The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-07-12

|
where; and a rock-fall which could
block the air would scarcely leave pas
sage for man. Still, one must try.
4 Not six steps from his starting poin
Mikors fingers, all stiff and tender
from the fire, encountered broken, jag
ged edges of rock, standing up 'and
down at disorderly angles. He stopped
and felt along the floor: the splintered
points were here, too, and inch by inch
across to the broken prop on the ditch
side. Rising. he felt for the roof and
cut an ugly scratch along his forehead
Mikol returned and seated himself in
his old place.
1T is strange, but cannot find her.
he remarked.
Find what?''
"Of course. Grandma Zuius. Still
wind blew her to safety. Let US think
so. Strange things happen in the
mines"
Can we get out? Why do you sit
down like this? Speak it,
well. no. Not at once, indeed, 1t will
go slowly They will have to do some
pick and shovel work first. those boys,
so that we can crawl over. We shall
give them lots of trouble"
The girl smote her hands together
'Jesu, But will they come for us?"
heard of such thing, OF course. they
will come. There would be hundred
ready from this mine alone-our boys.
and English and Welsh and Polish, and
all sorts. And if there were not one.
men would come swarming from other
mines like ants out of a hill, all crazy
to dig us out.
| You are frightened"
1T is just the dark. Some women are
| h,-ar t.rf I
always frightens me. Even in the
streets-or under a tree on moonlight
nights. | do not know what 1t Is. A
terrible feeling"
"A girl said that to me. At a picnic.
| it was. She would not tell me her
name.
"Six weeks ago. She talked like that.
And you know have searched for that
| girl everywhere!"
What did she look like?"
| IF I could know that! But she
slipped away. / could not tell where.
Nobody saw her go. I went to every
ball and wedding after that. and
watched and listened, but / could not
find her."
Why" said Maryte coolly, did you
want to-"
! Szirdelis was silent A tension. a sub
tie excitement began to possess him:
|
/ a power of stirring dreams.
maybe she was fooling you. What
did she say that you thought so much
off"
Maybe she was fooling: yes. that is
possible But just the same, she is the
one that makes me want to follow her.
The one cannot forget. She-she said
nothing to me. I would have said
plenty If I had had more time"
do you think she was willing to
listen?"
Listen? / would make her listen.
Once in a great while I make up my
mind to a thing, and something tight
ems in my arms and in my shoulders
snapi-and then i get my own way.
Always
what sort of things would you say!
"If you were that girl ] would tell
you. You see. II was gray night.
clouds and moon behind them. so that
there was no real light. 1t was warm.
too. The picnic was in a field. The
kegs stood everywhere; some people
were very drunk. Beside the field were
two great trees, an oak and willow,
and the shade was always black be-
tween She was afraid to pass where
the two trees met"
IAN oak and two willows. Everybody
knows that place"
Possibly two willows. There was a
great white stone, round on top"
Flat. it Was!"
$50 You are the one.-Is Jonas your
jaunikis?'
at have no jaunikis.''
"Ah, if / believed it! Well, tell me,
what do 1 call you for beginning"
"Maryte."
"Maryte. You do not know me,
though"
big Mikol. they call you. And you
live up on the hill, the men say. Your
second name is Szirdelis."
Did the men say 1 was looking for
your"
Not at all. No one noticed it. am
sure"
LAS for the things 1 was to say to
you. Here is one: I"
IF they come for U.S. Mikol. how can
they see? They cannot have lamps.
can they, because of the gas?"
Some different lamps, of wire and
locked with key; safe lamps, they call
them. / do not drink much. 1 could
make you a good husband. Maryte.'
THAT may be. Only l am not looking
for a man."
IT was not looking for wife, either
Then all at once you came by. Some
thing seemed to fasten behind my eyes.
| and wanted nothing but to follow
you. / was like fish on a hook"
How upsetting! Were you vexed? ''
Big Mikol laughed.
There is a ball a week from to-
night Come with me and maybe you
will see it working. BY that time 1
shall be out Of the hospital"
Out of the hospital?" the girl
echoed. You mean-you are hurt?"
ooh, a burn on my neck; nothing
more. And the hospital is not a bad
place Antan, my brother, was hurt
once and he went there; those doctors
are good fellows. They will mend me
again nicely. Also I learn English
fast over there, because they cannot
talk my language to me-
II am sorry. / am sorry
A hand rested lightly on his Shout
| der. 1t trembled. Soft comfort was in
the touch, so that Big Mikol, pressing
il closer. trembled, too.
But your hand-all wrapped in cloth!
What is the natter"
Just nothing. But you have not an
swered about the ball.
WAS that when you kept the fire
| from my hair? YOu burned your han