Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1909-07-09

dream through which She must sum
lIr FIR the rest If her life
Jim watched her in silence. Her
fa.. was turned from him. She had
forgotten his presence.
star gain. roll:" he asked at
lc.-th. drcadInS /" disturb her reverie.
Il guess was. Jim" She turned 10
him with little. forced smile. He
lonEod to save her from Barker's
threatened rcbuke.
How You fcciin' toniShtf'
I'm all right" she answered cheer
fully.
anything you want"
WANT" She turned upon him with
startled eyes. There WAS So much
that she wanted that the mere men
ton Of the word had opened a well OF
pain IN her heart.
IL mean can do anything for you"
"Oh. Of course not" She remem-
bered how little any one could do.
What Is 1t. Poll;" he begged. but
she only turned away and shook her
ufdu WITH II NiSIi iht lpii'"to h'A
with anxious eyes. What made You
cut out the show today? Was 1t be
cause You didn't want to ride afore
folks what knowed you-ride afore
him mcbbe:"
Him" Her face was white. Jim
feared she might swoon. You don't
mean that he was
"Oh. no." he answered quickly, 'of
course not. Parsons don't come to
places like this one. was only figur-
in that you didn't want other folks to
see an to tell him how you was rid
tn" She did not answer.
"Was that 1t. Poll:" he urged.
81 don't know" She stared into space.
WAS it""
Il guess it was" she said after a
long time.
Il knowed it," he cried. Il was a
fool to "a brung you back. You don't
belong with us no more"
"Oh. don't, Jim, Don't. Don't make
me feel I'm In The way here too.'
Here too" He looked at her in as
constituent You wasn't I'm his way,
was you, Poll:"
Yes, jim" She saw his look Of IN
belief and continued hurriedly: "Oh. !
tried not to be. | tried SO hard. He
used to read me verses out of Bible
about my way being his way and my
people his people but it isn't so. Jim.
Your way is the way you are born. and
your people are the people you are
born with. and you can't change it,
Jim. no matter how hard you try"
you was changin' it," he answered
savagely. You was gettin' jcs' like
away an spoiled it all. You oughtn't
to "a come. What made you after you
said you Wouldn't!
She did not answer. Strange things
were going through the mind Of the
slow witted Jim. He braced himself
FOR n difficult question.
"Will you answer ME somcthin'
straight" he asked.
"Why. of course" she said rs she
met his gaze.
do You love the parson, POllT
She started.
"Is that IT."
Her lids fiuttered and closed; she
caught her breath quickly, her lips
apart. then looked far into the dis
lance.
YES, Jim, I'm afraid that's It," The
little figure dropped, and she stood be-
fore him with lowered eyes. unarmed
Jim looked at her hclplessly, then
shook his big. stupid head.
".Ain't that HIP"
1t seemed such a short time to jim
since he had picked her up. cooling
babe, at her dead mothers side. He
watched the tender. averted face
Things had turned out so differently
from what he had planned.
An he don't care about you-like
that?' he asked after pause.
mo, not in that way" She was anx
ious to defend the pastor from even thu
thought OF such thing. lie was
good and kind always, but he didn',
care that way. He's not like that"
Il guess I'll have talk with him.
said Jim. and he turned to 90.
Talk" she cried.
He stopped and looked at her II
establishment. 1t was the first time
that he had ever heard that sharp not,
in her voice. Her tiny figure wa.
stiffened with decision. Her eyes wer,
blazing
IF you ever dare to speak to him
about me, you'll never see me again"
Jim was perplexed
Il mean it. Jim. I've made my
choice, and I've come back to YOU. i
you ever try To fix up things betweeI
him and me. I'll run away-really ant
truly away-and you'll never. never &c
me back"
He shufiled awkwardly to her sid,
and reached apologetically for the lit
tie clinched fist. He held it in his bi,
rough hand. toying nervously with tn,
tiny fingers
II wouldn't do nothin' that 70,
wasn't a-wantin', Poll. was JUS
a-tryln' to help you. only II neve
seem to know how"
She turned to him with tear dimme(
eyes and rested her hands on his great
broad shoulders, and he saw the plac,
where he dwelt In her heart
CHAPTER WY