The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1919-12-26
p u.

Doctor Hardy recovered from his IN
jnries as rapidly as could be expected
and. while he chafed somewhat over
spending his holidays under such cir
cumstancea. the time passed not an
happily.
A considerable acquaintanceship had
sprung up between him and the senior
Elien. The rancher had come from the
East forty years before, bat in turning
over their memories the two men
found many links OF association: third
persons known to them both : places,
even streets and houses. OmmOn to
their feet In early manhood events OF
local history which each could recall.
although from different angles And
Elden's grizzied head and STOPPING
frame carried more experiences than
would fill q dozen ~well-rounded city
lives. and he had the stOry-tellers art
which srorns to spoil dramatic effect
no ray Of conversation would he admit
into the more personal affairs Of his
heart, or OF the who had been
his wife, and even when the talk
turned or the boy he quickly withdrew
1t to another topic, as though the sub
ject were dangerous or distastefuL But
mel, after q long silence following such
. diversion, had he betrayed himself
into D whispered remark, an Outburst
Of feeling rather than q communities
ti0n.
"I've been alone 50 much" he said
TT seems / have never been anything
but alone. And-sooner or later-it
gets you-1t gets you"
"Y0u have the boy" ventured the
doctor.
"NO," be answered, almost hercely.
That would be different. ! could
stand It then. But I haven't got him,
and I can't get him. He despfses me
| because-because I take too much at
times" He paused as though wonder
Ing whether to proceed with this m
wonted confidence, but the ache In his
heart insisted on Its right to human
sympathy. mo, It afn't that he con-
tinued. HE despises me because. he
| thinks I wasn't fair to his mother. He
| can't understand. / wanted to be good
| to her. to he close to her. Then ! took
| to booze. as natural al. q steer under
the brandin'-iron rOars to drown his
hurt. But the boy don't understand.
7 He desplses me-" Then, after a long
silence: mo matter. I despise my
| self"
The doctor placed . hand On his
shoulder. But Eden vas himself
again. The curtains Of his life. which
Re had drawn apart for = moment, he
whipped together again rudeiy. almost
viciOusiy, and covered his c~Onfusson BY
plunGing Into . tale Of how be had led
Z breed suspected Of cattle-rustling on
! little canter Of ten miles with . rope
shout his neck and the other end tied
% tho~anddla. He ran wah.~ sAtd@he
old man, chuckllng still ct the reminis-
ceoce. ~And T. was lucky h did. II
wHs : strong rope"
The morning after Dave had brought
IN The borrowed saddle Irene appeared
ii . sort Of bfoomer suit, somewhat
wonderfully contrived from = spare
skirt, and announced . willingness to
risk life and limb % any hOrSe that
Dave might select for that purpose. He
ps0yided her with ! dependable mount
aed their hrst journey, taksn somewhat
G1neee1y along the principal trail, ws1
acconplIsAed wfthout inc56ent II waa
- S-oessuunes q Dsny othefs, Dfung
- deeper nd 1espeF into the fast
kneosee q - 1sothlIIs AAd svea int6
~ paaoes = - vssy nounestns theas'
I've 0Is psttmes - tuGntte ssS