The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1909-05-20


red. The smoke hung on the ridges
like a fog. and the air was full OF
flakes OF charred leaves. The rain had
not quenched the FIRE; 1t was burning
as hercely as ever. The dark came on
early. 1t was evident that black clouds
had rolled up again. The wind howled
about the old structure, and roared on
the ridges. Despite the afternoons
shower it was a dry, sultry wind, the
breath OF a week Of scorching weather.
The fire by the brook was almost un-
bearably warm, but 1t was needed for
cheer and companionship. 1t was an
excellent chaperon, too, and young Jim
kept 1t going steadily. He sat on an
old pine block near II, and she perched
~precariously OF the slab-heap near the
door.
The conversation conferred about the
fire and their escape, hen wandered to
other fires and other escapes.
did you ever hear?" h asked sol
down in the night through Heller's Gap
and threatened the valleyT
mo"
And you don't know what stopped
itg'
mo. rye never heard Of It"
1T got as far as the black ring
around the old cabin and didn't cross
And the valley people of course
thought II supernatural"
Some did,
but 1t was all perfectly natural;
don't you see II was? That short, green
stun that grows around the cabin don't
burn easily"
what makes It grow there?" She
was looking owe at him half reprov-
ingly.
"oh, it's some sort OF wild grass. I
| s'pose IL was sowed there some time"
but why don't the snow lie on it?"
II haven't seen but what Ii does. It's
possible that h sun comes In onto IT
in a curious way and melts It quicker.
It's on the south slope, you know, and
under the rocks
But snow never lies there, even on
the north side, no matter how deep It
may be elsewhere"
"Oh, that's superstition, pure and
simple. The stories about that old
house are really l~aughable,"
but Amos isn't superstitious. He's
seen Il; and you know o what no
heard the other night--he and Dan?"
"Pshawl You don't seriously be-
lieve there's anything supernatural
about that old house; now, do your,
He looked over at her l~aughingiy. Il
didn't suppose that anybody nowadays
really believed in ghosts until I came
into the valley here. / never dreamed
of such a. thing"
Amos don't believe in EN-"
mo; but It makes all the difference
in the world who you're with. He and
all the rest of you have been thinking
about this thing SO long that you're
nervous, and you actually imagine you
see and hear things"
"Bu Amos isn't nervous"
well, I know this-that every re-
gion has got a haunted house, and peo-
i - A. - AaltAxFAn0 en
such things car be found by b dozen
to say they have seer the ghost. Now
do you know Tom and I watched there
three nights running after that last
scare and never saw or heard a thing
out OF the way2 It's all superstition,
you take my word for It"
Perhaps So" she said doubtfully
Then for some reason a silence fell be-
tween them. After a time he glanced
shyly in her direction. She was lean
Ing far toward the fire, her elbows IN
her lap, her chin in her hands. gazing
demurely into the flames.
The picture thrilled him the din
background OF hemlock and rhododen-
dron in which the shadows played Mt
fully, the tottering old mill family out
lined, and the girl with the freight ir
her hair. He gazed at her rapt and
GREATNESS. II was the moment of mo.
ments for confession: the man and
/ maiden miles ana miles IRON iii OInSl
human life, the steep encircling ridges
Ia little world, and only they two. A
wild impulse seized him, but he crushed
1t instantly. He would make no avow-
al now. She was with him wholly By
accident It had been against her will
He had the advantage, but he would
not use II. Not one look or one wors
of love to embarrass her now, II h'
could master himself, and he could. HI
would seek her some other time wheI
she was free to do her whole will, anC
he would pour out his heart as a mar
should. A..
"Homesick? ?" he asked. with a suspi'
cion of fun in his voice.
"Not a bit" she said. s~cornfully
But think how they are worrying
down home. They won't sleep q wink
will theyT"
'Can't blame them IL they don't
but it's nothing we're to blame for.
Il think I'll go in, now" she sail
solemnly.
"Good night" he said, and she dis
appeared.
He threw on more wood and tool
his place again ON the log. For a.
hour he gazed fixedly into the flames
Another hour and he had not changes
his position except to pile OF fue
(ContInued Next weekl
--s--%--
The Harvesting Of the Nile.