The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1909-04-22
The House Of the Black
y ! ,.s.: Ring s.szt... 100.

he called to her the moment he was out
of the door.
"WhyY
That's a mans work. That buckets
"Pshawl I could carry two of ,em
easy" She made q little run n be-
gan pumping vigorously.
Here, let me do that"
"All right. It's most full. anyway"
She stood aside with a swing.
Those great lubbers in there "
S f%aps here e1 n wants she p 1ad seized edef the
bucket before II was fsirly full and
was skipping toward the house.
Say, Miss Haftswick, waltz want
to tell you something. Wait, please"
He followed her eagerly. At the door
she stopped with a firt and looked
back.
will you go to walk with me to-
morrow at 81" he blurted put.
"Tomorrow's Sunday"
yes I know tin the orchard-Tll
be by the old arbor seat. Say, will
your"
She looked down at him archly for a
moment, then h laughed as IL he were
a very small boy who had proposed to
her. An instant M h swirled about
and through the oor A burst Of
laughter greeted her appearance with
the bucket,
GlOW # I0. AlCaIu . NOlIOg AAu
there was another roar.
He wheeled abruptly; he would go
for his team; he had finished his din
ner; what use to face their jeers?-
the dinner was over anyway. The 9TH
ers appeared after o moment; in 20
minutes the long ava OF farm
wagons was of towards Gum Run.
Young Jim lived the next "a hours
between alternate hope n fear.
Would she come or notf OF course
she wouldn't. Why should she? But
who could tell what Rose Hartswick
might do? He was In h orchard an
hour ahead Of time.
The place was more than a mere Or
chard. 1t was a park, with paths and
evergreens and q long windbreak to
protect the house from the winter
storms, The old squire for years had
made a hobby Of II, identifying 1t little
by little until now Il was really notable
trees, It's row of spruces, and It's rustic
benches scattered here n there along
the walks. NJ
At the point nearest the house there
was q little arbor ~surrouned by thick
evergreens-an ideal spot, retired, yet
commanding perfectly a view of the
farm buildings and yard. Young jim
sank upon the low seat and scanned
sharply every avenue Of approach. II
she came at all, doubtless she would
come straight UP the path; that was
the way she did things. ii.
Then his eye detected something that
troubled him. The buggy In the yard
was lighter and gayer than the Squire's.
THAT was Karl Keichline's buggy. The
sleek postmaster vas In the house there
now, wooing Rose-doubtless asking
her to be his wife, and she would ac-
cept. She was practical and sensible;
of course h would take him. He had
everything to offer her, everything a
woman could ask. Why should she
think of Jim Farthing, who had neither
money nor prospects, who was almost
unknown TO her in every way? 1t was
ridiculous. Moreover, the old Squire
hated him and had ordered him Off his
J premises. g..
There boiled within him a sudden
. hatred that was primeval In its in
tensity, q hatred that fumed into his
soul and oft n blinded him, a hatred
of this prosperous clod who was buy
ing with gold and lands the body and
soul of the woman whom God, he knew,
had made for him.
1t was past three now and the min
utes dragged on and on, until It was
near four; but still HI sat there mo-
} tionles as a panther on a snag, his
chin In his hands, looking at the old
stone mansion and Karl Keichline's
buggy. 1t was fate, mere blind fate
that settled things in this world. There
was no justice and no God. What right
had this man Of pork n money to
step in and buy her as IL she were 9
mere chattel? BY the eternal! fate oil
no fate he should not. Indeed he should
not. He would stop It yet; he would
gain her, IL It cost him his very soul
But yet what could he do?
Thus he sat and fumed and ragged
and despaired and hoped and planned
and did not hea the steps on the patti
until they were close upon him. H,
; turned convulsively, like who has
> been caught doing a crime, and faced
Squire Hartswick. The old man hat
been taking his favorite Sunday walk
{ For q moment they looked into eacl
beasts that have come suddenly upor
, each other The Squire spoke first IL
> a voice that was a snarl.
! What are you doing here?" TIL,
: whole situation flashed upon him. TIL,
man could be there for only one thint
. Ito meet Rose. Could 1t be an ap,
: pointment? The thought clutched a
his throat and choked him.
J Why. I've just been walking through
your orchard. Squire Hartswick. NJ
harm, I hope"
. Say, young man"-he came yer,
: near to Jim, q black look OF wrath OIL
his face. Remember what I told yol
4 the liz udy 81. LII JOu lCdA Whdl
/, said to you them What are you 'rount
. here for now? You tell me the truth
? You came here to see my daughter
Isn't that true? Now don't you lie t.
Q me-" m.' n@.'
y Yes, sir; I did, but"
There's no but about It.. You cam,
\ to see her. Had she promised to NEE
= your"
mo, sir; she hadn't"
Did she know you was coming?"
= II told her ] was coming here" -,
And what did she say2" ~
she didn't say anything"
: And you are here sneaking 'rounl
= like a miserable cur and hiding aroun,
: bushes There's no knowing wha
you're planning to do. It's might,
2 lucky / happened onto you. I'm a goo
mind to arrest you here and now"
What for?"
n 'Trespassing, and laying in wait t
a commit crime"
i Squire Hartswick," he broke on
q confusedly. dominated in spite of him
self by the imperious force of the mar