The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1914-01-29
CHAPTER xI.-Ccontinued).

CesVsaSAe
CHAPTER xI-(Continued).
The peddler sniveled and smirked
conciliatingly; they had OF late begun
70 Tear Johns Puritanism. @Eh. the
business, John! I was just casting oye
1t for tomorrow. To lay out my route
beforehand, that saves a sight Of
'trampfng, n it's to be colder"
ITS no work for the day." growled
john. Didn't Brother Rutherford just
now warn US against such unholiness? ~
he turned to his sons: Come. Peter
hnnte-it's soon to bed for you Bring
In the kindling and be off" He was
not unkindly-he was but a maj in
whom a wrong was burning It's way
d to a cloistered and spiritual
purity; the laws harsh enigma, the
murk Of his days jailing-they wore
him apart in the world; God had smote
him for some reason or other, n he
accepted. He sat watching the silent
urchins, the mumbling peddler pulling
ms CUFFS down yer his thin wrists.
The mother passed with the baby, and
the rasp of his palm drew a sickly
wall. He drew back silently, In some
pathos at his failure. When she had
gone into the chamber, his eyes slowly
went to Aurelie, whom he could see
pefore the mirror Of her little white
the 6 leaves around her shoulders
adm1r1ng, reluctant to take then off.
My girl" John called, come here
she did not move; he saw her face
harden. Come here" She turned and
look at him. "Aurelie, 1 called You,
girl"
What is it," But at his silent gag
fnp Sha n a ort oAa1;or%lrx Ra Ioalrad
again long at her, the daughter OF
Jezebel, whose eyes did not fear to
meet him. Where have you been7"
Tn the hills"
Whom did you meet?"
M one. Just Uncle Michigan and
me-"
Il heard this morning-and Brother
Andrews told me-that you were on the
creek road talking with some one In a
red machine?"
"Yes-this morning." She did not
falter; h was as stolid as he.
The McFetridge motor car. a snort
Ing. grtnning, scarlet devil charging. OF
roadside vas ruthless in his analysis,
for he knew. They brought you home
from town this morning-but they
dared not come to the door,"
NO" she retorted. TT vas just a
little ride"
"Ah. Lord" the wife cried from the
chamber. t h girl. she'll have her name
up more than it was! The papers and
all--Lord save US! And ridin' with a
Jew on Sunday morning!"
b still" John went on stolidly. "l
hear more than that. Girl, can you
pray with us all tonight"
"Pray?"
with a clean soul?"
She o at his eyes, the deep eyes
Of a prophet, and she could not IN
swer; she paled and muttered, and hall
turned to look at the little rosary hang
ing over the frame Of her dresser
among her trinkets.
II hear" he continued with an awful
elaboration as one who had foreor-
dained his judgment and his course
that you are going on the stage!"
She started-she could not imagine
that he knew. And yet all the town
must know, must be amazed at this
freak of the McFetridge twins. Papa
I4indstrom," she said with a sudden
brightness, will you listen to me? II
will 80 a fine thing for US an-the
money l can make!"
ANSWER" he shouted, and stung the
table with his blow: "the truth"
Yes she were steadily, her
eyes going to ard rebellion.
May God strike you dead first!"
Knute looked up dumb and SILVER
] tu6- lIS IllOlllCl pol llS IlCdo LII
bedroom. "Ah, john" she cried, "shes
a good girl with it all, joint"
BE still" he said. This beauty of
hers-Td burn it off her if 1 could" He
got UP and paced the kitchen, his lined
face tWttching. Cleanse her, Lord" he
muttered, put this foul thing from
her, Lord!" And from the woman sob
bling now in the chamber came a wall
ing "Amen!"
The girl stood in her robe Of autumn
leaves. Mother, the money l could
earn! And you know how we all need
money!"
John stopped before her: "Helrs
money! Harlot's money!" He suddenly
grasped her wrist: Eth, this face of
yours-if thy right hand offend thee.
cut it off. What's evil in Gods sight.
destroy It'll"
She repressed a scream at the pain
of his clutch. at the murder in his eyes.
The wife ran out crying. All. John.
let her be! She's a good girl. now a
good girl to us ALL"
But the fanatic held her closer,
thrusting her up against the kitchen
door among the dusty quarry clothes
hung there. Can I SIT and pray God
with this unclean rebellion In my
house,? Unclean-unclean-" he thrust
her harder against the doo-you will
it-tell mel"
she looked DaCk. lou OOnt o0Qer-
stand-you don't know anything
He shook her until her voice choked:
ANSWER"
you have no right"
"Answer!" he shouted. and shock her
until the house Jared.
When he ceased she threw back her
small head In it's frame OF crushed
leaves. mot" she cried swiftly, and
then fought him: "No-nothing!"
He suddenly smashed her against the
door. Its finNy fastening gave way,
and she was hurled out, falling to the
porch. The heard her cry, but none
moved. For 81 time they watched Lind
strom, huge, hairy-armed, In the door
way. Then he turned to them: GO
back" he said to the mute children
the wan wife, we'll have prayers
now"
But after prayers the woman stole
to look out dumbly n thec cold moon
light in the yard.