The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1913-11-20
HAPTE m.-(continued.,

A4S AN W I llG \
bounty; she could trap b in the
9 and catch crawfish with a bit OF
twisted willow; she could guide q dug
u log In the flooded sloughs with a
TICK OF the wrist that the northern
ars knew nothing about; and she had
ecandalized the town her second wear
p school by challenging the best of
Ehelr calioW sprinters and outrunning
mem hopelessly on track and in the
Hills. Tha fixed her forever in the
towns granny soul; other girls could
not well befriend her; h was that
rams girl" or 'Frenchy," and had the
distinction Of being the only
Cathoh in Rome, Ia, except Old
MONTY. the undertaken In the mid
amos the ope WAS q person who might
upset republican institutions time
Or other.
So h had grown up apart. Never
vas sne 30 happy as when fishing with
Michigan along the river-Aurelie with
nsr gypsy Hyeliness; the old rebel
stumping along. batting her hook, pro-
testing at her excess Of spirits. To-
Quacious and reminiscent. Never done
growed up" he crowed delightedly.
Same as when ! stole We out Of the
in N'Awlyns brought We
mp to occupy the land!"
She had a marvellous aptitude for
studies III Lked and an unconqueI-
able aversion to all else. She walked
the miles to school from the quarry
shanties, proud, ridiculously proud,
coming into the recitation rooms,
speaking to none and reciting with a
composure and exactness that made
the provincial teachers gasp. Then
h went along h feafy road to the
woods homeward again, proud n
alone, her red gown a splash Of color
against the staid midland hills.
Still. to track rabbits through the
SHOWS. to skate with the boys on lonely,
treacherous sloughs; when spring
came, to tape the sugar trees on the
bluffs for stringy syrup and gather
nuts in the fall-when one Is young
and pretty and has dreams and pas
sions, all this does not atone; when one
has a love of admiration and q feeling
that one Is loyable and should be
finding happiness in the good days of
youth, it is hard to walk the bleak way
home knowing that other girls are go
ing out to the Geek" parties and to
the dances at Odd Fellows hall. Those
gay nights she studied algebra In the
dusty quarry shirt n shoes lay be-
Tore the red-hot stove, n his snor-
tngs, and the whine Of the baby, and
the mothers fretting in the next room,
came above the rasp of the frozen trees
on the caves. She laid down books tot
stare out on the icy hills, the last arc
on the road to town lighting the way
to all that warmth, all that brightness,
all that laughter from which she was
shut of. She was glad when summer
came and she could climb the mighty
balustrades Of the bluff and look east
ward to where the great river ran. GU,
of the south she had come; n surely
beyond the walls Of this laborer's hut
its smell Of sweaty clothes, and over
the encircling hills one could II life
one could find ones heart beating
faster. Yet she did not complain; hel
proud gaiety was her shield.
After a while, as the sodden mea
went on, the Tennessee woman spoke
what they all knew had to be broker
strom, he says there'll be no more
school, Aurelie. He's been a God,
fearin' man, and hard-workin', and NJ
child O. this house'll go face the dis,
grace O. the town, he says. mute ant
Peter and you'll not go, he says"
Ahrelie laid down her fork an
looked at John. If the hope of HEAVIER
had been dashed from her she woul'
not have been more blank with fear
"Why-I graduate next year,
you'll go no more" JOIN gloweret
ut her breathlessness. Damn all tn
town. Their laws and schools, theyr'
not for poor folk; say, damn the Ia"
2OQ LIN a uldll " v
But L? I must get through! An
Knute and Peter, here
She looked at them and then a
Michigan, growing more frightened
The old soldier shook his head wit
some hopeless warning. Then, Watch
ing Lindstrom a moment, she sprah
up quivering. I'll go-pn go!' sn
cried. ,
you'll not" he muttered doggedl9
you'll die first"
She stared at him again, and the
turned flying to her tiny room. Inc
heard the carsh Of her body on ne
white little bed, painted and gilded b
her own hands. The others went U
docilely with their eating. :,
Kn11fe. out in the dark, feeding tn
cats later. felt Aurelie seize him fierce
" she dragged him to the rail fenc
and shook him again.
"Knute, amt you going any more
"That's what paw said Ihe DO
blubbered, and her hot arm VEN apou
him. her sleeve prusheu nisor I In,
"I gotta stay home and help cleaf laI
All winter. paw says. ana
was e-goin' to get elected to the Lltes
arv society and now paw-hls VOC
hrok ct gotta stay home and CT
brush 49,,
.Tes Paw says the ledge, he dor
n He says the law made us all pa,
:Tain,t for poor folks It's for ric
paw saws damn everybody"
"Don't you mind" The girl pes
the rail with her fists. Wen ru
away Knute! I'm going to 40 som
thing, and you can run Off and may
work on the railroad-a train agent
something! Or go be q soldier III
we used to play! Or We'll run on al
build a. boat and drift down river"
Aurelie rebeiieo II WI
e,wavs down river" with her.
mo. paw, he said God was WI
him. and damn everybody"
she stared into his tear-staineo rae
"Knute, I just got to go to school.
rot to be a lady! And have heal
Of money! And do lots OF things I
you and Peter! Oh, Knute' l kno
howl" -,
He watched her dark and tragic rae
.Know how? What are you golng
do, Aurelie?" He faltered ms h9rre
Whatever it was, Aurelie would 90
"Ir-she breathed tenseiy-am
roing to get married." a.
Knute looked fearfully at the JAG
married." 80. sor
time, And have everything! but III
I got to go to school and be a adyi
sOh, Aurelie-" Knute gazeo ~ VIZ
.way at the town lights. "Who?
49, - rvnrn xix Oboll