The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1912-11-14

10 Spenu the night at the
Pines came early the next Gay.
~ and ! went to the fields with
Bud. for Miss Ellen told me that |
would only be In the way II | stayed
at home. saw Bud at his pillow and
watched how cheerfully he did the
work Of a day laborer. l lit my pipe
and walked several Of the burrows
with him. and then. heartsick at see
Ing this fine specimen Of young man
hood trudging YEARLY to and fro In
the thankless soil. | wandered off In
the woods to dream Of Miss Ellen and
weave schemes for the rest Of the fam
lily when she would have become my
wife. When7 The question brought
with 1t a food of doubt, for, after all:
would she give up the work she had
her to accept any assistance for her
family? l felt there were depths to
her nature which | had not been able
to sound In the short time I had been
there.
For fear of wounding her I had re-
manned silent. but | was now resolved
to speak to her before leaving, and had
I received orders that night to return
to Boston l would have told her of my
boundless love and asked her to be-
come my wife. Still wavering between
my inclination to declare my love and
fear of being too precipitate, | returned
to the Pines. did not see her until
dinner time. however. then only during
a hasty meal. after which we assisted
her TO clear the table and place a
number of small mes on the side porch
for the party. We laid the collation.
for the evenings entertainment and
then went to dress.
1t was with some misgivings that !
donned my evening suit, but on com
ing downstairs | found the colClel ar
rayed in one of an anterior date and
Bud transformed from the pillow hand
Of the morning in the suit he had
worn at the time Of his graduation. A
number of young girls had arrived be-
fore Miss Ellen came down. and the
men were assembled at the foot Of the
stairs as If waiting for her.
My heart seemed to stop beating as
I saw her 1.-THE and graceful figure.
clad In an old brocade Of her mother.
coming toward me. Her hair was built
high on her head, which seemed to
change her whole appearance and
made me start as | remembered my
dream picture. The brocade was fad
ed. but it's gloss and richness remain.
ed. Her shoulders were bare, and her
tilted chin gave her the air of some
quaint old medieval picture come to
life.
Am | not in keeping with the
houseY" she said. interpreting my
gaze.
lyon are like a queen" | said.
"Then you shall pay me court for
this one night she answered and held
out her hand to me. which took. and.
with the manner of an old time south
ern gentleman. just as | had seen Colo
mel Turpin do. | bowed low and for a
moment let my lips linger on the tips
of her fingers.
You ha We other courtiers,' said one
of several men who came forward to
Join us.
She held out her hand. and as she
did so she looked at me for a second.
She withdrew it gracefully and added.
with a smile. ~ was only admitting
a new one" and then babe me fol-
low her. She introduced me here and
there and told mt how many times
l must dance with each. We vent
on the porch. and. standing there. |
was again struck with the resem-
blance to the lady In my dream.
You are like the first part OF my
picture" l said softly.
Then let me play 1t for this even
ing" she said. And If you can i'm
agine me a colonial dame you shall be
a courtier from King Georges court"
Good" l cried. IF you will admit
that | have come across the seas
~a.wooing!"
"As you will. my lord" spreading
out her gown and c~curtesying. But |
will not be responsible for the conse-
quences. So see to it that you play
well your part. else | will send you to
your king again"
After that | addressed her only as
most gracious lady" or fair Mistress
Ellen" | wooed her In the strange
and quaint language Of a hundred
years ago. Sometimes she seemed
startled at my earnestness. and when
thinking my speech too fervent she
would bid me 60 hence end add an
other wallflower to nv already large
bouquet | would ~straightway return
and tell her Of the court life and o
amid my imagery an odd mixture of
my New England home. Once. taking
her hand for a moment and looking
into her eyes,. I said:
"Ah. Ellen, | love You well. and
would take you to a court In truth
where you would and a royal welcome.
and you would be a queen to every q
who knew you. and ! would 90 guard