Rocky Ford enterprise., 1903-10-09
CHAPTER XVI.
MAN prore.ss: Cos pispo.e.."


MAN PROPOSES: Cos pisPoses."
Johnson did not die: that he lived
through the terrible strain upon his
vitality showed that he had an iron
constitution. the doctor said: but the
men AT the tavern shook their heads
over II, and looked meaninsly at each
other They had thelT oNn opinion OF
the matter. perhaps they knew more
than the doctors did; the wise men
might open their eyes In smazement
saould they chcGse 20 tell their sus-
plclGns. Johnson vas kept under inc
influence Of oplates for three days and
nights: he was rot left alone one mo-
ment. they fed h!m ON Mrs. Aliens
beef tea and drinks. and cared for him
as though be were u baby, the men
faId In half whispers-him. with mus
cics like iron ard cords Ike an OK.
I.odic daily carried the news. brief
items briefly told in his measured
tones us they gathered in the outer
room OF the tavern Of an evening. or
called noW and then across the
drenchcd gardens TO each other. or met
at the wells And the women over
their tubs. as they washed the clothes
up and down. and scapcd and rinsed
ard Rrung then In clear water. leav'
tre them to soak t!ll the storm should
be over. gossIped about this thet hcN
hap'd Johnsius." and bis girl. and the
airs they pui ON since Lcmucl John
soE-he who vas born In the settle
mcnt Year, aEo-had come with his
sirl ard bis gold to sec that his broth
yr should live Ike other folks. and
vas not 80 no 'c1uut an shcr less
Dolurcs. knowing nothing OF these
soFsIpinrs, and caring nothing for
them. had she laoEn. watched her
lathcr unt!fiHgly. SIZE never com.
p,aIned Of bcias trcd. she seldom
spoke.
Youas Green had Eonc home. but
he came over every day. bringing gen
ale messages aud de!leac.cs.
For thrcc days Inhnfnn lay In this
.iup1r 20 like death. scarcely stir
ting. not opening his eyes: his face
was thia and drawn. his eyes suasca
.nd hollow. his hair. a few days be-
fore 20 lightly spTinklri with gray.
had grown suddruly white. He had
aged so that his everyday comran'
ions would not kroW him.
Dolores saw this Ia silence: her
thoughts we're busy. but her lips were
dumb. YOUNG Grvca's eyes had grown
wonderfully keen 60 note the changes
of the sweet. pale face. and the sha'
daxs of the dark. wondering eyes
For he knew that he loved her. IL had
come upon him the fst night rs he
stood behind her In the freight and
watched the pure face bent above The
hook on her kncfs. II had come al
most like a blow ut frst. but full Of
sweetness that was full OF pain also.
shc was so high asoNc him. she had
never a thought Of love. she had never
even known what love vas as others
krcw Il In the home life. And there
vas a tenderness In the thought OF
how he-he. the nrst one In the world
70 EhoN her what love might be
would proyc to her TIE depth OF its
tenderness and holiness.
AZ sunset the third day the rain
ceased. ard the mist dragged iisclf
braEcniy across the peaks of the
mountains. the hills were loud with
tue cry OF ;ac swollen river In the
valley. and the cascades shouted aloud
~ they lcaped the riycn sides nf the
mountains to icin the river and cat al
the worn old bridge ct the foot OF the
roadway.
Tho rain had ceased at last. and Dr.
DunWiddic. WHO sat at the bedside.
his eyes intent on the face Of the Eirl.
so grave and quiet In the light OF the
sunset. had raised the TRY window TO
let in the cool wind from the west.
Tho clouds Just above the distant
peaks parted in sudden rclcuting after
thrcc days and nights OF intorminablc
raining. and through the rent the set
ting sun flooded the summit with n
radiant glory that was dazzling.
Dolores. as though reused by the
sudden rush Of the sunbeams. slowly
raised her head and looked mp to the
radiant mountain. Her sad. dark eyes
grew softer and deeper in color. and
her lips set close as 10 sorrow. slowly
parted Ia one OF her rare smiles. As