Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1911-07-28
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THE HILL of HOPE
RY MARTHA McCULLOCH-WILLIAMS
Copyright. 1871. by Associated Literary f''''

/ After a second the two, they were
most excellent chums. understood, and
both laughed.
Hit YOU, too, square between the
eyes," Mallows said.
h other nodded. After q breath.
he said ir~relevantly: IT'S moi so mucn
her good looks-I can find a dozen
p~rettier girls in a days rlde-out
Notwithstanding catches you IN
the breath, when you see her. Wnat
is it,"
Remember the Dryads? We read
about them in our Greek days. NAL
lows said, lifting his eyes to the SKY
line. Then suddenly :"Could you pos
sibly imagine her fashionable-w1tn a
! corset on body or soul?'
lowering, the fnancier, shook MS
head. Mallows turned from Hill
men were coming, almost on the run
urged by some invisible monitor. he
smiled. She need not hope thus 10
escape him-he would see that she got
her pay, also the best apology he
could frame for his laundering. linen
he was suddenly aware that she passed
by-that she smiled at him, that sne
moved with the foot Of Atlanta AS
she climbed the hill, one OF the VII
lage fellows said, shaking his head:
BE dinged If 1t didn't plum skeer
me ter see Lassy Drewett tompl
her foot at the bunch o US. ana
fairly drivin' us to work. why, l
don't hardly believe she vas ever ON
the place before-not by her lone
self"
lowering smiled as he listened.
Mallows looked glum. Here was no
dryad, rather an enchanted princess,
guarded by ancient dragons-he was
already aware of the aMnts. Iney
might, If they chose, make a lot OF
trouble for the new road-its right OF
way must cross a corner OF their land,
not very big, but strategically most
important. The countryside had bid
den the road builders beware OF the
sisters. They were prone to suspicion
of strangers because they didn't
know them, of friends because h
did.
Presently lowering went toward the
wide weather-gray house, whistling.
evidently thoughtful, yet alert.
MdllOWS mdue D. ltllI u oiSSohlOhC
with his survey. Wait! l want to
look over the country from that hill
top" he said, off-handedly to his
helpers.
AS they sat down at ease, he half
ran up the hill. There was a clump
of trees at top-elsewhere it lay bare.
He a a notion that he should find
the clump tenanted. So he was not in
the least taken aback, when Alaster
said airily:
II don't want my money-but o
have to pay ito Mrs. Damn, at the
p%ostofice. She has nothing but a mean
dog, and a big fat no-account husband.
The money is for her, and the dog
to buy it a bone. and her some-wen.
some stockings saw she had on
rags"
You must take the money yourself
never would dare undertake a com
mission so delicate" Mallows laughed.
Alaster screwed up her face. "A
man who can swear so shouldn't be
afraid of anything" she murmured.
Then as though suddenly enlightened,
Don't you be afraid of Mr.. Damn
he can't possibly be jealous. 1t would
be different if l had asked the hand
some man"
Mighty different!" Mallows
growled. lowering has cheek enough
for anything"
81 wonder would he dare ask them
to let him stay at dinner?' Alaster
cried, nodding toward the house, 90!
l hope SO! 1t is three years since we
had company-except preachers and
peddlers-and they don't count"
Would l count-if l Gamer" NAL
lows demanded.
She smiled at him.
How could 1 tell, unless you tried
it," she said.
Il am going to try-depend on it."
Mallows said. looking full In her
yes
A month after he asked the aunts
for Alaster. lowering, no%twithstand-
ing his looks, had found himself out
Of the running at the beginning of the
game. A good friend he showed him
self. The Sisters Drewett might never
have consented 20 the Mallows match.
if lowering had not admonished them.
Suppose Alaster's father turned
up, only a husband would have author
ity against him!"
At that they gave in-joyously it
must be confessed. They were not so
old. but the flavor of life delighted
them. And they felt like fairy prin.
cesses themselves when, a year after
the wedding. Alaster's father did
turn up, no a ne'er do well, but a
man sorely repenting the haste and
of his youth. He had no known
there was a living child-he had
thought it died with the mother. Since
he had a fortune to bestow upon his
grandson. he quickly made his peace.