The Lamar register., 1910-02-09
In the Twinkling
of an Eye
By HELEN M. OWENS
Copyright. by Short Stories Co.. Ltd.)


and looked out over the blackened
stumps of the clearing. wrapping her
bare arms in her apron as she felt the
chill autumnal air of the Sierra. Her
eyes vaguely followed the smoke OF
a forest fire not far away in the tim
Der; but listlessness in the attitude
of her tall. well-knit figure indicated
q lack OF interest In her surroundings
reaching deeper than the mere indif.
ference OF custom.
When a man appeared at the edge
Of the clearing and vaulted over the
fence. the watching in which there
had been neither hope nor desire was
ended, for she turned from the door,
busying herself about the dinner keep
ing warm upon the hearth.
Despite the wood-chopper's SLOUGH
in his shoulders, he looked a son of
the forest. tall and powerful. When
he entered the cabin his dinner was
on the table. He looked at his wife
tentatively. but her shoulder was
turned toward him and she gazed per.
sistently out Of the window: SO he
sat down and ate, casting occasional
glances at her motionless figure. A
hound had stolen In and crouched
near him. watching with slavering
jaws eager for morsels. He found his
master unresponsivs.
Oliver had an air Of nerving him.
self as he said: II heard Dave Erick.
son was back"
There was no response. Taking out
. pouch he began filling his pipe. push
ing down the tobacco with an un.
steady thumb. He knew Lal had seen
Dave. Nevertheless he felt goaded
to ask: HAS he been here?"
Yes"
He drew a long Whit from his pipe
before he asked. doggedly pushing his
questioning. What did he come for?'
AS the woman turned. her husband
shrank visibly under the lash Of her
eyes.
He came to tell me you had lied"
she replied with elaboration.
His huge numbering frame was
trembling. as Oliver stumbled up from
the hearth. steadying himself against
. chair. ''Lal, he-told-"
She confronted him like some sore
ly wounded wild thing.
'Everything-the whole story The
message calm him to his dyin' moth
er: the letter he sent to me by you
It didn't reach me-"
Involuntary he glanced toward o
cleft In log over the fireplace. then
looked hastily away, moistening his
dry lips. She went on unheeding.
Why should ! talk? You know II
all-how the old hays about the noun
tains jeered and gossiped over their
pipes because he'd left me almost on
the weddin.day." She broke into
mirthless laugh. But you were will.
in enough to take what they said he'd
flung away. You devil. you've ruined
my life"
Don't say It. Lal!" he cried. en-.
treatingly. God knows I've loved you
always. You'd never give me any
Representatives. you seemed to hate
me: and then at last when you'd
grown . little kinder and I thought
maybe you'd learn to care for me
Dave came and I saw It was all up
with me-"
The woman's face darkened and she
broke In with fierce heat. "All's Ut
with you now. Don't you see It? II
you were half a man you would"
''Lal." he said. at last. Il don't deny
I've wronged you"
you don't dare" she interrupted
sneeringly.
But I've done my best since. to
make you happy"
your best! you've done your worst
You've parted me from the only man
In the world could have cared for
Any other woman would have done
for you
He started up with gesture Of pro
test, but she went on. why couldn't
you've let me alone? Any Of the girls
on the Flat would've married you for
the askin'. Why must you pick out the
only one who didn't care," She flung
up her arms despairingly. Il can't
breathe in the same house with you
I'LL leave"
Oliver caught her arm. "Lai. you'd
never leave me-You're my wife,"
You count on that?" she cried
what do care for few words said
over us-lies. lies all! / love Dave
I'm no wife Of yours"
She fung him on and ran out Of the
cabin.
The smoke Of the forest FIRE had
settled low over the clearing. bat he
was hardly conscious OF II or of the
smell Of burning wood filling the air
The stirring Of the shadows In his
weak and easy-going nature had re-
vealed hitherto unsupported depths,
and his whole being was convulsively
resisting the new order of things as
he strobe along. In few moments
he had reached the little opening in
the timber where his partners were
already at work. splitting stakes. Al
any other time he would have been
greeted by volley Of rough jests a,
his hardness. now the men had graver
matters to consider.
You'd better be gettin' ready to
move out o. this" remarked Jef
6trother. "Since the winds changed
the firo's bearin' straight down on
us"
Oliver removed his hat. passing his
hand over his head as II to rouse him.