La Junta tribune., 1908-02-22

and her white teeth released the luiv
ering lower lip.
I'LL never forgive We, Tom Awtry
So there. An don't We ever speak to
me aRain.'
Catching up her apron. Tilly wiped
the tears from her cheeks and turned
quickly Into the trnil that led alou::
the edge Of the stream. Tom stood mo-
tlonless and stared after her until the
last vesiige Of the pink frock was bur,
led from view among the Intermiuable
green Of the laureis 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 10 bring out q
clear realization of all that had hap
pened. A choking sensation was strug.
Cling for n grip OF his windpipe. and
he tore away his shirt collar well
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 q little
prank Of mischief.
Meanwhile Tiliy had wandered from,
the laurel pnth and had climbed a
bowlder whence she could look back
over the blutr. and she watched Tom
climbing the mountain. Her anger
WAS passing away. aud already she
regretted her impulsive speech. But
II was now too late to recall 1t.
Poor Tom she murmured. shading
her eyes and peerinS through the tim
ber 'Oh, he's SO big an strong. I'm
just like child in his hands. An
an even IL he had dropped me into
the water It would not have been any
thing but victim for mean ! have
gone nn' played such fool! Poor
Tom
She sat down on the rock and cover
cd her face with her apron.
AN told him never to speak to
me again. wonder II he will think
meant 1t sure 'nough."
a deep. audible sob came now. and
Tily'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!
TilIy sat for an hour and listened.
There was never pause except for
the few seconds required to change
the saw for new cut. At last the
dinner horn sounded from over the
stream. and Tilly went home. In the
afternoon she came back to the bowl
der to listen to the sound Of Toms
saw.
Swish. swish. swish. swish. intermi
nably.
Tom stopped no more to rest, as he
had been wont to do occasionally.
There was q nerceneAs In the stroke
and q rapidity Of motion that accom-
plishe<i wouderx 1t was work. work
now. no matter what the, muscles suf-
fered.
Swish. swish. swish. swish!
Tilly 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 the shadow
Of night fell upon Tilly she drew
last moment Of the twilight was spent
did the sound Of the drag saw cease.
Tilly crept home again. picking her
way along the trail that led through
the laurel
An hour later the moon rose. and Its
white light outlined many weird
shadow on the rocks. Tilty stole out Of
the cabin and sat upon the low vernn.
da In front OF the house. terrible
feeling ~ loneliness came over her.
Tom had been coming almost every
MI tsrlrf IN eli taytf IN
tell her every few minutes how much
he loved her, to toy with her fingers
and occasionally touch his lips to her
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 Tiily's lips. and she
looked toward the moon for pity. Then
presently a sound came to her ears
from far away over the stream. 1t
was faint. but clear.
Swish. swish, swish. swish.
TilIy bowed her face In her hands,
and the tears scalded her fingers as
they fell from her eyes.
Swish. swish. swish. swish!
How the faint and faraway Sound cut
upon her enrs. After awhile man
came to the door OF the cabin from the
inside.
.1illy. what air ye settin' ont here 10
late abcut?" He looked down upon
the girl from the doorway.
"Nothln'. dad" was the answer.
''Nothin'? Well. then. I'd shore 60 to
bed. Hello. what's that?'
Swish. swish. swish. swish!
"Dinged II Tom Awtry amt a-cuttin'
sbingle blocks by moonlight. Means to
build that new cabin purity soon, I
reckon. Tifly"
lilly struggled to suppress the sob
that rose in her throat.
"Nyell, Toms not comm here tonight
Ral " aald the man ns0 xe,d NJ well n