The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1919-10-24
THE REUNION
BY GLORIA RODGERS

The sun had long since disappeared
beneath the horizon, but there still lin
gered in the west a faint tinge Of red.
Patty Roberts patted her horse low
ingly as she gazed toward the low
spreading house in the distance,
Dear old Joe, you've Travelled a
long way today. Wen soon he home,
though. See, Joe, there ii is now, and
Caroline has a light in every window.
l suppose she thinks we're lost"
The low, rambling house was not far
away, family discernible in the dusk
nesting among a few trees. 1t was
homelike and CHEEKY in appearance.
Patty Roberts was staying with a
former school chm, Caroline Fen
wick, who had come TO |IIayton after
finishing her course. Patty had been
a strenuous worker during the dark
days Of the war, dividing her time be-
tween Red Cross workroOmS and host
ess work at the various cantOnmentS,
and now that everything was bright
again, she had come out to her chUm's
for IA much needed rest.
AS the faithful! Joe picked his way
slowly along the trail-for though the
night was bright, poor Joe was tired
and sleepy, Patty gazed across the
moonlit stretch of land. Her eyes We're
a bit wistful as she watched a star
swiftly shoot across the sky leaving
a shiny path behind. She sighed.
Then, as if giving music TO her
thoughts, she softly began to sing.
Her voice, sweet and clear, rose on
the night air, and as she ended she
sighed again and patting Joe said,
somewhat wistfully, well, Joe, |
guess we'd better be hurrying or Car
oline will have a searching party out
for u.s." Gathering up the reins and
turning down toward the lighted house
in the distance, Joe's hoof beats were
soon out Of hearing.
Unknown TO Patty she had an audi
ence while she was singing.
Bob Cutler was returning from his
chum's house and he, too, was enjoying
the beauty of the night, when Patty'S
voice had come to him an the breeze.
He drove his horse forward between
a cluster of stunted trees and bushes
until he could fairly perceive the sing
er and her horse in the moonlight.
Where had he heard that song before?
As he listened the soft sounds Of the
night and the music of the girls voice
was changed to the sweet strains of Il
waltz and he was dancing again in the
lighted ballroom of the hotel. He was
living over again that night when he
had found the girl who had won his
heart completely. .
And as Patty'S voice died away and
he heard her speak TO her horse, Bob's
heart leaped. at couldn't be!-but ii
does sound like her voice" he NUT
tered. Then he, too, turned his horse
and SOOn was far along the trail which
led to his home, about two miles away.
But, as he rode, his thoughts fingered
about the girl of his dreams. Just a
dream, that's ALL" thought Bob bitter
ly. There's no use hoping I'll ever see
her again."
He had been stationed at a naval
training camp and had only recently
come home. He was glad TO be back
at his home again, but at times he
longed for the place where he had
spent so many happy months. Life had
been rather dull and lonely in the
large school for the first few months,
I-,+ ,nn NIGHT of "a IOnRn 0jNnn for
the boys in the service, he had met a
girl with whom he had fallen deeply
and i%rrevocably in love, but although
he never saw her afterwards, the hope
that he might some day meet her
again frightened his days, that We're
long and monOtonOuS. AS the days
went by, and still no traces of her, he
didn't give up hope until he had OBJ
tanned his discharge and was speed
ing to his home.
One afternoon, about q week later,
Caroline called to Patty as she was
coming out Of the barn, where she
had been saddling Joe, preparatory TO
going to the postoffice. Patty, be sure
anu hurry llollt, DttduN' W ~ S'Ab(
to have somebody nice here for sup
per. He's coming especially TO meet
you, so you must hurry and be home
in time TO put on your prettieSt dress"
Caroline had invited Bob Cutler over
to meet her guest, and he, wishing to
oblige Caroline, whom he had known
as a playmate all his life, declared, Of
course, he'd be delighted.
"All right, dear" Patty answered,
"Ill be there, If l don't get lost in the
meanwhile. / do hope he's good look
ing" she added In a teasing voice.
True to her word, Patty returned in
time TO array herself in a becoming
dress of pale blue ruffled muslin
which just matched the lovely blue OF
her eyes. She was Il pretty picture
of youth and daintiness as she enter
ed the living room soon after the ex-
pected guest arrived.
"Patty, dear, this Is Mr., Cutler-why,
I believe you two have met before !"
she exclaimed as Bob jumped from his