The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1919-12-19

Doctor Hardy recovered from his in
juries as rapidly as could be expected
and, while he chafed somewhat over
spending his holidays under such cir
cumstances, the time passed not un.
happily.
A considerable acquaintanceship had
sprung up between him and the senior
Eden. The rancher had come from the
East forty years before, but in turning
over their memories the two men
found many links of association third
persons known to them both; places,
ever streets and houses, common to
their feet In early manhood events of
local history which each could recall,
although from different angles. And
Elden's grizzled head and STOPPING
frame carried more experiences than
would fill a dozen well-rounded city
which scorns to spoil dramatic effect
by a too strict adherence to fact. But
no ray of conversation would he admit
into the more personal affairs Of his
heart, or Of the woman who had been
his wife, and ven when the talk
turned OF the boy he quickly withdrew
1t to another topic, as though the SUBJ
ject were dangerous or distasteful. But
once, after a long silence following such
a diversion, had he betrayed himself
into a whispered remark, an outburst
Of feeling rather than a communica-
ton.
"Tve been alone SO much" he said.
1T seems / have never been anything
but alone. And-sooner or later-it
| gets you-it gets YOU"
"You have the boy" ventured the
, doctor.
"No," he answered, almost fercely.
'That would be different. I could
stand 1t then. But / haven't got him,
and I can't get him. He despises me
because-because I take too much al
times" He paused as though wonder
ing whether to proceed with this un'
wonted confidence, but the ache in his
heart insisted on Its right to human
sympathy. "No, 1t amt that" he con
tinued. HE despises me because he
thinks I wasn't fair to his mother. Ht
can't understand. I wanted to be goot
to her. to be close to her. Then ! tool
to booze, as natural as q steer under
the brandin'-ir roars to drown hi.
hurt. But the boy don't understand
He despises me-" Then, after a lont
silence: mo matter. ! despise my
self"
The doctor placed q hand on hi
shoulder. But Eden was himself
again. The curtains of his life, which
he had drawn apart for a moment. n
whipped together again rudely, almos
viciously, and covered his confusion b,
plunging into a tale of how he had LEI
a breed suspected Of cattle-rustling OF
q little canter of ten miles with a rop
about his neck and the other end tie
to the saddle. HE ran we'll" said tn
old man. chuckling still at the reminis
cence. "And 1t was lucky he did. ]
was q strong rope"
The morning aftcr Dave had brough
In the borrowed saddle Irene appeare
In q sort Of bloUmer suit, somewha
wonderfully contrived from q spar
skirt, and announced q willingness
risk life and limb on any horse the
Dave might select for that purpose. II
provided her with q dependable noun
and their first journey. taken somewhs
gingerly along the principal trail. wa
accomplished without incident. It wa
the forerunner Of many others. plunl
ing deeper and deeper into the fas
nesscs or the foothills and even Int
the passes of the very mountains then
! selvss. His patience vas infinite an