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

OoSSAAhS Wy AS1 dplOLl, Lilly W1p6u
the tears from her cheeks and turned
quickly into the trail that led along
the edge of the stream. Tom stood mo-
tionless and stared after her until the
last vestige of the pink frock was bur-
led from view among the interminable
green of the laurel's foliage. Then,
with his hat in his hand, he turned
back up the hill toward his work.
Slowly he went. The slow machinery
Of his brain was trying to bring out a
clear realization of all that had hap
pened. A choking sensation was strug-
Cling for a grip Of his windpipe, and
he tore away his shirt collar we'll
down upon his shoulders. The plans
for the new cabin now Knocked him in
his thoughts, and scattered to the
winds was all the promised happiness
Of a lifetime, and all this for a little
prank Of mischief.
Meanwhile lilly had wandered from
the laurel path and had climbed n
bowlder whence she could look back
over the bluff, and she watched Tom
climbing the mountain. Her anger
was passing away, and already she
regretted her impulsive speech. But
1t was now too late to recall it.
"Poor TOMB she murmured, shading
her eyes and peering through the tim.
Der. "Oh, he's so big an strong! Pm
just like a child in his hands. An
an even If he had dropped me into
the water 1t would not have been any
thing but a victim for mean 1 have
gone an played such a fool! Poor
Toni"
ed her face with her apron.
"An' I told him never to speak to
me again. I wonder if he will think I
meant it sure 'nough."
A deep, audible sob came now, and
Tilly's small body swayed from side
to side. Presently her ears caught the
swish Of the drag saw far up the
mountain, and she knew Tom had
gone back to work.
Swish, swish, swish, swish!
lilly sat for an hour and listened.
There was never a pause except for
the few seconds required to change
the saw for a new cut. At last the
dinner horn sounded from over the
stream, and lilly went home. In the
afternoon she came back to the bowl
der to listen to the sound of Toms
saw.
Swish, swish, swish, swish, interim
nably.
Tom stopped no more to rest, as he
had been wont to do occasionally.
There was a ierceness in the stroke
and a rapidity Of motion that accom-
plished wonders. 1t was work, work
now, no matter what the muscles suf-
fered.
Swish, swish, swish, swish!
lilly sat and listened through the
whole afternoon. Oh, would he never
stop one minute to rest his tired arms:
At last the sun sank below the crown
Of the mountain, and when tine shadow
Of night fell upon lilly she drew a
long breath of relief. But not until the
last moment of the twilight was spent
did the sound of the drag saw cease.
lilly crept home again, picking he1
way along the trail that led through
the laurel.
An hour later the moon rose, and its
white light outlined many a weir6
shadow on the rocks. lilly stole out OF
the cabin and sat upon the low veran
da in front of the house. A terrible
feeling Of loneliness came over her
Tom had been coming almost every
night to sit for an hour with her, tt
tell her every few minutes how much
he loved her, to toy with her fingers
and occasionally touch his lips to he
forehead. Now he would not come
He would never come again. Maybe
he would go away soon-out west
somewhere. A moan of intense heart
sickness escaped Tilly's lips, and sh,
looked toward the moon for pity. The1
presently a sound came to her ear
from far away over the stream. I
was faint, but clear.
Swish, swish, swish, swish!
lilly bowed her face in her hands
and the tears scalded her fingers a
they fell from her eyes.
Swish, swish, swish, swish!
How the faint and faraway sound Gu
upon her ears! After awhile a mai
came to the door of the cabin from tn
inside.
"Tilly, what air We settin' out here s,
late about?" He looked down upo1
the girl from the doorway.
"Nothin', dad" was the answer.
"Nothin'? Well, then, I'd shore go t
bed. Hello, what's that?'
Swish, swish, swish, swish!
"Dinged if Tom Awtry amt a-cuttin
single blocks by moonlight. Means t
build that new cabin purity soon.
reckon. Tilly."
Tilly struggled to suppress the sol
that rose in her throat.
well, Toms not comm here tonight
gal" said the man. $50 ye'd as well g
to bed"
"1'm goin' in a minute"
Tilly's minute lasted an hour, and tn
sound Of the drag saw had not cease
when she went to bed. Late In tn
night, sleepless. she crept to the win
dow. thrust her head out through th
IN --S -, kz-- A"GeFNE tHLa1