The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1911-03-17
The Native Charm


rush of conflicting emotions and then
oyermastering all else came the
mighty sense of power.
Lying dormant and unexpressed
within himself had long been the de-
sire to become potent factor in the
great world beyond the limited scope
Of Merritown. and now, by the will
Of David Thare. the opportunity lay
within his hands. Great vistas were
opened up to him and he gasped their
possibilities eagerly.
1t was with only slight pain that
he faced the parting with his mother
and the faint regret at the thought
of Ruth was tinged with remuneration.
The stirring vital things lay beyond.
out in the mighty, pulsing cities in
the great unexpored. He felt the
first definite pain when Ruth raised
her eyes to his in mute protest and
battled bravely with her tears. But
his sorrow was for her rather than
himself
At first his letters were long and
frequent. They breathed of tender.
ness and teemed with the exhilara-
ton Of his new life. He told of the
great whirl and glitter of the social
world into which he was allowed an
occasional glimpse and marvelled at
the brilliant wit of women and the
splendor of their costumes.
But at length his letters grew short
er, less frequent, and finally ceased
1t was not until year had passed
that Ruth and his mother received
word OF his homecoming.
After the first glad, welcoming
thought, the mother glanced with a
sudden fear about the dingy old home.
How insufficient and intolerable 1t
would seem to him now Her gaze
fingered wistfuly about the dearly
beloved things Each one had it's own
little niche and use. but with tight
ening OF her trembling lip, she had
everything taken TO the ;.ltic. She
felt sense OF strangeness at the
clement Of modern art which she had
Infused into the place, but tried to
overmaster it by the thought OF the
"elef which the change would bring
o her son.
Ruth glanced wistfully at the white
muslin dress. 1t was the prettiest
ane she mad, and yet it seemed so in
adequate. The memory of those first
eloquent letters flashed upon her OF
the marvellous gowns which he had
described. Then she remembered
the piece OF lavender silk which her
father had brought her years ago
she had put it carefully away, lit
tie frightened at it's lustre; but sud
denly, with flushing cheek and beat
ing heart, she took it from it's place
and with momentary sense Of shrink
ing held its shining folds about her
figure. Then. also, there was the dia-
mOnG pin which she had never worn
There We're but few diamonds in Mer-
ritown. and something within her re-
coiled little at its brilliance. But
she sent the silk away. and at the end
Of week it was returned a glisten.
ing marvel of art She put it on with
reluctant timidity. Tut uttered a
trembling incredulous cry as she
gazed upon her reflection.
When Westcott jumped from the
train at Merritown his step was Gag
Ell and impatient He drew great
breaths Of the keen, fresh air and his
eyes fingered about the familiar
streets. He ran up the steps of his
old home with an impetuous, boyish
gladness and clasped his mother in his
arms with cry Of satisfied longing.
His eyes flashed about the rooms,
at first incredulously and then with an
agonized comprehension. He drew
long breath. and closed his eyes
"Mother!" he protested sharply.
Don't you like it?' she questioned
anxiously.
He was silent for long while. then
raised his eyes to her face; they were
tear dlmmed and wistful When he
spoke. his voice was husky and the
words came brokenly.
II have been longing for the sight
Of the old rooms, Just the feel of the
home and the touch Of the dear old
things. 1t was that and-somethiDg
else-which brought me back. I
want it all just as 1t was, the old,
stiff pictures, the wax flowers In the
little glass case and-everything.
mother"
She uttered glad little CRY and
ran breathlessly to the attic. He fol-
lowed with eager strides, and together
they worked and rummaged until it
was all Just as 1t had been.
At length with quickly beating
heart he went to Ruth. She would be
waiting for him. he knew. He meas
ured her limitless love by all else In
this pure, wholesome old town OF his
He would find her perhaps on the
bench in the orchard, with the broad
garden hat just revealing a tantalizing
glimpse Of the soft brown hair. Per.
haps she would wear the dear old blue
Bingham dress, the one which he had
watched her make. Yes, surely she
would wear that, Is it would seem so
infused with pleasant recollectiona
But 1t was a new and bewilderins
Ruth which met him, q radiant vis
lon In lavender silk with a diamond
| cleaning In her hair. She faced him