The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1911-08-31

she grew to counting III times ho
said Yes. yesr' and NO. no." II he
would only break himseif VI using
those expressions. hut TX course he
could not know how they sounded.
Every body In Elmwood used them ex-
cept q few persons like the minister
and the doctor and lawyer and her
own father. Outsiders laughed and
called it part of the dialect Of Buffum
county.
When Elizabeth asked him II she
should play for him Norman said
Yes. yes" and when she asked II
he had had enough music he cried
hastily mo. nor until her nerves
were all a-jangle.
At last he arose to go. and there
was a very tender look In his down
bent eyes as he fingered his hat
There was something | wanted to
say to you, Bess. wonder IL bet
ter say 1t now7 l guess you know
what 1t Is" He looked steadily at her.
Elizabeth did not hesitate. She was
angry with him for his rustic ways
and provoked at herself because she
was too narrow minded to overlook
them.
81 don't believe you better say It."
she said deliberately, her eyes on ths
small shoe that tapped the carpet.
His face whitened underneath the
bronze. and there was a stricken look
in his eyes II hardly dared to hope
much since l heard you were coming
home, but before you went away
He choked little and asked her
question, "Will you tell me why.
BessT'
She looked up at him with strange
hardness In her heart. "Do you really
want me to tell your she asked
ayes, yesi" he said eagerly.
That's 1t, Norman Ryder" she fash
ed. Its your Bufrum county twang
and your everlasting 'yes-yes' and mo-
no. and you know better too!'
He stared at her, bewildered for
a moment, and as the import Of her
words struck home he Redeemed deeply
and all the tenderness fed from his
eyes. 80 that's the reasonT he said
gratingly. well, Bess. there's no
chance for me. then. because II you
don't love me enough to overlook
mere habit Of speech you don't love
me as much as l want you to. l sup
pose I don't shine very brightly COM
pared with the city fellows you've met,
but I've loved you better than anybody
else in the world ever could" He
crammed on his hat and without an
other word left the house.
Elizabeth stood alone In the parlor,
her eyes fixed In frightened stare on
the closed door, her heart pounding In
unison with Norman's departing steps
on the crisp snow.
1t was bright moonlight, and scores
of young people were coasting down
the steep hill that ran past the Grays'
home. Elizabeth heard their shouts of
laughter and the frequent warning cry
of "Road"
The gate crashed into place behind
Normans impatient swing. There was
the roar of coming bobsled. a muf-
fed thud and then shouts Of distress.
Elizabeth reached the front gate at
the same time her father and mother
hurried to the same place. drawn by
the sounds Of an accident
Somebody had been run down by the
bobsled-somebody who lay. dark
motionless figure against the Wilderness
OF the snow. Around his head the
snow was stained crimson that wild
ened and widened horribly.
1t was Norman Ryder, and when
Elizabeth reached his side little
group of men were lifting him from
the snow.
Bring him into my house." COM
manded Mr.. Gray, leading the way,
and SO they carried him across the
doorstep which he had left in anger a
few moments before and bore him up
stairs to the front chamber
A doctor was summoned. and while
Mrs. Cray prepared bandages and 9TH
er necessaries her husband built
roaring fire in the fireplace. and Eliza
beth sat cold and numb beside that
still form on the bed. Her hands rig
idly held In place the bag Of ice her
mother laid on his forehead above the
bandage that covered the deep cut.
Her eyes were fixed on the white set
features and closed lids and the finely
chiseled lips which might part no
more to utter the homely dialect OF
the country which she had despised
and ridiculed.
She could not weep. She could only
sit there. miserable. heartbr0ken lit
tie figure. hating herself for her GEN.
serious words.
The doctor came and waved her
aside. For an hour he worked over
the young man, while Elizabeth sat In
her own room breathless and despair
ing. Then at last she heard him go.
ing away, and instantly she was at
the door of Norman's room. Her
mother smilingly beckoned her within
and left them alone together.
Norman, looking very pale, his head
swathed In bandages. did not see her
come In. For a moment she stood
there looking down at him with her
heart In her eyes.
Suddenly he looked up at her. smil.
ing whimsically in the old way, as he
had been used to do before she told
him the unpleasant truths. He had
looked that way when he was a boy