The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-05-12

Youth was what was the matter with
Big Dan Ransom, too, otherwise the
villagers would have distinguished "a
Their and son as Young Dan and Old.
But age was the last word in the Ian
guage to be associated with Big Dams
appearance, which, bu. for the serious
ness left by sorrow, was that of lad
of 20.
This wood-path was well Travelled,
and-he might as well acknowledge it
in all probability his father would stroll
that way. Dan hoped 50. He wanted
to show Big Dan that no one was
avoiding any one. Somebody would
just as soon face anybody as not. No
body was running away and hiding.
Everybody was welcome. Let his ia
tier come.
And now about that wretched con-
versation last night? CHANGING up, Lit
tie Dan could see between the trees TO
the sky, and there was a break in the
clouds with glory shining through. A
subtle sentiment Of real sorrow noated
down to him. But it was only a senti-
ment; for he had never known his
mother, and had never suffered a sense
of loss. Big Dan was ALI in all to him.
Still, other boys had I1others-here
Little Dan poked moodily at a bunch
of moss on the end of his log-other
boys were not spanked. other boys
could keep rabbits; other boys did not
overhear horrible conversations be-
tween
Was that a step approaching? It was.
Little Dan raised his eyes a trifle and
endeavored TO look politely naughty.
But it was not his father. The per-
son was in a lovely white and pink,
lacy Kind of dress. Dan knew it would
smell family and sweetly of violets. He
knew that If she shook hands with him
his palm would be family Violety for an
hour after; that if she Rugged him he
weuld have a sense of tumbling into
a delicious haymow made of violets and
sweet clover in equal proportions, and
that he would be delighted over nothing
for oh, hours and hours after For the
lady was Miss Aimee Nevis She was
the bishops daughter. She was always
spoken of as the pretty girl" Dan
felt none too sure about the girl" part,
for never to his knowledge had she gone
around in cUris. short skirts. and jump
ing a rope. He had never seen her
as now, in lovely, trailing gowns and
big, grown-up hats But pretty" ali,
yes. that was beyond doubt. On the
whole, there was no one of his acquaint-
ance whom Dan longed more to love,
Yet, under the circumstances, how
I
Very hard was that duty, too, espec-
| tally when she was as straightforwardly
and miraculously sympathetic as she
was now.
why, what is the trouble. Dan %
she asked, stopping in front of him.
There was no banter about her, no be-
/ lifting of his melancholy. no calling
him Danny or Dankins, no Sinking
no pretense or arehness. nothing that
| Dan hated, just a direct, gentle ques-
| ton filled with sincere concern,
why, what is the trouble, Dan ~
| Truly, she was the largest part of il
and Dan found it far from easy TO tel
I her so. But it had to be got out some
how Sliding off the log, he stood uI
4 before her very straight and manly
ana, looking her steadily in the eye
he asked her point blank. yet with the
deterrent courtesy that was his by in
/ heritance:
rs it true what people say? Are you
/ going TO be my mother, Miss Aimee p
She gave a. sudden gesture, pressing
her hand TO her heart, and with a viviC
pink color poured holly to her cheek
Dan felt that .he had hurt her; he die
| not know how or why, but he was
] SONY Her voice trefnbled, too, wher
sne repifed TO him:
Dan, your dear mother is dead, an6
is with Gods she not?,
Yes" said Dan. His memory echoed
the words so young. oh, so young
| and he glanced upward to the glow il
the blue. "She is there" ne whispered
Miss Aimee's glance followed his, anC
when it rested upon the radiance above
she understood his fancy and nodded
gently:
Yes. Dan: she is therein heaven
How then could be your mother
You can never have but one. AnC
though she is away. she watches and
loves you from afar. You are Away!
her dear little boy
Yes whispered Dan again. But THU
time he pressed his hand into hers anC
chung to it. He could not help it. Sh,
seemed to have such a lot of sense
Dan worshipped sense. Miss Aimee wa
all sense.
But was she really though9 What Il
this she is doins-kneeling down besid'
him and putting her arm around him
What is that she is saying?
But. Dan. | want to be with YOU
/ father. / must be. / love him, dear
/ want 10 come into your home, not a
your mother, but as a friend that shl
would like you TO have. to be you
nurse when YOU are i'll, to be you
guide and conrade always, to be love-
by you and by-by-your father
Dan dropped her hand and sighed
! The sense of Womankind was a frai
freed AT best. He could hardly keep from
pushing her away. He needed no guide
eomrade. nurse or friend. His fathe
was all that, and a lot more. She coul'
stay out of the home, If she had n
better reason to offer for wanting {
enter. Moreover if she invaded tn
family. she would soon become &C
quainted with the outrageous state o
taffairs which prevailed atsthe presen
1 time. She wsala see the horrors of raal
Assailed,, and noting that the assaile
4 got off scot free might even come L
time to think that she. too. could assai
1t would never do. So he shook his hea
decidedly.