The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1909-06-23

ering lower lip.
I'LL never forgive We, Tom Awtry.
SO there. An don't We ever speak to
me again.
Catching up her apron, lilly wiped
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 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 a little
prank of mischief.
Meanwhile lilly had wandered from
the laurel path and had climbed Il
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
it was now too late to recall it,
Poor Tomr' she murmured, shading
her eyes and peering through the tim
Der. ooh, 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 l have
gone an played such a FOOL Poor
Tomr'
She sat down on the rock and cover
ed her face with her apron.
can | told him never to speak to
me again. l wonder if he will think l
meant it sure 'nough''
A deep, audible sob came now, and
Tilly's sinai 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 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, interim
nably.
Tom stopped no more to rest, as he
had been wont to do occasionally.
There was a fierceness 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 the shadow
Of night fell upon Tilly 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.
Tilly crept home again, picking her
way along the trail that led through
the laurel
An hour later the moon rose, and it's
white light outlined many a weird
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, to
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 Tilly's lips, and she
looked toward the moon for pity Then
presently a sound came to her ears
from far away over the stream. It
was faint, but clear
Swish, swish, swish, swish!
Tilly 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 PARKWAY sound cut
upon her ears! After awhile a man
came to the door of the cabin from the
inside
''Tilly, what air We settin' out here so
late about?' He looked down upon
the girl from the doorway.
"Nothin', dad" was the answer.
"Nothin'? Well, then, I'd shore 60 to
bed. Hello, what's that?'
Swish, swish, swish, swish!
"Dinged if Tom Awtry amt a-cuttin'
single blocks by moonlight. Means to
build that new cabin purity soon, !
reckon, Tilly."
lilly struggled to suppress the sob
that rose in her throat
"Well, Toms not comm here tonight,
GAL" said the man, 80 ye'd as we'll go