The Lamar register., 1903-09-16
CHAPTER xli.-continued.

bearing that silenced further words
on the woman's lirs.
DO you think" she said-"does
any one think that would leave my
father?'
The nurse laughed softly. with n
touch of scorn in her voice.
DO you think it would break his
heart. Miss Johnson"
Dolores was too deeply in earnest
to be moved by the scornful words;
afterward the words and tone came
back to her distinctly.
Il would not leave my father she
said, solemnly. her large, steadfast
eyes fixed disconcertinsly on the quiet
face opposite. Il would not leave my
father-never-whil he liyes-nct for
any one"
You may change your mind the
nurse said. lightly. rising to prepare
for the night She touched the girls
hair softly as Dora could have done,
caressing the stray curls on the
smooth. broad brow pityingly.
Go to bed, child" she said. "We1l
not talk any more about that now: 1t
Is time you were getting your beauty
sleep ere the clock strikes twelve.
Il would not leave my father" Do
lores said. solemnly. her eyes raised
to the kindly face above her. Il would
not leave my while he
lives-not for any one"
Who'd q thought" said Jones .medi-
tatively. tipping his chair back and
stretching his feet pretty well toward
the smoky mantel. Who'd a-thought
thet big Johnsing wi sinews like oak
ID ever. KEN ter thes?'
1t was more the staten mt of fact
than question: he said 1t to free his
mind and start the ball of conversa-
tion rolling. That every one thought
as he did on this subject was matter
of course. He looked around on them
approvinsly as though to impress
them with the fact that he was with
them there.
"Ets better So said Lode. grave
ly, changing his left leg over the
right: "et's better so than fer him ter
hev run inter hidin'."
A silence fell over them all; each
thought the same; in fact they thought
considerably beyond that. but not one
of them dared say what was in his
mind.
"Reyther unsatisfactory ans'rs they
give us when we went ter ask bout
hem" said big Tom Smith. dissatis-
fiedly. as he pushed the cat from the
hearth with his foot and drew his
chair up nearer the fire.
"Ther jedge's son were thar" said
pf,fh hnr OF n m
cious snort of laughter. "Ther jedge's
son were thar. an theys were too
big ter speak ter sech common folks
as we uns. What hev we ter do with
they ms sence ther jedge's son hev
took up Johnsing an his GAL
loud burst of laughter drowned
the sobbing of the storm. Lodie alone
sat quite unmoved. staring gravely
into the cracking fire.
Look a-hyar." he said. slowly.
changing his right leg over the left.
Look a-hyar. men, mebby t amt sech
n good joke as ye seem ter thenk
with yer larfiin' an yer jollin'. When
l helped with Johnsing tell ther doc
tors KEN. could see plain thet I
warn't no common theng he'd hap'd
Johnsing. Thar he were wuth his
two legs broke an his arms. an COW
cred with bruises an mebby no end
o. broke bones: an l says ter myself
thet t warn't no common theng he'd
hapd Johnsing. An when ther doc
tors ken theys sed-I asked ther
jedge's son as | were comm out, an
he teiled me-theys sed Johnsing amt
long ter live, an thet t would be
mericle eff he even live week. An
thar were Johnsings gal a standin' ct
ther winder starin' out ct ther rain,
les' es she'd stood ever sence we
bringa' her feyther home. an she's
never moved or spoke sence. Stop
yer lartin. men: 'tain't no larfin' mat
ter-thes thet hav hap'd Johnsing.'
Hey ther gal stole yer hyart fro
We, Lodie?" asked one of the men,
again starting the rough laughter.
"She's sweet gal. Jim, an ye're well
come ter her eff ye ken get her frum
ther jedges son. But yen hev ter be
lively. man. 'Tain't ev'ry gal kin get
ther son O. jedge. an ye'd best put
yer best foot forrard as soon as may
be-"
Look a-hyar, man"-there was
wrsthful CLEAN il the big fellows