The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1919-06-26

IL odloouS, ana WIN me
who drink. l haven't noised it abroa
n a don't drink, and only those VIII
nave been with me a good deai an
Know my ways, understand it. I sin
ply don't drink because / don't wan
70. saw what it did to men when
first came out here. knew | needle
my brains for what l wanted to dc
didn't like the idea OF surrer
aering them for a few hours carous
ana putting myself even temporaril,
OUT OF my own control, so | just deter
hlned wouldn't drink and l didn't
BUT your brother and sister won't be
ileVe that. My reputation is under
stood to be Of the worst, and drinking
is a matter Of cours when one is hare
ana Wild as they think l am. There's
another thing, too. I've kept away
from Some of them hurt mi
loo much when l was a kid, and wher
grew a little older, and so I decided
AGAINST them all. That's kept me
clean. can look you in the eyes and
not be ashamed. l didn't do it because
l a any idea there would eve be one
ike you in the world. / did it lust be,
cause the kind of thing that some men
liked, turned mesick to think Of. This
Is probably another thing your people
wouldn't believe. They've heard 9TH
erwise OF me. They've shouldered
every crime on the calendar on me.
And perhaps they've had some reason
from their standpoint. haven't al.
ways tried to make things look right.
| didn't care. 1t wasn't their business.
mere was a girl came to the Valley
once with a travelling show who was
all IN. She was down on her luck and
just about ready to give up and take
her own life. I helped her out a bit,
paid for her at the hotel a few days till
n got rested, and sent her on her
way to her father in Missouri; but you
ought to have heard the rumpus the
town raised! That added to my sa-
worry reputation, you see. Well, I'm no
saint, but I've kept clean! so-there
you have the worst of me-and the
best-but it's bad enough. Your
father wouldn't stand for me a minute,
and guess he's right. 1 don't blame
lin. l blame myself. AS for your
Why, if Harrington knew L
was out here alone with you he'd bring
a posse Of men and shoot me on the
for daring to bring you home. He
would. He feels just that way about
I shall change all that" said Jeai
with a thrill in her voice. 81 shall tell
them how mistaken they have been in
you. l shall tell them that was only
a kind of rough outside that you wore
"a mask that hid your inner feelings.
shah make them understand that
hey have not known the real man you
Ire at ALL"
You cannot do that, little girl" said
man, gently leaning toward her.
1T would be best for you not to try.
tell o you do not know in the least
the feeling is against me-
But you will help to show them,
co. said Jean, wide eyed with sor-
.ow. you will not go on doing those
things that
made them feel you were moi right"
he paused in a confusion of words.
lot liking to voice a thought against
You will not do so any more?" :
his pleaded wistfully like a child,
o will make them see-for nv :
AXE if not for your own you will let
lem see how wonderful you are! How 3,
ne you have been to me! You will
OF let them go on thinking. You will !,
hange it ALP" :
Her voice choked off in a sob and
" a moment she dropped her tear
ct face down upon his hands thatI .
cid hers. The strong man thrilled
nd trembled with her touch and It ,
then he felt the most crucial mo-
ent of his punishment. :
He sat white and silent for a mo-
ent, longing to gather her into his
and comfort her, to crush her to !
but he would not. The nobleness !
him held her sacrde because he !
lew he was unworthy. Then he spoke /
a low, grave tone, and his voice had !
hollow, hopeless sound. I
I'll change, Of course" he said. 81 !
'uldnt do otherwise. Did you think :
could go on that way artef having {
aown you? I never could do any Of
le things again that I know you f,
like. / couldn't, now that :
NV trusted me. ! wouldn't want ,
J. You have made everything seem .
-ferent. II it'll please you I'll prom :
g anything you like. But of course 1 !
low that doesn't matter so far as our !
1er having each other Is concerned. {
othing can do can make people for ,
what they think / am. They would /,
feel differently. They would !
'ei it a disgrace for you to spek to :
g. They'd always think you'd gone !
perdition if you had anything to do
18th me. I'm not fit for you. 1 know
and there's al end Of it, but I'll ],
,end the rest Of my life trying to /,
AXE myself what l ought to have J
~~mHf 49, 2-4 - 1 y