Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1910-01-07

a blazing log fire, one OF them, CAIN
as q statue, unused while the III,
burned. Opposite to him was a Vacan'
chair which occupied much Oh MS az
tention.
II seemed to reawaken all the sweet
est memories of his soul, IL n car
read the human soul in the face.
Isne other, a OUNCE man by seFeia
wears. twisted himself restlessly IN hls
chair. now casting furtive chances al
his silent host, now throwing nrst one
leg and then the other oVer the arm
of his chair. His forehead was TUT
rowed with impatient lines, ana IRON
bis nose TO the corners Of his mouth
deer creases were drawn as tnousn
anger and disappointment were deter
mined to leave their traces unmlstaha-
bly. that every man might read
We said in years he was the younger
man of the two, but no one Wouiu nave
believed it who looked upon them now
The smooth open brow, the large ten
der eyes, the calm, placid expression
of his host, told of a heart at peace
with God and all mankind, and maze
him appear the younger OF the two;
The room wore q CHEEKY aspect, holly
frightened ii and fresh flowers per-
New Years eve!" said the host,
breaking the long silence. Time rings
the kneiI CT another year, the Gays
have passed like the shuttle from d
weaver's hand. AS l sat mere l9oklts
at that vacant chair, l was trying 10
view the pattern woven in hfes Wep
for me the year gone by; a record OF
my thoughts, my words, my deeus, as
the of that chair taught me
so long TO try to do
'Bosh. Harold! l shout think you
had given up your sentlmentality LOT
that old man who caused you 10 expect
so much and disappointed you so bit
terly at last"
II disappointed? He disappointed
me-" answered the host in a calm, even
incredulous tone.
Never, he could not do so. What
ever he did for me. is best Tor me: 1
know this, and knowing 1T accepted II
without regret, whatever other people,
Who expected him to do differently may
believe. Edward, he was my friend
and early in life he taught me Sam
JohnsOn's lines:
Friendship, peculiar born of heaven,
The noble minds delight and pride
To men and angels only given:
To all the lower world denied"
But he caused every man TO believe
you were to be his only heir, and when
he died left to you only this old house
that no one else would inhabit, because
It has the name Of being haunted.
Edward, he did cave me sole heir
Of his great fortune of peace and good
will toward mankind, sole heir to the
secret of success. And, as for this old
house-he knew / would prize 1t more
than a palace in Westmoreland! Here
he lived an honored man! Here he
studied, wrote and taught. From this
home he went forth each day for 80
years an example to all men. When l
was a boy l fled to this fireside in win
ter from the storms outside-and as
I grew older ] fed to 1t from the storms
inside!"
This conversation was interrupted by
the dinner bell and Harold Barnes led
his guest to a bountiful table. Here,
as in the drawing room, a great fire
cracked, and a roaring blaze rushed
up a broad chimney, giving out both
light and heat. Shaded lamps threw a
mellow light on the lands even Ed
! ward Murray softened under the genial
influence of the fire, excellent dinner,
and his sweet tempered host. They
were served by a middle-aged house
keeper, assisted by a butler.
Il suppose you will go through the
usual grind tomorrow" said Edward.
How"
ooh. that pokey rector emeritus, the
old judge, and. in fact, all the good
company we met last year.
There will be no change, Edward
of the old regime"
Harold, why not cultivate the young
fellows-get into the swim
II have long felt that / am-not in
deed the swim you refer to, but in
the stream of Divine Providence.
put my trust in the Divine Providence
and attribute all things to Him and the
proof, the only proof n man can nave
that he is in the stream of Providence
is that he is in a state Of peace. The
proof is mine
An impatient gesture from his guest
caused the host to pause, n as the
dinner was over, they returned to the
drawing room.
The ground was white with snow
and still the feathery fakes descended
Harold stood at the window rapt in a d
miration of the scene of white glory
without. Edward walked the floor like
a man who is. making up his minC
that he must do a desperate
deed, but Is uncertain about the course
to pursue.
A Joyful exclamation from his frient
at the window startled him, and in
moment he saw Harold rushing on
the door like a s~choolboy, and In an
other he saw him assisting the yer.
gentleman ne a SO lately dreade'
seeing, from a carriage.
Now this Ia CHEEKY" said the rector
seating himself before the fire wit
Judge Manning and Banker Ryan. N
one was offered the position OF hone
where sat the vacant chair.
They had already dined. but the
gave II out that being bachelors al
they should claim Harold's hospitalit
for the night.
It was in vain they tried to be pleas
Art with Edward, He would none c
them: and taking a paper he with
drew TO a window to amuse himself.
He was reused by this conversation
Il see, Harold. that you have up
holstered our old friends chair 9TH
vacant one.)
Yes, sir, with the very piece {
Spanish leather he bought for the pui
pose, and often said, some day h
wanted me to give him an exhibitio
of my handiwork. You remember,
did all my dear mothers upholster
when a boy-necessity taught me tt
trade, but my mother and my DEF
friend said / learned the lesson well
Here followed an examination of II
; chair in which the deceased benefacte
OF Harold had sat and entertained the
: for 20 years.
Anything unusual about it-inside