The Delta independent., 1898-02-04
CHAPTER TX.

Morning came and touched 0vory.
thing with splendor. The weather beaten
hut grew soft with purple shadowing.
The leaves Of the vine that clamberod
up the steep roof tumbled in the morn.
ing air. A great rhododendron tres.
which Wilmot had not noticed before,
had still few blossoms upon 1t. They
must have named her for the tree-Fho-
dodendron, laurel. How much prettiee
the shorter name wasi
The door Of the picturesque old hut
opened and Laurel came slowly out.
Sorrow had cut her as frost cuts fow-
er. She did not see Wilmot, but with
uplifted eyes she said In = tender, bro
ken voice, as one would do . habitual
thing though the heart were not IN the
doing Of it: "Good mornin, pretty
clouds. Good mornin, ole Mount Hood.
sweet mornin & yo'." And she kissed
her hands Then, covering her eyes, she
stood for little with bowed head-not
~ one awaiting blessing. but as one
whose strength had become weakness.
Out over the desert the snow peak
rose in high relief against the sky, like
some glistening shrine belonging to an
other and fairer world. Wilmot began
TO understand how, In this joyless, iso-
lated life, her fine nature had given .
spirit to these fairer objects aud had en-
tered into kinship with them.
She turned and saw him, but she did
not start or tremble as he had feared.
She only looked at him calmly with .
slow lifting Of the eyes and protracted
but not searching gaze. He did not ap-
proach or vex her with q greeting, bat
she came slowly toward him.
"Why didn' yo' come back Std O.
tn other un?" she asked.
He uncovered his head and looked ct
her. What could he answer?
"Why didn' yo' Gomez" she repeated
in the same slow monotone.
His heart grew heavy with tenderness
and with something which had bseo
growing there for many weeks.
II have come now" I" he answered. II
am sorry that did not come before.
staid away because was not wise and
did not know what 1t was best to do.
But am here now, and il you will let
me I will bring my sister. . dear, bravs
you away, and you shall be with NJ a.
ways-if you will"
She clasped her hands tightly 70
gether.
II have come to say that to you," b
said. Forgive me for not having come
before"
1t hurts e stay here" she aid.
Everything hurts" She turned away.
He waited patiently. Presently she lift.
ed her eyes again to his face. Some
thing in his look melted her. She threw
herself down upon the moss covered log
ut his feet and sobbed passionately.
9Th clouds n tn mountains" +" she
sobbed. "They kin never be tn sams.
IL want e CO."
Then Wilmot went toward the dor
Of the hut, and meeting the graz.
theirs" told the whole story in simpleut
language and begged from them their
dearest treasure.
I'VE can't git long nohow 'theat
LAUREL" protested the grandfather.
But the heart Of the grandmother IN
derstood and was touched. "She dom
b'long e us. she said. n we hain's
got NO right T. ret up ag'in 1t ef Lasss1
wants T. CO.
Then followed o few necessary voras
Of planning. after which wilmot veut
back and lifted the sleDder form in n
armA
Laurel, little flower. am cuafng
after you in . few moro daya And yua
will 20 with me then?''
She leaned against him rs ono Vap
bod found shelter from pitiless ssssn-
"YO' didn' como befme," she =.
swered. II tbought 20 would ounA
but 20 didn'. N he come. N tb>o I
got . had hurt here" and sbe laid ~