The San Francisco call., 1904-02-28


If she could get a housekeeper. How'd
you like to try that? 1t would be
frst-class home for you and the baby"
Lucy had bent her face over the wet
clothes.
Amt it all right here?" she said in a
scarcely audible voice.
No" said Moreau irritably; II just
told you there was danger of being
showed in after the first Of November.
You don't want to be showed in here
with the baby. co you?"
i don't care" said Lucy.
IF you don't feel strong enough to
do work like that he continued you
can stay on in the hotel 1 can make
the dust for that easily. Then in the
spring. when the streams are full, I'll
have enough TO send you to Sacra-
mento or San Francisco. and you can
look about you and see how you'd like
it there"
Why can't I stay here?" she said
suddenly. her voice quavering, but full
Of protest
Its note thrilled Moreau.
I've just told you Why he said
quietly.
Wen, I'm not afraid 1 don't mind
sncw. You can get things to eat from
Hangtown. Oh. let me stay"
she turned toward him. still kneeling
on the stone. Her face was quivering
with the most violent emotions he had
ever seen on it. The dead apathy was
gone forever. at least as far as he was
concerned.
"Oh. let me stay" she implored;
don't send me away from you"
oh. Lucy" he almost groaned.
don't you see that won't do?"
Let me stay" she reiterated, and
stretched out her hands toward him.
The tears began to pour down her
cheeks. and suddenly with the out
stretched hands she seized him, and
burst forth into a stream of impas-
stoned words:
Let me stay. Let me be with you.
Don't send me away There amt no
use in anything if I'm not with you.
Let me work for you. Let me be where
7 can see yOu-that's all 1 want. I
don't want no money nor clothes. If
you'll just let me be near by, And kin
always work and cook, and you know
you like things clean, and 1 kin keep
'em clean. oh, you can't mean to send
me of. I amt never been happy be-
fore. I amt never had nc one to treat
me so kind before. l amt never known
what it was like TO be treated decent.
I can't leave you-I can't-I can't
She sank down at his feet in a CULVER
ing heap.
Moreau raised her and held her in his
arms, pressed against his breast. his
cheek against her hair. He had no
thought for the moment but an ecstasy
Of pity and joy. Clinging close to him,
she reiterated between broken breaths:
I kin stay? Oh, kin stay?"
Lucy" he said, how can you? Do
you know what you're asking?"
But I kin stay?" she repeated.
She slid one arm round his neck. and
he felt her wet cheek against his.
Let me Just stay and work" she
whispered Just where l can see you
DO you forget that you're married?"
he said huskiy.
I'll not be il your way. I'll not ask
for anything or be any trouble" was
her whispered answer " so longs you
let me be near you"
They walked back to the cabin si-
lently.. Lucy knew that she had gained
her point and would stay. Her child
ish nature invaded and possessed by a
great passion built on gratitude and
reverence, asked no more than to be
allowed to work and worship the man
who was to her a god. She did not look
into the future. nor demand its secrets.
The perfect joy of the present filled her.
In the days that followed she grew in
beauty, and in some subtitle way 'ac-
quired new girlishness. Her past
seemed wiped out. The blighting eff
fects Of the four previous years fell
away from her and she seemed to re-
vert to the sweet and simple youthful
ness that had been hers when Jake
Shackleton had married her at St.
Louis. Silent and gentle as ever, it was
plain to be seen that whatever Moreau
asked for-service, friendship, love-she
would unquestioningly give.
Early in November a cold evening
came with a red sunset and a sharpen
ing of every outline. For the first time
they were driven into the cabin for sup
per. A fire of boughs and dried cones
burned in the chimney and before this.
supper being over, they sat, Lucy in
the rocker made of barrel. Moreau on
the end Of an upturned box, staring at
the flames.
Finally the man broke the silence by
telling her that he was going TO take his
dust and walk into Hangtown the next
day. remaining there over night and re-
turning in the morning with fresh sup
plies and burro.
Lucy" he said, drawing his box
nearer to her, Il want to talk to you of
something"
She looked up. saw that the moment
both had been dreading had come, and
paled.
Lucy, the winters coming. The
snow may be here now at any moment.
Have you thought OF what we're to
do?"
She shook her head and began to
tremble. His words called UP the
specter Of separation-what she feared
most IN the world.
You know we can't live on this way.
VIII Vol If I go into HanRtOWn and