The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1903-10-29
CHAPTER x,,.--consIru

Dolores sat up with . dignity Of
bearing that silenced further words
On the womans lips.
"Do you think" she said--"does
any one think that would leave my
father?"
The nurse laughed softly. with
touch Of scorn In her voice.
do you think Il would break his
heart, Miss Johnson?"
Dolores was too deeply In earnest
to be moved by tho scornful words;
afterward the words and tone came
back to her distinctly.
II would not leave my father" she
said, solemnly. her large. steadfast
eyes fixed 6,sconcertingly on the quiet
face opposite. II would not leave my
father he lives--not for
any one"
"You may. change your mind" the
nurse said. lightly. rising to prepare
for the night She touched the girls
hair softly "a Dora could have done.
caressing the stray curls on the
smooth. broad brow pityingly.
Go to bed, chilS." she said. We'll
,.ot talk any more about that now: u
is time you were getting your beauty
sleep ere the clock strikes twelve"
II would not leave my father" DO.
lores said, sole,nnly. hor eyes raised
to the kindly face above her, Il would
not leave my father--cver-whilc he
lives-not for any one"
Who'd a thought" said Jones ,medi
tatively, tipping his chair back and
stretching his feet pretty we'll toward
the smoky mnntel. Who'd although
thet big Johnsing wi sinews like oai
4 ever ken ter thes?"
Il was more the statement OF fact
than a question: he said II To free his
mind and start the ball OF converse
ton rolling. That every one thought
as he did on this subject was matter
OF course. He looked around on then
approvingly rs though to impress
them with the fact that he was will
them there.
"Et's better So said Lodic, grave
ly. changing his left leg over thu
| right; "et's better SO than fer him tel
hcv run inter hidin'."
A silence fell over them all. eacl
| thought the same; In fact they though
considerably beyond that. but not on
of them dared say what was In hi
| mind.
"Reyther unsatisfactory ans'rs the,
give US when we went ter ask 'bou
hem" said big Tom Smith. dissatis
fledry. as he pushed the cat from tn
hearth with his foot and drew hi
chair up nearer, the fire.
"Ther jedge's son were thar" sal
another big. stout man, with NAL
cious snort of laughter. 'Ther jedge'
son were thar. an theys were 10
big ter speak ter sech common folk
rs we uns. What hev we ter do wit
they uns scncc ther isdge's son he
took UP Johnsing an his gal"
A loud burst of laughter browne
the sobbing Of the storm. Lodie alon
sat quite unmoved. staring gravel
into the cracking fire.
Look a.hyar," he said. slowl.
changing his right leg over the lef
Look a.hyar men. mebby t amt sec
q good joke as ye seem ter then
with yer larfiin' an yer jokin'. Whc
| helped with Johnsing tell ther do
tors KEN, could see plain thct
warn't no common theng he'd hap
Johnsing. Thar he were wuth In
two legs brote an' his arms, an co
cred with bruises an mebby no on
o. broke bones; an | says ter mysel
thet I warnt no common theng he
hap'd Johnsing. An when ther do
tors KEN theys scd-I asked thu
jedge's son as I were comm out. n
he teiled me-theys sed Johnsing ain
long ter live, an thet I would be
mericle ef he even live week. a
thar were Johnsing's gal a standin'
ther winder starin' out ct ther raj
les es she'd stood ever sencc v
bringed her feyther home. an she
never moved or spoke sence. St'
yer larfin. men: faint no larfin' ms
ter-thes thet hav hap'd JohGsing." F"
"Hev ther gal stole yer hyart n
ye. Lodie?" asked one Of the me
again starting the rough laught'
"She's a sweet gal. Jim. an ye're VI
come ter her ef ye ken get her frr
ther jedge's son. But yen hev ter
lively, man. 'Tain't ev'ry gal kin =
ther son o. a jedge. an ye'd best y
: yer best foot forrard as soon as IN
be-"
look a.hyar. man"-there was
wrathful CLEAN In the big fellow