Sioux County pioneer. (Fort Yates, Sioux County, N.D.) 1914-1929, 1919-04-24
CHAPTER x.
A Party and-My Fourth Peril9
11-


oody and had set out in our spring
buggy with the family umbrellas
faded but sacred implement, always
carefully dried, after using, and hung
In the clothes press. We were drenched
to the skin in spite Of the umbrella.
1t was still raining when we arrived
at the familiar door in Ashery lane.
Uncle Peabody wouldn't stop.
IIe hurried away. We pioneers rare
dy stopped or even turned out for the
weathe,s.
"Cone in" said the voice Of the
sthoolE!aster at the door. "There's
good weather under this roof"
He saw my plight as I entered.
'T'in like a shaggy dog that's been
In swimming" said.
"Upon my word, boy, we're in luck"
remark ed the schoolmaster.
looted up at him.
michael Henry's clothes !-sure,
they're just the thing for, your
followed him upstairs, wondering
how H. had happened that Michael
Henry had clothes.
He ook me into his room and
brough: some handsome, soft clothes
out Of a press with shirt, socks and
booth o match.
''1:here. my laddie buck" said h..
'.put item on"
"Fhe!se will soon dry on me-" said.
"Put them on-ye laggard! Michael
Henry told me to give them to you.
It's thu birthday night o. little Ruth,
my bog. There's big cake with cane
dies ard chicken pie and jellied cook
ies and all the like o. that. Put them
on. A wet BOY at. the feast would
dampen the whole proceedings"
put them on and with a great
sense Of relief and comfort. They
were an admirable fit-too perfect for
an accident, although at the time !
thought only Of their grandeur as I
stood surveying myself in the looking
glass. They were of blue cloth and I
saw that they went we'll with my
blond hair and light skin. I was put
ting On my collar and necktie when
Mr.. Hacket returned.
We went below and the table was
very grand with its great frosted cake
and it's candles. in shiny brass sticks.
and It'll jellies and preserves with the
CLEAN Of polished pewter among them.
Mrs. Macket and all the children, save
Ruth, were waiting for us in the din
ing room.
"NDw sit down here. all O. ye, with
Michael Henry" said the schoolmas-
ter. 1.-THE little lady will be impatient.
I'll gp and get her and God help US to
make her remember the day."
He was gone moment, only, when
he came back with Ruth in lovely
white dress and slippers and gay with
ribbons, and the silver beads Of Mary
on her neck. We clapped our hands
and Gheered and, in the excitement of
the moment, John tipped over his
t drinking king glass and shattered 1T on
''Never mind. my brave lad-no glass
ever persisted In q better cause. God
bless your
We ate and TESTED and talked, and
the sound of our laughter drowned
the cry Of the wind in the chimney
and the drumming Of the rain upon
the windows.
Next morning my clothes, which had
been hung by the kitchen stove, were
damp and wrinkled. Mr.. Hacket came
to my room before I had risen.
"Michael Henry would rather see
his clothes hanging on a good boy
than on nail In the closet" said he.
~sure they give no comfort to the
nail at ALL"
II guess mine are dry now,x I an
swered.
They're wet and heavy, boy. No
son O. Baldur could keep a light heart
in them. Sure ye'd be as much out
o place as sunbeam in q cave O.
bats. If ye care not for your own
comfort think O. the poor lad in the
green chair. He's that proud and
pleased to see them on ye it would be
a shame to reject his offer. Sure, IL
they were dry yer own garments
would be good enough, God knows,
but Michael Henry loves the look o.
We In these toys. and then the presi-
dent is in town.y
That evening he discovered big
stain, black as ink. on my coat and
trousers. Mr.. Hacket expressed the
'spinion that it might have come from
the umbrella, but am quite sure that
the had spotted them to save me from
the lant homemade suit I ever wore,
tsave III rough work, and keep Michael
:Henrys on my. back. In any event
wore them no more save at chore time.
Sally came and went, with the Willis
:boy, sid gave no heed to me. In her
eyes I had no more substance than
"a ghost, it seemed to me, although I
'ca,1gbt her. often, looking at me.
..yutlgrd that her father had given her
"A b.d report Of us and had some re-
sgrets 10 spite Of my knowledge that
--ss we're right, although they related
sElat,y to Amos.
Mkt afternoon I saw Mr.. Wright
.aha the president walking back and
:fcFl, on the bridge as they talked
vt> ether A numher If men str0d in