, who sang and
laughed and abandoned themselves to
the witchery of the hour as only young
sters can. In front and behind were
the single couples-boys who had a
rig of their W and a girl, and staid
pairs at the critical junction between
courtship and matrimony.
Up at the head Of the line was
Karl Keichline. with Rose beside him
In his smart new sleigh. His horse
was indeed a magnificent one-a met
tlesome, hard-bitted, long-geared fell
low that kept his driver constantly or
the alert. 1t was evident that the
sleek postmaster remained with the
group only through courtesy. A single
word. a loosening Of the reins. and
ziu M vyntrlI ho c,,t 80 The 1aul..a~