Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1911-02-03

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1 love life better than l did when I
was younger. Tonight Nv been out
in the wind, walking up the beach,
and felt strong enough to conquer the
world. even in my most sanguine
boyhood days | never knew the same
sense of absolute belize in my ability
to make things come my way"
But you're a man." she said. "A
woman when she loses her first youth
and beauty must be content to be a
wall flower"
Come out he said, impulsively,
land walk with me up the beach. 1t
Is glorious out; the wind is blowing.
and you'll feel as II the world was
miles away, and that he people In 1t
were of little account In the sum OF
human happiness"
The moon shone between the rag.
ged clouds, as. wrapped in a red cloak,
she went with him on their wild walk.
Its glorious" she confessed, "and
I don't care tonight II am poor
a wallfower, but in the morning there
will be the awakening"
81 am poor, too" he said, but Tor
me there will be no awakening. be-
all my life I've had riches, n
all my life I've been bored. The week
before l came down here I learned
that l had lost everything. Everybody
thought that the blow would be crush
ing, but I have bee surprised to hnd
that I do not care"
But you will CARE" she said, when
you have lived for a little while and
have learned of how little account you
are to people"
What do care for people?" was
his question.
you will care just as I did tonight
she said. When you find that you
are of little account. it will hurt you"
He turned to her. D you think
could ever be of little account ne
asked. 81 don't say this with concert
but I know that I have found myself
and that henceforth l shall make the
world listen"
"Oh!" she breathed. "if n could
feel like that"
Zone must feel like that" he said,
"to live and conquer. Shall we test
it? Tomorrow night put on your pref
test gown and go into the dance eA-
pecting to be a belle. not a wall flower
and see the result"
That wouldn't make a bit OF d'1-
ference" she protested.
ct will make a difference" he SAID
TRY it."
The next night saw her in the midst
of a group of men. Her head was up
and her eyes were shining.
"You see it worked" he said, as ne
came up to claim a dance.
"It was the funniest thing" she con
fessed. Before 1 came downstairs l
! smiled at myself in the glass anu
whispered over and over again mat l
was young and happy, n !
came to feel that was happy, and
came down to the dance tonight with
| out fear. It seemed as II I created a
different atmosphere. Do o believe
in such things? or course you DO
or you wouldn't have advised IT last
night"
81 knew you were Understanding
| your own charms" he told her. you
ran away upstairs to the balcony De-
| fore people had half a chance to see
you"
"After ALL" she said, quickly. what
Is it worth, what do I really care what
they think of me-"
He looked down at her with a new
light In his eye What do we care
for anyone except ourselves? What
I think of you, and what you think OF
me-; that is the important question
isn't it,"
After a while he took her up to the
balcony where they could be alone.
IF had my money!" he said. "a
ask you to marry me"
IF you had your money" she said,
81 wouldn't let you ask me-. I'm not
fitted to be the wife Of a rich man"
Below them the dancer whirled to
the rhythm of the music. Outside the
wind sang a wild song. but they had
| no ears for the music within or that
without. They were listening to the
song of their own hearts, w~hichAtold
Of the love that laughs at obstacles.