Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1914-02-12
CHAPTER xIII-(Continued,.

The editor was musing. Janet, again.
Always Janet. She seemed behind
every manifestation of his new place in
the hearts of men, his awakened ambi-
lions, his wv to be himself. The
e~nfranchised and free companion. de-
handing freedom, giving it, that was
what she had said the modern
woman could be! He was awaken
ing to this magnifieence in Janet.
ana yet she must low him
SLOWLY his dream grew 10 a vision of a
love past the common call of sex, a
passion ennobled by the riches of her
personality. There would be none of
the parasite clinging to a man. the
need of sentimentalizing shelter and
protection. The helper to power, the
counselor to a widening life-this
would be the woman to come! This
would be Janet!
He met the elder Vance next day,
Jake. the political farmer, the mall
content, an original Greenbacker. a
mugwump, party trouble maker. for
aver given to standing about the
Square Saturday afternoons in his
motheaten, old buffalo coat arguing
with the countrymen. He could not
nave been elected to n office, but he
had not soured. His children had in
nerlted his reasoning unrest, but they
mad disciplined it to achievement.
Somebody to beat Hall-somebody
to beat Hall!" he roared. Folks say
IT'S comm to be you, Wiley! / get it
everywhere except in the News, and
In the banks and warehouses and the
eourt house! The county amt what it
used to be-there are mines and
factories--and libraries and labor
unions! The old gang doesn't real
lie that. It's you, Wiley, all the kick
ers want. And I hear you ain't-got the
money? Amt some of these new real
estate men and boomers over in Earl
vile close to you for that?"
Not much. Cal Rice and Thad are
In with EN- on most Of their deals"
Jake Went out in the frosty sunlight.
Don't forget" he growled, that
there.s a sight of people who amt in
any deals! Arne, let's go home and
feed stock with that contraption of
or across the Square to the window
OF n school superintendent office:
y guess that girl of mine is ready to
go home, tool"
Wiley watched the Vances drive off,
the three of them in Jake's old buggy.
Jake used to travel to political con-
Venttons In the smoker, and, at 12
o'clock, put a basket up between his
g spread a newspaper on his knees,
eat his chicken and sweet pickles, and
then pitch the paper out the window,
put When Arne comes back from coll
E ne eats in the diner and uses a
finger bowl" he told Aunt Abby. "And
they have two hired girls at the farm!
Janet and Arne make up the price of
the dining car and the maids by figur-
Ing out soil analysis, or new school
methods and don't bother their heads
with picking chickens. or putting up
We'll. there'll come an end she
warned, faint in nature for a farm
TO stand two hired girls, or even one:''
He laughed: Get On the band
wagon, Aunty!!" Then behind her, in
the fragrant kitchen. he saw Old
Michigan warming his leg across the
Wood-box. Michigan grinned ex-
p~ectantly:
Done got a letter from our little
girl, Mr.. Curran!" And L done brought
it up here first thing for you to read"
"Aurelie" Wiley was conscious Of
a disappointment hat she had not
written him. She had sent a post card
from some town, with a blithe COM
ment, but little news, only that every
thing was all right. Now he reached
eagerly for the letter in the old soldiers
lands Aunt Abby stopped her cook
the world in Aurelis tale Of wonders.
What she done say, Mr.. Curran?"
Fine! Says you'd look good to her.
now. Uncle Mich. She's having the
time of her life. Everybody's good to
her, and helps her. and the McFetridge
boys are Just grand and everything's
grand" Wiley looked shinning-eyed
around: That's he most of it-just
grand"
Wiley" said Aunt Abby severely, 81
! hope she'd not get her head turn
ed"
Not q bit. She says: uncle Mitch,
the first night I was scared, and when
! walked out there and tried to see
over the lights I just wilted-inside,
Mr.. Crate stood in the wings with the
book. n Hen McFetridge kept
waving to me not to cross so far, and
Mr.. Feldman kept Whispering some
thing from the other side, so / guess /
must have looked scared. / tried to
speak and couldn't say a word, and I
looked hopelessly off, and there was
Mr.. Hamburg having a regular fit be-
U was going to spoil his play. He
kept shouting to himself and dancing
around: Dried knew IT." Then
that made me mad, and I glared at
him, and then I heard what Morris
Feldman was trying to whisper, and
! said, Father, am here" And Just
right, too, Sol Gratz says-just like the
naughty young beauty I was supposed
to be, Who's under suspicion Of being
g thief. Because ] was mad at Mr..
Hamburg and his old play. And every
time I lost my lines they all helped
me-eyery one. and you ought to have
oSSiA Witt TIC papers SAID. cried Mr.,
Curran-I wish I'd seen that paper!!n
Go on, said Uncle Michigan.
"When's h coming homer"
Don't say" answered Wiley. Saws
h hotels are pretty bad, and the
stheaters are cold and dirty, but it's lust
q gforyi Oh, lord-Aureiie!s
Likes 1t 2" queried Aunt Abby. from
her doughnuts.
Says she's got a mission! To up-
lit the stage! Oh, lord-Aurelie!"
But when's she comm home ~
,1uayered Uncle Michigan.
And looking In Michigan's eye, Mr..
Curran saw a tear.
She doesn't say, Uncle Mich. She
Just says she's sending q number of
things for you all' out at the Pocket
with h first money she ever earned!
christmas presents for you and Knute
md Pete and the baby, and Albert and
Mrs. Lindstrom-and for john
And John. he prayed SO mighty hard
he chased her of the place! Reckon
she's h anne old girl. Mr.. Curran,t,
Sure, I think 20, Uncle Michigan,
Don't reckon this yere stage BUSH
ynsss'l ever change her q mite, Mr..
Curran r.
Hope not. Uncle Michigan. Darn
the smoke--its getting In our eyes,
amt IT.? MI. Curran coughed and
spluttered: he didn't want to. see the
on Michigan.s whiskers. The old
man thumped the wooden leg ON the
box and against the stove preparing to
getsolt Of the house.Assunc1e Michigan