Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1910-07-01
Ole Grip Of the Machine.
By Clinton Dans.sfi.ld ia c..moOoli,>n.

conductor impatiently checked her as
she made for the door.
go back" he said, b~rusquely. "Your
ticket calls for Canfield."
Yes. ! know" she interrupted, but
I'm going to get off here instead"
THE deuce!" he muttered.
But the woman, with one disdainful
glance at the flying train and the for
Torn station left behind it, turned swift
ly down a side path and plunged into
the forest ways that opened mysterious
tracks to receive her.
On and on she went. When the quiz
etude of the woods was broken only
by chipmunks flirting here and there,
or twigs swapping under her feet, she
halted, sat down under a great pine
and laughed.
They thought ! was goin' to stay
In that smoky car! Lord, I've smeit
smoke enough In my time. They call
culated | was goin' TO spend q week In
town-me that despises the idee Of 1t.
Town indeed! That means folks starin'
at yore hat, and wond'rin' why yore
sleeves amt cut better. You know
what I'm lookin' fer" she added, with
auizzical confidence. to the nearest
~chipmunk. ITS INSTRUMENTATION
from every tie"
She stretched out her feet luxurious
ly on the rich p~ine-needle cushions.
"'Tis good to be alonei Folks might
say / vas alone by myself TO home a
heap-but / w vas There was
somethin' standin' at my elbow the
'tarnal time sayin'. DO this-do that"
She threw q handful of pine-needles
into the stream beside her, and chuck
led to see them float away.
"Wha IL Stephen could see me now
him that alters has been SO careful
to keep me up to the mark! / guess
the two Of us amt wasted nary hour
sence our weddin' tower. HUH" she
shifted disdainfully, this beats a tower
all holIer!"
ened a bit of bark. 1t fell on her lap.
She threw IL back up at him with the
eager amusement Of a child:
You old SCAMP, you one it a-pur-
pose!"
The woodpecker, wisely unafraid of
the aim feminine, merely went on tap
ping. The woman arose and, after a
guilty glance around. hid her best hat"
In a hollow stump. Then out OF her
and a red Handkerchief. The banker
chief she knotted round her neck,
Gypsy fashion. The sunbonnet she
pulled over her eyes. This completed
her idea of disguise. She broke a young
sourwood, straight limbed and smoothly
red, for a staff. and resumed her jour
ney, leaving the bag concealed by the
stump. Sunset found her far from the
stream and the pine tree, and found her
still unweary and joyful.
She stood on a high hill watching the
glories In the west. Presently the won
der OF the red light died. Drinking in
the fragrant dusk, she hurried down
the slope toward a distant farm. The
days duties were over when she reach
ed the farmhouse door-she took care
Of that.
The housewife eyed her doubtfufly.
Yes, she supposed she would give her a
bite OF supper; and, yes, she might
sleep In the barn.
The new made tramp ate her cold
supper as she lay on the soft hay. How
each morsei was, II was years
since h had eaten with any pleasure,
though for conscience sake she had al
swallowed something at the boun-
tiful home table. But this--this was
roasting! The sauce of keen hunger |
made the pitffuI meal food for a god!
Supper over, she lay there. soothed
and cofaPaTiGHed By the dumb beasts |
In the stalls below her. The occasional
restless stamping OF h0rses never dis
turbed her. Only once in the night she
That was when a tiny thrush,
under the caves, sent forth a
exquisite song.
She felt the first arrows OF dawn
pierce the darkness and sat up, eonfus-
joyfulIy. as she remembered
that h whole day was hers. The cat
tie stirred alphabetically. Sounds of
hustle came from the farmhouse.
1t last she saw a boy and girl. just in
their teens, come down the path to-
gether. the girl with pail in hand. Lu-
ella rolled out Of sight In hay and over
heard al anxious aiaios ue.
Don't go IN the loft urged the girl,
timidly. There's a Gypsy asleep there.
She-she might hurt you!"
HOW" asked brave thirteen, skep- |
II guess I amt afraid of no
old woman" He walked boldly into the
barn, the girl following. Yet he did
go into tire loft.
When the girl had finished milking
she found the supposed Gypsy beside
her.
'~Dearie," said the woman, coaxingly,
give me q drink"
The girl sarned her blue eyes irreso-
lutely on the stranger. Her smooth
young cheek flushed. Then she lifted
the pail of rich. foamy milR and Luella
drank her fill from the edge. When she
had satisfied her thirst the girl said to
asT, tiiTrTisy.
you can have a bisesrit. Shall H
bring you one?"
DO said hte smiling tramp. You're
ez good cz you're pretty"
h boy stood watching her In his
sisters absence, his hands In his peck
cts. his sturdy legs wide apart.
You ought TO try TO git some work to
do" he said, re~provfngly. quoting his
elders.
'Do you think said Luella. with
frank camaraderie, that because / am
old l can't enioy a bit of playtime now
and Them" The boy frowned. puzzled.
Play" he. repeated. And you
wrinkled like THAR" Then he added.