Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1911-01-27
CHAPTER Ix-fContinued.)

amt home time to get his supper"
Here was an end of the playtime, and
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
unapproachable 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 15 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.
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. Hes
some good to me when he amt red
eyed: but that amt very often, nova
days"
Toms heart swelled within him; and
this time 1t was not the heart of the
Pharisee. There is no lure known to
the man part of the race that Is half
80 potent as the tale Of woman in
trouble.
"Does-does he beat you. Nan?" he
asked; and there was wrathfu1 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. year come Christmas.
And this''-opening her frock to show
him a black-and-b bruise on her
breast-''it what I 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 years no
one had ever leaned on his before, and
the sense OF protectorship over this
abused one budded and bloomed like a
tuggler'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 q little
heather, same as she used to; and /
reckon that's what / AMI hain't had
no chanst to be anything else And
you're goin' to be preacher. Tom"
Why did 1t rouse 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
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
low rumbling 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
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
to the right Halfway up its southern
face the big boulder held water-worn
1850 -..,.h aao omeu' an
s,,..sss ~ a.. es LON
&c.. ~ ,s.h e., ,,.., manu-
~ e n..ie cavern.
W sS Tas W A,u III tnere Was
M -. 'ne IN nonow. put none
u on 'no ihs'an. .ne SUM
ner enoweE shue uown upon the noun
'ain siue anu cioseu .he cave mouth as
WIN tnick curtain
There was no speech IN tnat little Ill
tervai OF ciouo-iowering ana cloud
nfting. me boy tried Tor 1t, would
have taken up the conndences where
the storm coming had broken them or;
but It was biankiy impossible. All the
curious thrills foregone seemed to Gull
inmate now IN single burning desire:
to have It rain Tor ever. that he might
nestle there In the hollow of the great
rock with Nan so 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
stir. The moment of recognition was
withheld even when the cloud curtain
began to lift and he could see the long