Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1912-09-20
By Melville DapissOn Posi-
Copyright by Edward j. Clode

49,
gers wedding at her fathers country
place on the Hudson arrived, every
one knew what was going to happen
and it did happen: Horses were un-
sharnessed, motor cars were ordered
back into their garages, and We went
up in the day coaches of a railroad
special with a furry of 10Y driving
against the windows.
We we're met at the little station
shed by a row Of closed carriages,
Ijolted off to a village church and pack
ed into tight little pews. There, If
one were really IN old and dear friend
Of the family and had known the bride
since she was a tow-headed little girl
in fluffy frocks, he berated old Gen
eral Cruger as though he were a pick
pocket, vilified Emily and damned the
institution of marriage. Then we were
whisked away in the s~now-covered car
riages to Cliffcourt and luncheon. But,
first, we piled our rubbers in an ante
room by the popte-cochere, passed in
review before the old general, kissed
the tips Of Emily's gloved fingers,
quoted to the groom the appropriate
remark Of Solomon, and then girded
our loins to fight for a place by the
Generals feshpots.
Fortune sat me down at luncheon
opposite a man at whom | was very
glad to have a look. Vague whisper
ings had linked his name with Emily
Cruger's for many a long day. He had
proceeded with his plans to win her
rifb Tho 1ojihoratinn pf q VananoSa
field marshal.
But women are not to be taken with
q chain Of forts.
The man was carrying on his face
a courteous u~nconcern, but the enamel
Of 1t was set owe savage lines.
Gossip had it that his plans for the
housing Of this wife were already car
rfed out; the land for a mile farther
up the Hudson had become the splen-
did. formal gardens Of a French es-
tate, the rising walls Of the chateau
doomed, a line Of gray. on the bluff
above the river. The great Oriental
was making ready while he waited.
had no opportunity to speak with
him. Mrs. Chenley Gaynor, with a
niece on the block, had him at her
right. The practical old dowager was
In every 'slave-market.
Any mother would nave feared so
dangerous a man, but not SO Mrs.
Chenley Gaynor. This freebooter was
the richest on the seas, he had sacks
of doubloons packed to the gunwale
Of his brig. What mattered it If the
dearest illusion Of a maid walked the
plank with two gold pieces bound
tight over it's eyelids, provided one
got a country estate, a town house
and perhaps a yacht? Mammon was
the only god who was eve sleeping
or on a journey. The man lowered
a bit about the debutante, praising
her charms, but he did not want her,
that was clear. He nursed a hurt
with his hand on his cutlass.
I was glad that the old general was
independent and the nan Emily Cru
ger had chosen well enough to do.
This brown wolf would be a fearful
beast, prowling at ones door.
We depleted the larder to it's last
pate, got into our rubbers n pro-
ceeded to embark In our covered car
r1ages. We trod upon n another's
toes, damned our elbows into u
1t; but underneath, 1 fear, we were ra-
vening wolves. The tragedy of a coun-
try wedding in a May blizzard, twenty
miles from New York!
The women all had beer carted
away. and I was entering a carriage
after the last man when a servant ran
out and said the general greatly wish
I'd me to remain
The servant took me to a guest cham
Der where l found a glass of whisky,
a hot bath and a dinner jacket. Mean
while night descended and I joined
the old general below stairs. We
cined in rather desolate splendor un-
der the lamps; after that we smoked
by a little smoldering twig fire in the
library overlooking the river. Then it
was that I discovered why he wished
me to remain.
"Courtlandt," he began, you sat op-
posite q curious person today at
luncheon. What do you think Of
him."
Well" 1 said, III one were lacking
names, I think he might be safely
called a wolf"
He took my answer with a slow nod
ding of the head; then he walked over
to the window and stood looking out
at the snow driving up the dim river.
Emily loves this place." he said;
81 am glad I saved it to her; but it
was like the story in the Russian fairy
book, l tossed the wolf everything
else for It,"
Then he came back to the fire and
sat down in his leather chair with
his feet stretched out to the fender.
II will keep your name wolf Court
Iandt," he said; II like it better than
the one his father gave him. l am
glad Emily Is we'll out Of his way,
God bless her. I used to shudder when
I saw the beast at her heels. 1t does
not matter SO much when a man is
devoured. he takes that chance in the
forest; but the nursery tale Of little
Red Riding Hood is full OF heart
aches. I used to see In fancy this
wolf In my smoking jacket by the fire
In this chair here. l have barred him
out from my little Red Riding Hood;
but I await the destiny Of the helpless
old grandmother"
He reached out his arm, moved