Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1912-06-26

&EoLAtuOc. leu put IuAS 4Oco AIVAu AS
as would. it would recur to me during
the night. and scene after scene, with
Ellen and Bud always in the fore
ground. kept shifting themselves across
the mental canvas. and argue as l
would that to make use Of this homely
life with its poverty and pride, its dig
nif]ed endurance Of changed conditions,
as the subject Of news letter would
be an Ill return for the hospitality
had received, yet could not put aside
the longing to pen the picture as I
saw It and to paint it boldly, in order
that others might see it in the same
light as it had appealed to me.
The next morning was up early, the
sun, in fact, being only an hour ahead
Of me. Thinking 1t would he an ex-
cellent chance to see something Of the
place and study its character more n
detail, for l had become deeply inter-
ested in everything connected with the
Pines, dressed hastily and started for
q brisk walk. As was making the
half circuit Of the house by way Of ex-
ploration came upon Miss Ellen, car
rying an armful of kindling wood.
"Why, Miss Turpin," l cried, Il had
no idea Of finding you up at this hour"
you forget the dual character I
play" she laughed. II am not early,
however, for it Is late. But you are
responsible for it, as you demoralized
the household last night in encourage
ing father to discuss politics. Doubtless
you saw all his fallacies, but was kind
enough not to point them out to him."
had been much entertained, said,
though his politics appeared to be
somewhat mixed and his ideas were
quite different from those l had expect
ed to hear him express.
"Yes," she answered; he is half
Democrat and half Republican, with
a dash here and there Of populism, I
fear, but it makes him very angry to
tell him so, as he thinks himself
hidebound Democrat. He can never
forget that Henry Clay believed in a
protective tariff. I think, next to Gen
eral Oglethorpe, he admires the Ken
tuckian more than any of our historical
characters. But must not allow N.Y.
self to be dragged into political argu-
ment, for see you are ready to take
up the cudgel for Clay, no doubt, and
since you have come bothering about
SO early you must make yourself use
full" She then showed me the wood
pile and told me to bring enough to the
kitchen to last two full days.
"Miss Turpin," l said little later
as l entered the kitchen with my arms
loaded down with short oak logs, "is
1t really necessary for you to do this
work.
She looked with surprise at me, and
I thought l saw faint color come to
the surface of her skin. but I could not
tell, for she was lighting the fire. She
saw that was earnest in my question,
and, still kneeling in front Of the stove,
she turned her frank face toward me
and said:
II would resent the question, Mr..
Palmer, did l not know that kind
heart prompted it. Yes" she added;
1T is as necessary for me to do this
as it is for Bud to plow. OF course
you must have heard from your rela-
tives that the Turpins were greatly re-
duced. The house is heavily mortgage
ed, and to meet the interest we have
to save in every legitimate way. Bud
wants to hire cook, but will not lis
ten to him. Father Is determined that
the moment he defaults on the inter-
est that minute he will give up the
Pines to the owners, for such they are
who hold the mortgage on it. And, oh,
Mr.. Palmer, you don't know what it
would mean to father and mother to
move from here now. Besides, too. we
would be no better off-even worse,
think, for we would have no place at
all. Bud and l would be glad to go
into the world and run our chances,
but it can't be thought of, not now
She sighed and continued to make the
fire.
By degrees found out all there was
to be known of the family. for there
were no skeletons there. After the
war it seems that Colonel Turpin had
lived In q reckless sort Of way, still