Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1909-05-07

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Where uld you learn " "o'a '-'~os
like that:" he questioned. where aid
you get that we'll, that air!'
at seems to me I've always known.
There's nothing strange about 1t. Inc
buttons and the hooks and the eyes arc
all where they belong. It's instinct, l
suppose. from fathers side.
Probably. dare say ] should uh'
dcrstaud the mechanism or a dress
suit. even il ia never seen one SAID
the man. amused, yet impressed by
her argument.
eve always had visions OF women
dressed in this kind Of clothing. white
women. never natives. not dressed ike
this exactly. but in dainty. soft things
not at all like the ones wear. ! seem
TO have memory, although it's hardly
that either; it's more like dream, us
if | we're somebody else. Father says
ii is from reading too mu"h."
"A memory Of what?"
ITS too vague and tantallzing to tell
what it is except that ] should be
called Merridy."
"Mcrridy? Why thatF
"Ill show you See" She slipped her
hand inside the shaw and drew from
her breast thin gold chain on which
was strung band ring. 1T WAS
prandmother's. That's where | got the
fancy for the name Of Merridy, ! sup
pose"
"May look?''
"Of course. But daren't take 1t off.
| haven't had it off my neck since L
was baby" She held it out for him
TO examine. and although 1t brought
Lii, head close to hers, there was no
trace of coquetry in the invitation. He
read the inscription, "From Dan to
Merrdy," but had no realization OF
: what it meant, for he glimpsed the
milk white flesh almost at his lips and
felt her breath stirring his hair, While
the delicate scent of her person SEEM
cd to loose every strong emotion In
him. She was so dainty and yet so
yirlle, so innocent and yet so wise, SO
cold and yet so pulsating.
ut is very pretty" he said namely.
AT the look in his eyes as he raised
his head her own widened, and she
withdrew from him imperceptibly, dis
missing him with a mere infection.
81 wish you would send Poleon here.
! It's time he saw his present"
AS Burrell walked out into the air he
shut his jaws grimly and muttered:
Hold tight, young man. She's not
your kind-shes not your kind"
Inside the store he found Doret and
the trader in conversation with a man
he had not met before, ragged non
iescript whose Overalls were blue ana
faded and patched, particularly on the
front of the legs above the knees,
! where a shovel handle wears hardest
whose coat was of yellow mackinaw
the sleeves worn thin below the ell
bows. where they had rubbed against
his legs in his work. AS the soldier
entered the man turned on hlm
small shrewd, weather beaten face
with one eve while he went on talking
to Gale.
at amt nothin' to git excited over
Int IFS with follerin'. If | wasn't sc
cussed unlucky I'd know there was
pay streak som'ere close by.
Your luck is bound to change, Lee,
said the trader, who helped him to rol
up Il pack Of provisions.
"Mebbe So Who's the dressmakerF
He ierlied his bushy head toward Bur
rell. who had stopped at the IRON
door with Poleon to examine some vel
low grains in folded paper
Hes the boss soldier"
"purty. amt hep
"If YOU amt good he'll get you,'
said Gale, a trife cynically, at which
Lee chuckled.
The one eyed man snorted derisive
". at amt with considerin'!
"Why not?" insisted Gale guardedly
maybe I've got record. You don
know"
.If You have, don't tell me nothin
about it," hastily observed Lee. I'm
God fearin' citizen myself, leanin' eve
toward peace and quietudes, but what
past is dead and gone, and Ia hate u
see a lispin child like that blue ant
WELLER party try to reezureck it."
Hes got the American army I
back him up, at least five Of them
give agin hundred. He aims [
overawe us, don't he?" snickered Tn
unregenerate Lee, but his wrinkle
changed and deepened as he leane
across the counter confidentially.
"You say the word, John, and Il
take some Teller along to help me, an
we'll transfer this military post"
"Pshaw! I'm just supposing," sal
the trader.
"All right. It's up to you. How
ever, if | happen to leap down on TIL
pay streak before 1t sees me comm
I'm goin' to put my friends in mrs
and foremost and shut out these dress
makers complete. So long"
Having given Necia's message to II
leon. the lieutenant took up his bus
ness with the trader 1t concerned IN
purchase of certain supplies that ha
been omitted from the military outfi
and when this was concluded he II
ferred to the encounter of that morl
ing.
Il don't want you to think l bungl
ororrthinO In that manner" he SAT-