Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1907-10-31

door was closed behind him; then she
plunged into the laurel and sped along
the trail toward home.
Sunday she went a number of times
to the bowlder, whence she could see
TOMS cabin, but not once was the
door opened during the day. Monday
the drag saw stood idle where the
Single blocker had left it. And nov
a new source Of uneasiness came to
lilly. The silent, deserted look Of
Toms cabin filled her with fear. 1t
was not that she feared Tom had gone
away. The unfinished work, the half
cut shingle block and the disorder Of
things told her that he had not gone.
| Tom was ill-or-Tilly clutched at her
temples to stay the throbbing. No,
Tom could not be dead.
Tuesday lilly crept through the lau-
rel, passed the base Of the bowlder
and went Oh slowly, but unhesitating-
ly, up the side of the mountain toward
the cabin where Tom lived alone.
AS she neared the cabin she quick
ened her step. Had she waited too
long? Oh, if Tom would only speak
to her when she raped at the door!
She stood a full minute with her small
knuckles poised to strike the rough
boards. Her heart beat tumultuously
and her knees grew weak as she
thought Of what might have happened
in that cabin.
AT last the knuckles fell upon the
board, and a faint, hollow tattoo echoed
from the interior. But no other sound
came in answer A. terrible sense of
horror fell upon lilly, and a quick
fever parched her lips and tongue.
Then suddenly her knuckles beat a
long nervous rattle upon the door, and,
bowling her head against the board,
she moaned:
ooh, Tomu'
A moment elapsed, then
"Tilly. Tilly.." came family from I'm.
der the door.
With an exuberant joy lilly reached
for the latchstring, and the door swung
inward. On the floor, with his head
near the doorway, lay Tom. His face
was sunken and sallow, and his eyes
seemed far back in his head. Til1y
clasped her hands and stood looking
down upon him, that sickness of sou
which had characterized her feelings
for the last week again coming upo1
her.
""Tom, we've been lynn here since
Saturday, amt yep
Tilly dropped by his side and tool
one Of his hands in hers.
"An' it's I'LL my fault, Tom. heard
yer saw goin' day an night an neve.
stoppin', an I was feared it was com
in to this"
mo, Tilly; it was all my fault. L
didn't think it would scare We so. An
arter what I'd done an ye would no
forgive me an told me never to speal
to We again l had to work hard t,
keep from thinkin' about it all. Doy y,
forgive me now, Tilly|
lilly raised Toms head on her arm
and laid her cool fingers upon hi
brow.
81 forgive We afore l got home, Tom
but l didn't want to go back an tel
We. An'-an', Tom. if We knowed how
I been feelin' about it ever since
reckon ye'd forgive me-"
"Forgive We, Tilly? It's like-lik,
takin' a peep into paradise to have Y,
back again. An now when l get
leetle stronger We'll have that new
cabin"
"Never mind the new cabin, Tom
The old n is good enough for tn,
likes o. me. An now Pm goin' t
help We to bed an get We somethin' t
eat"
"I'm a lot better now, Tilly. 1 jes
had a dizziness somehow. But I'm so
on havin' the new cabin"
"Well, then. We'll have 1t, an II
bless every log We touch"
lilly kissed him. And just then tn,
sun. coming from behind a cloud, threy
Its warm glow through the doorwa,
and across the cabin 6sor.