Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1911-07-07
A GOOD PURCHASE.
BY Clsrissa HARDING.

"A dictionary" Ruth replied.
Mrs. Culberson's disnay Guild not
have been, more complete had she been
Informed that her daughter had
brought home a boa-constrictor.
And what did you get that for?
Ruthie." she asked.
Because l wanted it," returned
Ruth.
1T must have been pretty eXpensivq,''
hazarded her mother.
Yes" sighed Ruth. 1t cost ten
pence halfpenny."
Mrs. Culberson appeared relieved, but
not entiFeiy satisfied.
1T seems to me. Ruthie,' she weitt
on ENORMOUSLY, that Il girl who WorkS
for two pounds a week, which Is til
only income two people have TO Deepen
upon, ought not to be spending IN
money on a dictionary. If you had tenn
pence halfpeuny TO spare for books,
why didn't you buy three or four of
those p~aper-backed novels that would
be of some interest to me, instead OF q
dictionary
The Culbersons lived In g boarding
house where dictionaries were a rare
commodity. Indeed Ruth's was the
only one about the house, except Mr..
Winters, which was an exceedingly
small pocket edition that contained only
LIS - -
But somehow as soon as 1t became
known that there was a large dlction-
airy in Mrs Culberson's hoom on the
second floor and that everybody had
been given free access thereto, the de-
sire for knowledge was given a wonder
full impetus
But the p@rson who found occasion
to refer to the big book most frequent
ly was Mr.. Winter. Mr.. Winter was a
grocer. OF course in his business hs
| daily met with many terms that re-
quired elucldation. Hitherto he had
found the pocket dictionary perfect sat
isfactory, but after the advent OF the
unabridged dictionary the much-worn,
green-edged little book suddenly lost its
usefulness, and never an evening passed
that Mr.. Winter did not rap at Mrs.
Culberson's door and politely request
to. come IN and look at the dictionary
a minute"
His prolonged visits annoyed Mrs.
Culberson art first. His presence pre-
vented ner scolding Ruth, and as he
| himself seemed deeply immersed in
| scholastic lore. thus forbidding opening
a conversation with him. the poor old
lady's evenings became seasons OF ex-
quisite torment.
II don't Know what makes him come
UP here so often she said pettishly
| one night after he had closed the die
tlonary ana gone away nc La q"
full bore
IT'S your own fault he comes said
| Ruth. "You invited him"
o. course | invited him" retorted
Mrs, Culberson. 81 invited all OF them
Doesn't he annoy your
No" she said softly. Il don't know
that he docs"
AS the spring days took on the heat
of summer Mrs. Culberson became more
fretful. Ruth grew younger and pref
| tier. and Mr.. Winter studied still later
each evening il blissful oblivion of the
| added heat Of the gas jet.
Mrs. CuIberson had long since ceased
sitting UP waiting for him to go. put
babe him good night and went to bed
in the next rom.
One evening in early June 10 O'CLOCK
| passed, and Mr.. Winter had as yet
made no movement towards going
away. Ruth watched him closely, as
she always did when he seemed en-
crossed with the words before him. and
she noticed that he had not turned a
page for more than AN hour.
He looked up at length, and their
eyes met. Ruth felt her face flushing
again. and with the, realization of her
weakness the lush grew deeper.
TITS a pretty knotty problem that I
have been puZZling over tonight, ne
said with a sigh.
Couldn't you find what you were
looking for?' she asked softly.
II hardly know. l foun the word l
wanted. whether IL will ever mean to
me what l would Hike IL to mean 1
do not know. Here Ii is. | have been
looking at II a good deal lately"
He turned the big dictionary round
till she could read the line over which
his finger rested. There was one word
undersigned with a pencil, n she
knew 1t was the one he wished her to
see. II was spelled l-o-v-e.
"1s that ever to be for meY ne
asked.
The blush had deepened into scarlet,
then. For a ONE q o0k - exceed
ing happiness transfigured Net tace, put
a moment later the old ex-
preston drove IL away. ~34e turned
the leaves OF the dictionary Till she
came to the word mother"
That's all right" he said. ana nod
ded toward the door.
Away near the end OF the book ner
next answer was found.
Ruth" called out Mrs. Culberson, a
quarter OF an noun later. what MADE
Mr.. Winter stay SO late this evening"
HE was looking at the dictionary,
mother"
"Did he And what he wanted?" asked
Mrs. Culbersonk
YES, mother" said Ruth, Il believe
ne did"
The negroes OF Tahiti. one OF the So
ciety islands IN the s1uth Pacific. play
the flute with tbs lose instead OF the
/ mouth.