The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1908-05-28

The end came like a fash. There
was a little cry, a swift %shudder, and
his head fell forward on his chest.
go away, missy" the old woman
said, in not unkindly tones. ITS all
over.
Marion rose slowly from her knees
and turned away her head. She was
too stunned to make any sign OF grief
or opposition. She still felt like a
in a dream.
The miner who had fetched her
came forward from the group that
stood round the door.
"I1i see you back again when you
are ready" he said, kindly.
Back AGAIN." she questioned, with
a dazed look in her eyes.
You can do no good by staying
here" he said, without looking at
her; and he pulled a tobacco pouch
from his pocket and began to fill his
pipe.
She watched him for a few moments
In silence. Then she said, with a lit
tie gasp, I'm ready now"
They went out into the wind and
rain together without another word.
There was no gas in the town-civi-
lization had not advanced so far AS
that-and the few naphtha lamps that
Illuminated the darkness earlier on
had burnt themselves out. Here and
there a light from the window shot
across the uneven way, but most Of
the houses we're in complete dark
ness, for the hour was late.
For some distance Marion walked
by her companions side. Then he
said, in a careless tone, Il think 1t I'D
be safer for you to walk behind."
She did not reply, but dropped at
once into the rear.
The wind was blowing straight In
their teeth and the rain almost blind
ed her. The man walked slowly with
head bent, as if picking the road for
his companion. Now and then he
paused for a moment and listened,
then went forward again, but he made
no attempt to get into conversation
with her; perhaps he had respect for
her grief.
Marion seemed hardly conscious of
anything. The wind, the rain, the
auagmire through which they thread
ed their way, the silence Of her COM
panion were all as nothing to her.
They drew up at length before her
own rough-built little home, and the
man waited until the light from the
dying fire fell upon her dripping gar
ments.
you'll be lonely" he said, simply.
mo. | want to be alone to think
"He was a pal O. mine, and I'm sor-
ry.
For a moment she looked at him.
will he be lonely, do you think?"
"He? Who?"
My dad. He has gone away into
the night and into the storm
He shook his head and was silent.
The question seemed beyond his COM
prehension.
Twill you come in and rest?" she
asked, after a few moments.
mo. I'll be getting back; but II you
want a friend ask for Adam Black.
Black Adam they call me" and with
out another word he turned and
strobe away into the night.
She closed the door quietly and
bottled it: then went and threw more
logs on to the smoldering fire, after
which she lighted a lamp and retired
to her bedroom.
While changing her wet clothes she
could near the heavy breathing OF
Dinah, the negress, who was the pre-
siding genius OF the place. Nothing
short OF an earthquake would waken
Dinah when once she got to sleep.
Marion had no thought of disturb
ing her. There would be tears and
and lamentations when b
knew, and Marion was in no mood for
a scene. She wanted to be alone;
wanted time to think, to get her bear
ings. to gather strength that b
might be able to face bravely the un-
known future.
ITO Be Continued0