Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1902-08-15

I back in his chair. for the airy white
figure on the brow o. the hill sill
houetted against the enkindled clouds
was The Leetle Apple Blossom.
The days rounded through per-
fumcd daWns alive with birds, and
middays of shadows and quiet winds
to the afternoons-wonderfu after
Moons in which the sun, big and blood
red, slipped slowly down the sky;
golden afternoons, for the man and
the maid came always to the rocks
in the river.
The two had become the central
point of the old mans consciousness.
He thought of them by day and
dreamed of them at night
Little personal traits of the girls
reached out to him like caresses. Her
quick way of leaning forward as she
talked. the movements of her slender
hands, her laugh with its ripping run
of mirth, the lift of her chin.
From a longgone summer he re-
voked a memory that fingered like a
subtle aroma in his heart-a memory
and grave. He had dwelt with Soil
tude, it had taught him many things,
and as their light talk drifted on and
on he grieved that the thoughts of
their hearts were never uttered.
1.-THE pity O. hit, the pity O. hit" he
moaned. THE Leetle Apple Blossom
loves him, Lord, she loves him-an'
he's jes tumbled into bed O. roses
with the dew on 'em. Somethin' is
a-keepin' back the words, though, n
the leetle gal jes has ter wait. But
when her lips trimble n she laffs,
low like, Lord. want ter git my ole
hans on him."
Time had been reckoned from the
afternoon that the young people came
into the MiIler's life, it was now
counted from the day that they went
out of it.
1.-TWO evenin's," he would say,
"three-four."
The lonely little house by the river;
the pathos of the quiet figure whose
expectancy, whose eyes were on the
hill.
One afternoon shadow fell on the
Miller's porch.
Its me-" said his near neighbor,
sitting on the step, and putting down
a white bowl she carried.
BE you expectin' company"
Silence Men have such refugees.
THE mills agrindin, well, amt it?'
Silence.
"Tain't good fer men ter livak
alone" the neighbor sprang to her
feet angrily.
BE you disgruntled?" she asked.
81 be-" grimly.
Then I'll jes take myself n my
boneset home"
The old man reached out and took
the boneset.
'Swallowin' war better N ex-
plainin'," he told himself feebly.
Anything war better N explainin'."
But there came an afternoon
laughing heart of the river, opal mist
of the hills, and Joy in an old mans
soul. She was coming-she was COM
ing.
She came slowly. and as she neared
the river the Miller saw that she was
diOne, anu lndI ueJecllOu was III every
curve of her sweet young body.
She crossed the bridge, sat down on
the rock and leaned her chin on her
hand.
The Miller watched her longingly.
AS one comforts a child whose hand
is sore, he would have comforted her.
Lost in reverie. she failed to see the |
young vigorous figure that swung
down the hill.
The Miller saw it. He knew it well, |
and as it turned as if to mount the |
hill, he rose from his chair and |
shouted:
Hi. there!" And again, Hi.
therei"
you be ole fool, Leander Ship
man." he painted. as he sank back into
his chair. "A dorgorn fool
In spite of the fact, he chuckled
gleefully.
The man having turned and seen
the white, still girl on the rock. ran
down the decline. crossed the bridge
at bound and sank down beside her.
His words came with a rush. 1t
seemed he feared he might not say
them If he stopped.