Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1909-04-10

wrong about them. You know that.
could tell you something about them IL
I wanted to. It's risky to encourage a
man ike that, fearfully risky. Rose.
"Oh, Rose didn't think, Ira. She
didn't mean anything, Ira"
why isn't IL treating Karl right?"
She stood straight and rigid, facing her
father. He had never seen her eyes
so black before. They looked straight
through him.
You know as we'll as do, Rose"
II asked why"
wy. Rose, he's-your regular COM
pany.'
pany?' Did 1 ever invite him or en-
courage him? Did he ever ask nay
permission?'
There, there. Rosie; please. don't,
Rosie"
but, Rose. you've known right along
how he's felt toward you. Surely"
How have 1 known? He's never said
anything to me, or even hinted at any
thing"
But, Rose. you've known it. You've
surely known why he has come way
up here every Sunday" His glance
somehow fell beneath her clear eyes.
But how have | had anything to do
that make me in any way beholden to
him! 1 haven't wanted him to come.
l haven't encouraged him."
But, Rose"
why have l got to have regular
company Why can't ] be let alone?
Can't l speak to a man without his
thinking I'm his regular company? oh,
I'm sick of this whole thing. / want to
be let alone. I'll mind my own business
If other people will mind theirs
But Rose" there was pleading
note in his voice now, II want you to
I1n plx III 90 nYI nf m "a
him. It's my wish, Rose. I've set my
heart on you're having him, Rose. You
know that. It's the dearest wish of my
heart"
Rose means all right, Ira. It'll come
out all right. She's just little girl,
Ira"
But I don't want to have anybody"
she burst out petulantly. why have
got to have anybody? l want to be
let alone. / want to be just myself and
do what ! want to without any man
trailing around after me and torment
ing me. | hate him. There! L do. L
hate the whole lot of EN-" She snapped
around and went to rolling her dough
fiercely.
Don't say that. Rose" The anger
was all out OF the mans voice now.
"Karl's a good fellow, Rose-a glorious
good fellow. He'll make you happy; L
know il. We're getting old, your mother
and I. can't handle this business the
way / could once. It's getting too much
for me. I'm a broken old man, Rose;
I'm not what / was once" There was
almost a choke in his voice.
"Oh. Ira. Rose means all right. She'll
do right"
"Oh. don't, pap. Don't say that. Let
me help you. ! can do it. ! can run
| this business just as well as any man."
| She took a quick step and laid her
| hand on his arm.
mo Rose. This amt any womans
! work. This business needs man, and
| a good one. ] don't know a soul that
could swing it but Karl. You know
| how feel about it. The old place has
| been handed down to us for more'n a
hundred years. Nobody every really
| owned il but just us, and l can't bear
| having it go out OF the family. If lit
| tie Arthur had lived it would have been
| all right, but he didn't, and you are all
| I've got, Rose, and want you to marry
| Karl. Won't you, Rose? He likes you;
| / know that. He worships you like a
| dog; you can see that. He'll be good to
| YOU. Say, Rose, you'll not oppose us,
| will YOU? Your mother and have set
| our hearts on it. 1t would kill me IL
YOU should disappoint us. You won't.
| will you, Rose?" There was a quiver
| I'm his voice and he wiped his eyes
| hastily.
| "Oh, Rose Is a good girl, Ira. You
| won't disappoint us: will you. Rose?"
(Contisued Mex. Weekl