River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1907-05-09


will each step up to my desk.
'Beeny lombard" The firm voice
hesitated, a puzzled look glanced
across the stern eyes.
"Beeny lombard" Verbeny rose
slowly and moved to the edge Of the
platform.
Are you Beeny Lombard? And
what does Beeny stand for?"
''Why--why, Verbeny."
"Verbeny?"
yes, Verbeny," she faltered.
"Oh, Verbena!" He spoke quickly,
almost CURLY, and yet the voice that
rechristened Verbena opened for her
the way into new world, world
that was all faith, all love, all adora-
ton.
It was late that afternoon when Yer
bena reached home If Mrs. Lombard
had looked at her daughter she would
have seen that the dreamy, listless
eyes were wide awake; that the child
ish, open lips were closed, but closed
in a smile that dimpled at the cor
ners.
1t was not easy to say. Verbena
wanted the best room; she wanted the
redding up of the best room; she had
brought the roses for the vase in the
had the best room for-for their
beaux
"Hev 1t ef yo' want it." her mother
laughingly answered mind that 20
an yer beaux don't hurt it though"
"I-Pll only have one beau" The
words were whispered as Verbena
crossed the kitchen.
On the calendar, the days that fol-
lowed would have been called month.
In Verbena's mind they stood for all
of life, for all time. In the school, or
der was being brought out of chaos.
But she only worked at night, only
in the late afternoons and early morn
ings All through the school hours,
her eyes never left the masters face,
and, all the while he seemed quite I'M
conscious of the wistful eyes that fol
lowed him.
The morning that ended it all began
just like other mornings of the month.
Verbena was at her desk in the school
some ten minutes before the first bell
rang. John Cox, absorbed in the pa
pers before him, had hardly noticed
her entrance.
Suddenly there was a sound Of run
ming feet and a voice, big and deep
with excitement cried: Its a re-
ward for murderer. An they're goin
to put one on the schoolhouse, too
They think Their feller's out here. An
he killed a man back east He's named
Jared Conklin and the sheriff'll be
here to-day to look for him"
The words were being repeated now
back and forth. They were almost in
distinguishable but Verbena had
heard them all once, and she had
seen John CoX's white fingers close
Before he could make the slightest
movement, her hand was on his. I'll
hide you where they'll never find you"
If he hesitated. Verbena did not
know it. 1t was the girl who led the
way in the shadows of the hedges that
she knew so well, down close to the
silent farmhouse. Subconsciously, she
had remembered that her father and
mother had gone that morning into
town, but breathlessly she ordered the
man to wait until she had been into
the house, until she had unlocked the
door of the best room, her room.
Il cannot stay here!p
You can stay here and be safe I'M
til 1 can get you away Promise me
that you will stay" Il promise" he
answered.
1t was Verbena who rang the morn
ing bell at the school, some ten min
utes late, it was true, but the boys and
girls were all too excited to note the
time She listened to the wondering
comments on the schoolmaster's alb
sence. With the others she hurried
out to read the notice when it was
placarded on the schoolhouse door.
With the others she read the descrip-
ton of the murderer. She compared
this description with their teacher.
Her own heart echoed the conclusion
John Cox an0 Jared Conklin were but
one and the same man!
The search in that part of the coun-
try for Jared Conklin was only a mat
ter of days. Then word came that he
had been seen farther west, in Ari-
IONA, in California, and the sheriff
concluded that his man had received
warning and escaped again. But the
days seemed interminable to the man
who waited for freedom.
One night she came to him and told
him that she was ready. Noiselessly
they left the house, Verbena lead.
ing him by the hand az though he
were child.
"Our horses are at the lower
GATE" she whispered.
81 am only going with you until you
are safe. And must be back before
the day dawns"
Must you go, Verbena?" Yes;
must go with you. told you that
must until you are safely out OF this
part of the country. There is no road,
but 1 have been over this path every
day for the last two weeks. 1 know
it and the horses know it. There is
no time to be lost. Come"