Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1911-03-09
6he Challenge
sv KATHERINE S. WILCOX.
Copyright. 1904, by w. r. Hearst.)
'.MaXwellton's braes are bonny.

Fast the ulngy MONIES Oh tle poot,
where the lights We're just beginning
to twinkle, down the sawdust lanes,
past huge piles of lumber. close by the
windows of Il shabby cottage. the sing
err went, needless of all but herself
her song.
Inside the cottage there was Il scraln-
| BILE, Il door was opened hastily and a
masculine voice o up the song.
Gave me her promise true,
And ne'er forget will l.
And for Bonnie Annie Laurie
I'd lay me down and die.
and started in pursuit of he woman
The notes blended in perfect harmony.
and the woman went on. still heed
less-singing.
Suddenly she became conscious OF
the other singer following her. She
quickened her pace, still singing
speeding on. also singing low.
Fright nov seized her, the singing
ceased and she fled away, wildly rum
ming anywhere. to escape.
The heavy steps came laundering
after her. She dashed down narrow
n at last into the open doorway Of a
stable, where 1t was very dark. She
was trapped. The man stood in the
doorway.
Caught at last, my girl" he chucA-
led. And now come over here and
The voice was pleasant and it reas-
sured her.
PAY up? What do you mean?" she
faltered.
why your forfeit. You challenged
me, o know, for a kiss"
He entered. feeling about in the dark
till he found her, and led her to the
door.
Il haven't forgot what it means
though tits full fifteen years since I
heard the twilight challenge in the old
land"
What do you mean? oh, what
nave 1 one She said piteously.
What do you want?"
Just the kiss that's coming to me.
lass. That's ALL and taking her chin
in his big hand. he lifted her face and
kissed her.
There lass, that wasn't so bad, was
it?"
She burst into tears. "Oh, forgive
me, l didn't mean that. l didn't know
Truly. really. / didn't N l challenged
you to do such u thing
There, there, don't cry. Bob Nc
Farlan is not the man to take advan-
tage of a girl. Come away home. lass.
and never mind"
He toe her arm and drew her away
down the lane.
walked slowly; she had no fear now OF
her big companion.
Tell me my girl. what did you
mean,'' said Bob.
Il am ennie Levern, a factory girl"
she said. II have "a room in a house
near by. j was born and reared in the
woods of ain There we used to,
roam and romp. sing and shout to our
hearts content, with nobody to hear
but the big woods which gave back it's
echoes.
In the little village over the seas,
Il ~ r pg.-l - - ID .-z l...l r--.--
We called it challenge. A girl would
pass a boys window singing. He
would take up the song and follow her.
If he coul overtake her she must give
him a kiss"
Tonight when 1 heard the song. the
old song, / thought / was a boy again,
so I out and after the girl, of course.
And where's the harm?" he said. see
ing as I'm a bachelor, and seeing as
you're'-
AN old maid?" she questioned bit
terly. Il am thirty, and old enough
to know better h to 81 singing past
peoples windows in the twilight"
Forgive me for telling you my
troubles"
'Forgive, is it? And am 1 not telling
500 Nsse: AT least I'm going to tell
you. AS for being old-well, l am own
ing up to thirty-two myself. Yon little
house is mine. Mother and l live there.
Am only a teamster. 1t isn't much I
have, but it's mine, and the mother
has a bit of a flower bed in the front
yard, and the house is sweet and clean
inside. My mother is a lady. and that's
what I'm thinking you are. ma'am."
han YOU" she murmered. What
makes you think SOP"
Your voice and your manner, ma'am.
1t isn't hard to tell" he said, simply.
Il live here" she said.
The stopped before one of the poorest
houses of that poor n~eighborhood.
This is not the sort of place where
ladies live, but it all l can afford"
, Its no fault of yours hat you do
: not live in a better place. And now,
by your leave, Rob McFarlan is coming
for you tomorrow night at 8 o'clock.
7 And we'll go to the park and Wen get
acquainted, and maybe you'll not be
sorry that o gave him the challenge
A neatly dressed couple sat in the
park till late the next evening. They
seemed to have known each other al
ways. They were Jennie" and Rob
> by this time.
II am wanting to ask you, Jennie,
if you have a sweetheart at the present
1 time?"
e "a sweetheart, Rob? l never had a
sweetheart"
Then Rob McFarlan is going to ap-
ply for the job" His arm enclosed her.
"Will We give 1t to him. darlin', and the
/. kiss to biz the bargain?"
1t took more than n to bind the
bargain properly.
l "Oh, l am so happy!"
8 Then we are both happy and, please
God, We'll always be. Now let us 20
away home and tell the mother that
it's a wife I've been wanting these