Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1910-06-15
CHAPTER Ix.-tContinued.)

Tom helped industriously with the ber-
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 II they
happened to touch hers in reaching for
the piggin.
But this new mood of hers was more
sunapproachable than the other: and II
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 her.
mother had died. her father had work
ed little and drunk much, till at times
there was nothing to eat save the po-..
tatoes she raised In the little patch
back OF the cabin, and the berries she
picked on the mountain side.
hain't never told anybody afore,
and YOU mustn't tell. Tom. But times
I'm scared paw, II up and kill me when
when he Amt feelin' Just right He's
some good to me when he ain't red
eyed; but that amt very often, nova
days.
Toms heart swelled within him; and
Sthis time 1t was not the heart Of the
Pharisee. There is no lure known to
the man part OF the race that Is half
10 potent as the tale of q woman in
i trouble.
Doesdoes he beat you, Nan ?"2 he
& asked: and there was wrathful horror
1 In his voice. =, q 4; Is Z
For answer she bent her head and
parted the thick black locks over q
( long scar.
That's where he give me one with
the skillet. a year come Christmas.
And this"-opening her frock to show
4 him q black-and tblue bruise on her
< breast--.it what got only day afore
Z Yesterday" 81 -.
Tom was burning with indignant
q compassion, and bursting because he
could think Of no adequate way of ex-
pressing 1t. In all his fifteen years nc
one had ever leaned on his before. and
the sense OF protectorship over this
abused one budded and bloomed like "a
juggler's rose.
wish could take you home with
me- Man," he said. simply.
No, you DON'T" she said, firmly.
Your nanny would call me little
heather. same as she used to; and
h reckon that's what I ami hain't had
no chanst to be anything else. And
4 you're goins to be q preacher, Tom"
Why did It rouse a dull anger in his
heart to be thus reminded of his own
scarce cooled pledge made on his knees
under the shadowing cedars? He could
z not tell: but the fact remained.
You hear me. Nan; I'm going tc
take care OF you when I'm able, !. VI
matter what happens, I'm going to take
care Of you," was what he said; and
a low rumbling Of thunder and spat-
tering Of rain on the leaves punctuated
the promise. 81
She looked away and was silent.
Then, when the rain began to come
= faster: Lets run, Tom. / don't mind
gettin' 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
H to the right. Hallway up its southern
face the big boulder held water-wor,
cavity, round, and deeply followed. and
! carpeted with cedar needles, Tom
climbed in first and gave her hand
4 from the mouth of the little cavern
s When she was up and in, there was
room in the nest-like hollow, but none
TO spare. And on the instant the sum-
I mer shower shut down upon the noun
tain side and closed the cave mouth as
with thick curtain.
vi There was no speech In that little Il;
tervai OF cloud lowering and cloud
lifting. The boy, tried for 1t, would
have taken up the condolences where
tho storm coming had broken them Off;
but II was blankly impossible. All the
curious thrills foregone seemed to cul-
inmate now In single burning desire:
i to have 1t rain for ever. that he migh,
\ nestle there in the hollow OF the grea,
rock with Nan so close to him that he
Z could feel the warmth of her body and
the quick beating Of her heart agains,
y his arm.
Yet the sleeping conscience did no,
stir. The moment of recognition was
withheld even when the cloud curtain
= began to lift and he could see the Ions
lashes dropped over the dark eyes, and
the flush in the brown cheek matching
his own.
Mani" he whispered, catching his
breath; .'you're-you're the"
She slipped away from him before
+ he could ind the word. and a momen,
+ later she was calling to him from ia
low that the rain was over and abe
must hurry
He walked beside her to the door OF
the miserable log shack under the sec.
y ond cliff, still strangely shaken, blu,
striving manfully to be himself again
The needed FLIP came when the noun
& taineer staggered to the threshold. In
times past, Tom would quickly have
put distance between himself and Tike
\ Bryerson In the squirrel-eyed stage oi
e intoxication. But now his promise tc
Nan was behind him. and the Gordon
y blood wassto the fore.
ut was my fault that Nan stayed SC
long" he said, bravely; and he was
Immensely relieved when Bryerson
making quite sure of his identity, De-
came effusively hospitable.
"Cap.n Gordon's boy-'f cou'sc;
didn't make out to know we. t frs
Come avn in the house an sit spell;
come in. / say!"
Again. for Mans sake, Tom could dc
no less. 1t was the final plunge. The
Uuy W16 COult OI dDStlNenI STOCK, WHICH
was possibly the reason why the smell
of the raw corn liquor with which the
cabin reeked gripped him SO fercely
Be that as 1t may, he could make but
q feeble resistance when the tips,
mountaineer pressed him to drink; anc
the slight barrier went down altogethc,
when he saw the appealing look il
Mans eyes. Straightway he OWNED
that there would be consequences fol
her when he was gone If the maudlir
demon should be aroused In her father
So he put the tin cup to his lips anl
cpughed and strangled over singl,
swallow Of the fiery, nauseating stuff
did this for the girls sake. and Their
rose and fed away from the mountain
with his heart ablaze and a fearful
clamor as of the judgment trumpe
sounding In his ears.
The next morning he came hollow
eyed to his breakfast, and when tn,
chance offered, besought his father I,
give him one Of the many boys jobs IL
the iron plant during the summer va
cation-asked and obtained. And mel
Their the hotel on the mountain top mo-
the howell cabin under the second elf