Sioux County pioneer. (Fort Yates, Sioux County, N.D.) 1914-1929, 1919-05-01
IRVINE hAEHElLER
CHAPTER xl-contlnued.
AUTHOR or
esEN HOLDEN. pRl AND l. Darrell OF THE BLESSED ISLES
HEPlNo W WITH LIZZIE ETC. ETC =

CHAPTER Xl-continued.
~
( aount this one of the great events
sf my youth. But there was greater
one, although 1t seemed not SO at the
time Of it. A traveller on the road to
Ballybeen he'd dropped his pocketbook
large amount Of money
$1,000 was the sum, If remember
He was q man who, being
Justly suspicious Of the banks, had
withdrawn his money. Posters an.
aounced the loss and the offer Of q
large reward. The village was pro-
soundly stirred by them. Searching
parties went up the road stirring its
dust and cropping in its grass and bril-
sers for the great prize which was sup
posed to be lying there. It was said,
however, that the quest had been un.
successful. So the lost pocketbook
became a treasured mystery Of the
village and Of all the hills and val
aeys toward Ballybeen-a topic of old
wives and Cabling husbands at the
freside for unnumbered years.
By and by the fall term of school
s7ded. Uncle Peabody came down to
Aet me the day before Christmas I
alad enjo, II my work and my life at
che Racb IA. on the whole, but was
xlad to be going home again. My
uncle was in high spirits and there
@ere many packages in the sleigh.
"A merry Christmas to ye both an
may the Lord love vel" said Mr..
Haeket as he babe us goodby. "Every
day our thoughts will be going up the
hills to your house."
TIE bells rang merrily as we hur-
Sie1 through the swamp in the hard
snow paths.
"We're goin' to move," said my
ancle presently. "We've agreed to get
sut by the middle o. May"
SLOW does that happen7' I asked.
II settled with Grimshaw and agreed
20 60. If It hadn't "a been for Wright
end Baldwin we wouldn't "a got q
cent. They threatened to bid against
him at the sale. So he settled. We're
COIN to have new home. We've
bought hundred an fifty acres from
Abe Leonard. Coin to build a new
house in the spring. It will be nearer
the village"
He playfully nudged my ribs with
his elbow.
"We've had little good luck, Bart, {"
he went on. ''1'll tell ye what 1t is IL
you won't say anything about It"
] promised.
n dunno as It would matter much"
he continued. "but I don't want to do
any braggin'. 1t amt aeybody's busi-
oess. anyway. An old uncle over in
Vermont died three weeks ago and
left us thirty-eight hundred dollars.
It was old Uncle Ezra Baynes %
Hinesburg. Died without chick or
child. Your aunt and me slipped down
to Potsdam an took the stage an
went over an got the money. It was
more money than I ever see before
In my life. We put it In the bank in
Potsdam to keep 1t out o. Grimshaw's
hands. wouldn't trust that man a.
fslr as you could throw a bull by the
tall"
It was a cold, clear night, and when
We reached home the new stove was
swapping with the heat in its firebox
and the pudding putting In the pot
and old shep dreaming In the chimney
corner. Aunt Deel gave me hug at
the door. Shep barked and leaped to
my shoulders.
'Why, Barti You're growln' Ike q
weed-ain't yef--ayes We be-" my
aunt said as she stood and looked at
ne. "Set right down here an warm
Heayesl-Ive done all the chores
ayesl" '
How warm and comfortable was the
Hear old room with those beloved faces
IN It. I wonder If paradise itself can
eeem more pleasant to me. have had
the best food this world can provide.
In my time, but never anything thst
I alta with a keener relish THAI The
pudding and milk and bread anc but.
Der and cheese and pumpkin pie which
Aunt Deel gave us that night.
Supper over, I wiped the dishes for
ny aunt while Uncle Peabody went
but to feed and water the horses. Then
We sat down In the genial warmth
while I told the story Of my life in
sthe busy town." as they called it.
What pride and attention they gave
me thenl
Ny fine clothes and the story Of how
! had come by them taxed my inge.
auity somewhat, although not improp.
ely. I had to be careful not to let
tAem know that I had been ashamed
" the homemade suit. They somehow
celt the truth about It and q little
silence followed the story. Then Aunt
peel drew hog. chair near me and
eouched ny hair very gently and
leoked into my face without speaking.
:Ayesi I know" she said presently,
= a kind Of caressing tone. with a
Ouch OF sadness in It. 'They amt
ned 70 COARSE homespun stuff down
here Ia the village. They made fun
= ye-di.ia't they. Bartl"
ri don't care about tina" ! assured
hem. The minds the measure Of