The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1909-05-13
The House of the Black
:, !: !. e..., Ring e%.,z..... ZOOS
CHAPTER Ix-continued.

eLaN
AND o are to promise not to say
one word about 1T till then
But. Rose, i can surely"
Not one word. Promise me-"
"Ies-yes; 1 promise. And you'll
promise to gvie me the final answer on
jun first p"
Yes; and 1t will be no; I can tell
you that now"
,.."oh, no. no. no. Rose. Don't say
that. And, Rose. II it's yes-and 1T will
marriage on June fifteenth, can't we?
I shall insist on that"
But I shall say no; mercy! I must
90, my dishwater II be cold as ice"
She darted away suddenly through the
~shrubbery, and before he realized 1t
ment looking after her in a bewildered
way, hen went again to the porch.
.where he found the old squire smoking
his evening pipe.
The sun a faded out in smoke: a
grey dark was creeping among the
trees. Near at and in the spruce top
= flock of %blackbirds were cackling and
Dcolding with raucous voices, and far
ther away In the naples by the barn.
the robins were chanting their vesper
hymns. Here and there in the moun
lains TO the south were the dull CLEANS
OF fire creeping In fantastic, snakelike
1gures along the ridges. The smoke
had been deepening all day. inc 1t was
bringing on the night a full hour ahead
Of time.
The interview with Rose had cheered
Karl. When a woman hesitates and
tcmportses, there Is hut n ending pos
sible.; and he realized 1t. OF course she
would accept him In the end. 1t was
h way of matdens to be coy and to
say no at first; one must expect that.
Therefore, as he n the Squire sat in
the twilight with their pipes. he was
IN jubilant spirits. He felt almost like
ronfidtng In the old man. but hat
would be premature. He led the con-
versation at length up to the subject
OF house-building. Which was best, a
solid blue-limestone house or q solid
brick. and what In his opinion would
be- the relative cost?
Building 1t for yourself or to rent?"
asked the old man, sending out a feeler.
why. for myself?"
when would you want to begin?"
The Squire had a a Of getting at
the heart of things at once.
IVY, I don't know. You see our
like to begin right Off and have 1t
boarded In by the time snow flies"
Wan my honest oplnion?'
wy. of course
Don't do it,
Don't do it?" He turned suddenly
and looked at him.
mo, Don't do 1t. Fools build houses
and wise men live in EN- Now, Karl,
don't you think OF building q house
TIL you hear from me. I've got pretty
definite ideas about house-building, and
1want to go over the matter carefully"
He turned the subject with abruptness,
and although Karl was mystified, he
rode home through the Gap we'll con-
tent, satisfied that life. after all. is
good and that merit In this world ever
fnds its true reward.
When the Squire came in from seeing
g on. he found Rose alone In the
Kitchen scolding her cat.
You're a bad. bad boy hi was
paws and putting her face close to his.
You're q naughty cat to catch poor
little birds. Aren't you ashamed OF
yourself??s
The old man seemed to be In great
SO you've settled It. have you, Dot?
Ho, he. ho!" He chucltled her under
h chin. and cooked his head at her
Jovtally. ooh. you can't fool your old
pep"
cat and turned to him c%uriously.
oh. Karl's told me all about his fine
new house. Going to have 1t boarded
In before the snow flies. heigh? I know
what that Now. Rose, you
don't want to build any house. Don't
why, father. what
We can't haye you living way down
there in the valley. Rose,' he went on
feelingly. He had blown out his Ian
tern and had come very close to her.
Mother and I want you here. You
ont q and leave us. will you Rose?
I want o to bring Karl right up here
20 live. I'll give him a share in things,
and 1t shall be all yours III we are
rome. every bit of It." There was feel
Why father. I haven't said anything
e Karl; haven't promised him a
will. Rose"
He asked me and I said, No. square
and fiat, and meant IT."
that
81 did
.But. Rose-say. is there some one
Alse, Rose?'
.No: there isn't"
you're quite certain?"
y don't want to marry anybody. 1
don't see why I've got to be tormented
every minute by somebody wanting to
marry me-"
But. Rose, you must marry
.timc."
why must II"
wal. one thing is because your
mother and I aren't going to be here
loA, YouIl be left alone then with
this great house and this great prop
evty.''
.Rut it IL be years and years, Pap"
she said tmpulsively. "You'll live years
yet, and III get married sometime Of
course-ifs I must. There's no hurry
pap,
There are some things you don't
know. Rosie. I'm going quick when 1
do go. I'm liable to drop Off any time.
You know about my dizzy spells: rye
got all the symptoms your grandfather
had. n he died a younger man thar
]. We all go that way. I'm failing up.
Rose. I a feel It. I'm q broken old
man, His voice choked.
"Oh. don't. pap. Please don't" She
threw her arms about him impulsively.
"I've got only one great wish now"
he went on feelingly. and that is to
leave this property all right and whole.
1 "a trust Karl. Say. Rose. won't
you. to please me?"
{ She did not answer.
you won't have me long, Rose, or
mother either. 1t seems as II you'd
like TO please us when we ask only one
thins. and 1t would kill me. Rose, II
you should disappoint us. Promise me
youll take Karl h very next time he
asks Won't you promise?'
"Oh. Pap. there's no hurry
~ Indae there ia ROoo + want a.