The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1921-11-10
Millicent Ends a
Feud
BY DOROTHY WHITcoMB

20. 1921. Western Newspaper Union.)

months of speechless stupor, just az
the doctor had anticipated.
"NIilly," he whispered, when l an
dead you will have enough to live
upon. l want you to promise never
to sell the old homestead"
II promise, my DEAR" I answered.
and that was all. He seemed to have
called himself back to life with one
wild effort in order to get my prom
Use. He died at four o'clock in the
morning.
"Of course, you'll sell now, Miss
Street." my friends told me, and they
laughed when announced my inten-
ton Of refusing. So did Mr.. James
lawyer when he called on me few
days later.
swell, young lady," he said, setting
down his hat and staring hard at me.
| "yOu can guess what I have called
| to see you about, 1 suppose?"
Perhaps" answered enigmatical-
ly.
"YOu know that for seven years
Mr.. James has been trying to get the
Street homestead. The assessed value
Of your property is, I believe, four
thousand dollars. Mr.. James offers
you fifteen thousand"
'He rose from four thousand to fiji
teen thousand in seven years." I an
swered. But wouldn't sell it for a
hundred thousand. In fact, won't
sell it at all. My father might have
sold once, although the homestead. was
naturally dear to him. But when Mr..
James began his prosecutions"
"That was old Mr.. James," inter-
rupted the lawyer, frowning. "Mr.
Cyprian James had, admit, vindic-
tive nature. Mr.. Harold James, how
ever, is a fine gentleman. Mr.. James
is coming South to live, and wants
your place for shooting box"
"No," I answered. ut isn't for
sale"
One morning a few days later saw
that a series of boards had been put
up all around my little property in
the night. I went down to look at
them. There were ten in all, and
each bore in large letters the words:
"TRESPASSERS WILL BE PROSE-
CUTED."
The road led from the garden
through mile Of James land to
Hicksvlle. A man was waiting at
the gate of the garden, and l hadn't
set foot outside before he came hur-
riedly forward.
II must ask you to go back" he
said. taking off his hat respectfully.
He seemed gentleman, although he
was dressed like a tramp. "You may
not know that this is private road.
I must request that you step back
upon your own territory"
"Indeed, l shall do no such thing"
I replied angrily. II utterly defy you
and your old road
returned from town about an hour
later.
I was very lonely. l had written
to girl chum to come down from
Richmond and stay with me until l
had decided upon my plans, but I had
never contemplated being marooned.
What if that Wicked Harold James
really meant to let me starve to
death there? wasn't too joyful when
l awoke next morning.
I looked out Of the window. Close
to the gate, tied to short stake by
very long chain, was the most savage
looking bull had ever seen. He had
his head down, and as I approached
the garden gate he gave one below
and began to paw the ground fur.
Ously.
I tried to compute the length OF
that chain.
l saw that he could not reach the
garden.
Then l took heart again. The chain
was too short. I could pass the bull
with several feet to spare.
l felt so Infatuated that, as l passed
the snorting monster, snapped my
fingers at it. Next instant, with a
roar, the creature leaped at me. And
then-well, for the first time in my
life l tainted.
1 could not have been unconscious
4ong, for when l opened my eyes the
bull was feeding a short distance
away, as peacefully as though it had
never had thoughts of violence toward
me. And the gamekeeper was bend
ing over me, a look Of agonized re-
proach upon his face.
II didn't mean to do it-indeed
didn't" he was saying over and over
again. Won't you forgive me?"
Il suppose you have to earn your
wages" l answered CURLY.
"Are you-engaged?" inquired the
man, paling.
"What business is it of yours?" l
demanded.
Because" he said, II am Harold
James,"
II might have guessed it from your
actions" l answered.
And then Mr.. Harold James sud-
denly caught hold of my hands.
"Milicent," he said pleadingly,
don't you remember how we used to
be sweethearts when we were at
school together and how you promised