The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1910-09-09
CHAPTER Ix.-(Continued.)

And then: Il reckon we'd better be get
tin them berries. 1t looks like 1t might
shower some; and paw II kill me u
amt home time to get his supper.
Here was an end Of the playtime. ana
Tom helped industriously with the Der
ry-picking, wondering the while why
she kept her face turned from him. and
why his brain was in such turmoil.
and why his hands shook SO if they
happened to touch hers in reaching for
the piggin.
But this new mood of hers was more
unapproa enable than the other; and 1t
was not until the piggin was filled, and
they had begun to retrace their steps
together through the fragrant wood.
that she let him see her eyes again,
and told him soberly of her troubles:
how she was Is and could neither read
nor write; how the workmen's children
in Gordonia hooted at her and called
her mountain cracker when she went
down to buy meal. or to fill the molas-
ses jug: and, lastly, how, since ner
mother had died, her father had work
ed little and drunk much, till at times
there was nothing to eat save the T"o-
tatOes she raised in the little patcn
back of the cabin, and the berries she
picked on the mountain side.
IT hain't never told anybody afore.
and you mustn't tell, Tom. But times
I'm scared paw IL up and kill me when
when he amt feelin' just right. He's
some good to me when he amt red
eyed; but that amt very often, nova
days"
Toms heart swelled within him; and
this time it was not the heart of the
Pharisee. There is no lure known to
the man part of the race that is half
so potent as the tale of a woman in
trouble.
''Does-does he beat you, Nan?" he
asked; and there was wrathful horror
in his voice.
For answer she bent her head and
parted the thick black locks over a
long scar.
That's where he give me one with
the skillet, a year come Christmas.
And this"-opening her frock to show
him black-and-blue bruise on her
breast-'it what 1 got only day afore
Yesterday"
Tom was burning with indignant
compassion, and bursting because he
could think of no adequate way Of ex-
pressing it. In all his fifteen Yeas no
one had ever leaned on his before, and
the sense of protectorship over this
abused one budded and bloomed like a
juggler's rose.
Il wish / could take you home with
me. Man." he said, simply.
mo, you don't" she said, firmly.
Your nanny would call me little
heather, same as she used to; and
reckon that's what 1 ami hain't had
no chanst to be anything else. And
you're goin' to be preacher, Tom"
Why did it rouse dull anger in his
heart to be thus reminded of his own
under the shadowing cedars? He could
not tell; but the fact remained
you hear me, Nan; I'm going to
take care of you when I'm able. No
matter what happens, I'm going to take
care of you," was what he said; and
a low runbling of thunder and a spat-
tering Of rain on the leaves punctuated
the promise.
She looked away and was silent
Then, when the rain began to come
faster: Lets run. Tom. don't mind
Settin' wet; but you mustn't"
They reached the great rock shelter
ing the barrel-spring before the shower
broke in earnest, and Tom led the way
to the right. Halfway up its southern
face the big boulder held water-worn
cavity, round, and deeply followed, AMI
carpeted with cedar needles. Tom
climbed in first and gave her a hand
from the mouth of the little cavern.
When she was up and in. there was
room in the nest-nke hollow, but none
to spare. And on the instant the sum-
mer shower shut down upon the noun
tain side and closed the cave mouth rs
with thick curtain.
There was no speech in that little IL
ferval of cloud-lowering and cloud
lifting. The boy tried for 1t, would
have taken up the condolences where
the storm coming had broken them or:
but 1t was blankly impossible. All the
curious thrills foregone seemed to Gull
inmate now in single burning desire:
TO have 1t rain for ever, that he might
nestle there in the hollow of the great
rock with Nan 80 close to him that he
could feel the warmth Of her body and
the quick beating Of her heart against
his arm.
Yet the sleeping conscience did not
8IlT. nc t1o14CAt VI TeCOGnlt1On wa2
withheld even when the cloud curtain
began to lift and he could see the long
lashes dropped over the dark eyes ana
the flush in the brown cheek matchin-
his own
Mani" he whispered, catchinr III.
breath: ''you're-you're the"
She slipped away from him before
he could find the word. and a moment
later she was calling to him from h.-
low that the rain was over and .ha
must hurry.
He walked beside her to the door =,
the miserable log shack under the acc
ond cliff. still strangely shaken, bu,
striving manfully to be himself again
The needed nliip came when the noun.
taineer staggered to the threshold. In
times past. Tom would quickly have
put distance between himself and Tx.
Bryerson in the squirrel-eyed stage q
intoxication. But now his promise t.
Nan was behind him. and the Gordo,
blood was to the fore.
It was my fault that Nan stayed .,
long. he said. bravely; and he wa.
immensely relieved when Bryerson
- y. = - 3. =