Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1913-03-14

on a beautiful oasis, nesting like an
emerald In a plaque of gold. So many
days had passed since the beloved
green of growing things had soothed
their infamed eyes,, that the sight OF
this haven cheered them all nightly.
Once under the shade of the palms,
the trio picked up heart. Fortune a
a little. George told a funny story, and
Ryanne wanted to know II they
wouldn't take a hand at euchre. In
deed, that oasis vas the turning-point
Of the crisis. Another week upon the
dreary, proftless sands, and their spir-
it's would have gone under completely.
This oasis was close to the regular
camel-way, there being a larger oasis
some twenty-odd miles to the north.
But Mahomed felt safe at this distance,
and decided to freshen up the aravan
by a two-days' rest.
George Immediately began to show
Fortune little attentions. He fixed her
saddle-bags, spread out her blanket,
brought her some ripe dates Of his
own picking. insisted upon going to
the we'll and drawing the water she
was to drink. And oh! how sweet and
o that water was, after the gritty
nat liquid they had been drinking!
lust before shutdown, he and Fortune
set out upon q voyage of discovery;
and Ryanne paused in his game of pa
t1ence to watch them. There wa,
more self-abnegation than bitterness
IN his eyes. Why not? II Fortune re-
turned to. her mother, sooner or later
the thunderbolt would fall. Far better
that h should fall in love with Jones
than to go back to the overhanging
shadow. A smile lifted the corners of
his lips, a sad smile. Percival didn't
look the part Of a hero. His coat was
variously split under the arms and
across the shoulders; his trousers
were ragged, and he walked in his
cloth pads like a man who had govt
IN both feet. A beard covered his
and the bare spots were bliste7ed
n peeling. But there was youth In
PercivaIs eyes and youth in his heart,
and surely the youth in hers must
some day respond. She would know
this young man.; she would know that
adversely could not crush him; that
the promise Of safety could not make
a coward Of him: that he was loyal
oA0 OAoV0 uAO AOu6SL one WOulQ
know In twenty days what It takes the
average woman twenty years to learn,
the manner of man who protested to
love her. Ryanne left the II unfn-
fshed. stretched himself upon the
ground. Oh, the bitter cup, the bitter
cup!
Round the fire that night, the camel
boys got u their tom-toms and reeds,
n the eerie music affected the white
people hauntingly and mYsteriously.
For, thousands OF years, the high and
low notes of the drums (hollow earth
enjars or large gourds covered with
goat-skin at n end) and the thin, me- |
tallic wall of the reeds had echoed
across the deserts, unchanged.
Fortune always remembered that
night. Wrapped in her blanket, she
had lain down Just outside the circle,
and had fallen into a doze. When the
music stopped and the boys left the
prisoners to themselves. George and
Ryanne talked.
81 never forget faces" began
George.
mo? That's a gift"
And ! have never forgotten yours.
I was in doubt at first. but not now"
IT eve met you till that night at
the hotel"
That's true. But you are Horace
Wadsworth. all the same, the son Of
the millionaire-banker, the man I used
to admire in the field"
"You still think I'm that chap"
II am SURE Of 1t. The first morning
You gave yourself away
What did ! say?" anxiously.
You mumbled football phrases"
"Ah!" Ryanne was vastly relieved.
He seemed to be thinking.
do you persist in denying Hf"
7 might deny 1t, but I shan't. I'm
Horace Wadsworth. all right. Fortune
knows something about that chapter,
but not all. Strikes you odd. eh?" con
tinued Ryanne, iron in his voice.
Every opportunity in the world; and
yet, here I am. How much do you
know, l wonder?"
you took some money from the
bank, / think they SAID"
"Right-Ol Wine, Percival; cards.
wine and other things. Advice and
warning went into one ear and out of
the other. Always 30. Ell? You have
heard Of my brother, / dare say. Well,
he wouldn't lend me two stamps were
I to write for the undertaken to come
and collect my remains. Beautiful his
tory! I've been doing some tall think
ing these lonely nights. Only the
straight and narrow way pays. Be
good. even If you are lonesome. When
l get back, II l ever do, It's q new leaf
for mine. Neither wine nor cards nor
women"
Silence. The fire no longer blazed;
It glowed.
Who is Mrs. Chedsoye7" George
finally began anew.
First, how did you chance to make
her acquaintance"
Some years ago, at Monte Carlo"
And she borrowed . hundred and
nifty pounds Of you"
Who told you that?'' quickly.
She did. She paid you back"
Eyes"
And she hadn't intended Ia. You
poor innocsnt!"
why do you call me thatf"
TO lend money 1T Monte Carlo 70 4
woman whose name you did not know
II the time! Green. green q = paddy
field! III tell Q Who she ID. because