Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1914-03-12
CHAPTER xv1-(continued.)

paused at the corner of the court Gus
park to glance up at the splendor of
the August naples. The birds We're
singing, and the sunlight f1ickered
through. She crossed the lawn to a
seat and sat down. Harlan could see
perfurned with the bloom of the corn
and the golden stubble up the hillsideS.
Her eyes closed, and after a while she
slept-just a tired woman of 40 who
had worked hard and had no illusions,
who was just what the inevitability of
about the square In is minutes.
gossip ran. The bleached-ha lady
who had come back with Aurelie
Lindstrom from her triumphant
100000 prize beauty tour of the west
wearing the iM-gotten McFetridge
diamonds, was asleep in the park!
No other woman had ever slept in
Rome's park. Nothing could have so
jabbed convention, nothing SO focused
comment OIL Aurelie Lindstrom. All
about the square,, the stores, the
billiard parlor, at Playter's corner, at
the bank and around the hitching rails
the buzz ran. Harlan heard talk of it
from his window. Clerks stopped and
told others; farmers stared. Some
one asked where was old Marshal Bee:
and others said the sheriff's office had
jurisdiction as the park was county
property.
Wiley Curran. talking to Aurelie in
his shop, saw Miss Norman drowsily
iurch back under all the midsummer
glory and sleep as a child sleeps.
poor Adj" murmured Aurefie, She's
been tired for 10 years and never had
such peace and air as this. It's just fine
to see her!"
And Aunt Addy, who had hurried
down, wiping her floury hands to
settle back her specs" and kiss the
wanderer. looked owe in the park and
said: Poor dear--let her sleep till
supper time il she will. What else is
the park good for except tired people,
and maybe heart-sick, too"
Blu meantime Rome rocked with
scandal. Old Marshal Bee was routed
from his midday meal and told to do
something and he ambled into the
sheriff's office and said they ought to
pulled his whiskers and protested. The
undertaken came in and denounced
both of them, and the district at
torney was appealed to, but he shook
his head. Never would he wake any
body up just before the primaries!
And while the agitation grew and
seethed In the court house and about
h square, Miss Norman slep. Slept
a whole, long beautiful hour, and then
awoke slowly, luxuriantly, to stare up
at the splendor Of the sky through the
NAPLES. Affair off came a drowsy cow
bell and the singing of a reaper. She
hated to come back to her banal
world of grease paint and the hunting
of jobs. just ~peace-that was what
she longer for. But she rubbed her
eye and went over to the Parsons
house as Aurelie had directed her.
Aurelie and Mr.. Curran were
laughing together over old times; and
Uncle Michigan, who had been sum-
moned by q small boy, was sitting
spellbound listening to Aurelie's adj
ventures, her hand tucked under his
own black paw, when Miss Norman
came In.
We'll" she drawled with her good
humor, the old dame put me out
proper!"
"Old dame? Miss Amelia?
Il suppose SO. Never had such a
frost. The old catamaran-zing!"
Whats the matterg" cried Aurelie.
salmly, that no friend of that Lind
strom girl could get a room in her
house. Said 1t had been a respectable
house since 1856. We could take our
diamonds and beat 1t to Earlville.
Lord, Aurelie, our diamonds"
Aurelie colored to her ear tips. Her
eyes began to blaze. And to damp
lliC hillNlAl6 1lICSp NtAlSy NAllSu up
Amelia Parsons on the telephone. She
declined to explain. She wouldn't have
them actresses and that ended it.
Aurelie caught his glamely repeated
phase. Them a%ctresses!!"
II wish some OF the managers could
hear that, went on Miss Norma.
They've told me. now n then, I
But Aurelie could see no humor in
1t. "Oh, this town! 1t always did hate
mel" And she burst out of the News
office to stare al the court house.
That's just where they sent Papa
Lindstrom to Jail and made him crazy!
And it's just where they laughed when
I went to school wearing daisies in my
hair. And no shoes!"
Nov, dear" protested Aunt Abby,
sit's Just proud Of you'll"
Il won't stay here a night" She
came back and threw her arms about
Uncle Mich's grizzled head. Well go
over to Earlville and stay at the
Metropole-and take you, Uncle Mich,
and Mr.. Curran-and everybody that's
good to me- She was on the verge Of
tears. And the rest-I hate 'em! They
say I'm different-and Pm glad I'm
different! ] hate emit
Uncle Michigan had sat rubbing the
brass band Of his peg leg. This
radiant Aurelie; his old rabbit hunting
used to dive among the water
hyacinths in futile chasing OF the baby
sharks In the south Louisiana bayous!
Done come to occupy the land! But
now ne was more bewildered. Reckon
I'd take Q out home, Aurelie, but
John he's got 20 nIled with the
holiness spirit. The holiness bretherr
done done s turned John hard against III
svve WONT stay another minnte,.