Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1909-05-28

civil war broke out, her young heart wa
a very storm center of rebellion. Tn
fmperious southern beauty wate'
against her fate, which in the form o
yellow fever had devastated the dea
old plantation home and sent her, al
heiress. but p~arentless. TO her only Nv
Ing relatives, an uncle and aunt. Sh'
shivered at their undemonstrative re
ception. at the severity OF the substan
tial farmhouse and the simple service
OF the househld. And most OF all wa:
she Disguised with the undemocratit
customs Of the north.
On the plantation the overseer was
an evil to be endured n utilized, but
not to be received on terms OF equality
Yet here Henry Willis. the Swapping
square ~shouldered. clear eyed young
man who managed Uncle
great farm. ate at the same table with
the family and drove with them &c
church on Sundays. And when the
garrulous aunt told her that Henry had
been a waif. taken from the county
poorhouse. Lucille's proud little head
was held more aggressiyely high than
ever.
Yet 1t was Henry Willis who shed
the first rays of sunshine in Lucille
saddened life. He broke the best
horses on the farm for her to ride. He
initiated her into the beauties OF north
GIu hOouidtldS- NhCIl SIV opohC
hungrily Of the open fireplaces at the
plantation, Henry banished the cheer
less box stove from her and built
a tiny fireplace In its stead. She
longed for the flowers and the birds
and the sunshine. and Henry built a
great flower box In her south window
and bought a bird when he went to
Cincinnati on business for Uncle John
son. And he knew she was grateful.
for when he rode up to the house from
the frosty fields he could see her dark
brown head among the blooming
plants.
When the war clouds gathered. Luz
cille was the most miserable girl in
Ohio. She hated those cold blooded
%northerners who could o understand
the right OF the white race to exact
service from the black. She wished
she vas a man and could don the gray
uniform. She even thought she might
write to President Davis II offer her
small fortune and her services as
nurse to the cause. And, oh. how she
despised the stolid young fellows, drill
ing daily and calmly waiting orders
to join the federal forces. Probably
she incorrectly measured the grim
strength and determination Of these
northern lads. so different from the
dashing. impetuous chivalry of her
southern friends.
11eH came the I1OSt ureduIul nays Oh
all, when Henry walked into the farm
house clad in the fateful blue uniform.
He had never told them of his inten-
ton. and he had always refrained
from discussing the vexed question.
Perhaps that is one reason the girl
had learned to care for him. Under
her breath she had sung a tender re-
frain:
III loves me and he will not take
arms against my dear south"
He followed her up the stairs,
straight into the room where every
thing spoke Of his tender thoughtful
ness. She walked to the window
where the flowers bloomed riotously
n the bird caroled madly. Then he
stood beside her. She turned on him
passionately:
How dare you come to me in that
uniform"
He never finched, but took both Of
her hands in his.
THAT was the hardest part Of all.
Lucille, dear-to face you with that
look in your eyes. This is harder tina
the thought of battles and wounds
and prisons. But / could do nothing
else-and be a man-not eve for your
love, the dearest thing In the world
to me-"
The girl seemed turned to stone, and
to the man at her side his was worse
than an outburst of passionate re-
proach.
I'm not fighting against your people
and your principles. Lucille, but for
my flag n my president. They both
need me. and Lucille. Lucille, can't
you understand? Can't you say some
thing?"
Then the girl turned and looked at
him with cold, pitiless eyes.
Yes, | a say just this l hate you
and I hnnA NAV nnyar lnnE on xn,,r
face again"
Then she turned back to the window,
but the bird had stopped singing and
the flowers seemed to bow their heads
in sympathy.
Henry walked Town The narrow
stairway; then came the murmur of
voices, a long, shivering sob, and she
knew that Aunt Johnson had parted
with the boy who was as lear to her
as IL he had been her firstborn.
The weeks dragged drearily into
months, frightened at the Johnson
farm only by rare letters from south
ern camps. The kindly farmer and
his wife had dreams of promotion for
their boy. who had started In as a pri-
vate. They talked bravely of the day
when he should come homie with straps
on his shoulder. Then cam a message
from Libby prison and-silence. The
var was over. the wounded and the
we'll came home, and there came also
silent soldiers who were laid to rest in
the village cemetery. But Henry was
among neither the we'll nor the wound
ed nor yet the voiceless soldiers. But
from the Johnson farm house went
forth many a prayer, many a heart
broken sigh. for those who lay in the
trenches to the south-the unknown
dead.
After a fashion the farm was work.
ed n the crops We're garnered, but
the old couple seemed never to rally
from their loss. And then came the
bitter winter, which brought pneumo-
MIA and peace to them both.
Lucille was alone The villagers and
neighboring farmers whispered that
now the naughty beauty would prob
ably sell out the old place n go back
TO her beloved south, but her lawyers
knew better. A strange whim seized
the girl to keep the place Just as 1t had
always stood. She hired a competent
man n wife TO assist her and went
at the work In a fashion that made
h critical neighbors open their eyes:
not that h cared what they said or
thought. She had made no friends
among the village women.
Yet one rare day in May as IN drove
back to the farm from a trip to the vii
lage h made the first overtures Of
friendship. A young woman was walk
ing toward the cemetery, a mass OF
spring flowers clasped against her
black dress. Lucille knew the story
~ that pirl--hoy oha had marrfaI q