Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1911-03-18

en-. eating their supper so he w~s aprs
to so and come undetected.
When he drove down to the gate he
found Nan waiting where he had left
her; but now she had a bundle in her
arms. AS he got out TO swing the
driveway grille. the house door opened:
a flood of light from the hall lamp
banded the lawn. and there we're voices
and footsteps on the veranda- He flung
a nervous glance over his shoulder; Ar
dea and her cousin were returning
down the foot path. Wherefore he
made haste. meaning not to be caught
again, If he could help 1t. But the fates
we're against him. Longfellow, snatch
ed ruthlessly from his half emptied Dat
box, made equine protest, yawing and
veering and earning himself a savage
cut of the whip before he consented 10
place the buggy at the stone mounting
step.
quick" said Tom, Ringing the reins
on the dashboard. Chuck your bun
die under the seat and climb inl"
But Nan was provokingly slow, and
when she tried to get in with the bun
die still in her arms, the buggy
hood was in the way. Tom had to help
her, was in the act of lifting her to the
step, when the wicket latch clicked and
Ardea and Miss Euphrasia came out.
They passed on without comment, but
Tom could feel the electric shock of
righteous scorn through the back of his
head That was why he drove half
way to the lower end of the pike before
he turned on Nan to say:
Whats in that bundle you're so
careful Off Why don't you put 1t I'M
der the seat?"
Il reckon you wouldn't want me 70
do that, Tom-Jeff she answered, sim
| ply. Hits my baby-my little Tom"
He was struck dumb. 1t often hap
| pens that in the fiercest storm of gos
sip the one most nearly concerned goes
his way without so much as suspect
ing that the sun is hidden. But Tom
had not been exposed to the violence
of the storm. Mans shame was old,
and the gossip tongues had wagged
themselves weary two years before.
when the child was born. So Tom was
quite free to think only of his compan-
ion. A great anger rose and swelled
in his heart What scoundrel had
taken advantage of an ignorance so
profound as to be the blood sister of
innocence? He would have given much
to know; and yet the true delicacy OF
a manly soul made him hold his peace.
Thus 1t befell that they drove in 81
lence to the deserted cabin on the hill
side; and Tom went down to the foun-
dry office and brought lamp for light
The cabin was a mere shelter; but
when he would have made excuses
Nan stopped him.
Hits as good as been usen to. as
you know mighty well, Tom-Jeff. on'y
wisht-"
He was on his knees at the hearth
kindling a fire, and he looked up to
see why she did not finish She was
sitting on the edge of the old watch
mans rude bed bowed low over the
sleeping child, aAd again sobs were
shaking her like an ague At. There
was something heartrending in this ST.
lent, wordless anguish; but there wa,
nothing to be said. and Tom went jr
making the fire. After little she sai
ND and continued monotonously:
He was lixen to me thataway, too;
the Man at l heard your Uncle Silas
tellin' about one night when l sot OF
the doorstep at Little Zoar-He hada'
no place to lay Hisn head; not 81
much as the red foxes r the bird.
and hain't"
The blaze was racing up the chin.
ney now with a cheerful roar. and Ton
rose to his feet, every good emotion II
him stirring to its awakening.
such as 1t is, Nan, this place Il
yours, for as long as you want to stay
he said, soberly. And then: "Yol
straighten things around here to sui
you, and I'll be back in a little while.
He was gone less than half an hour
but In that shore interval he lighte'
another fire: a blaze Of curiosity an,
comment to tingle the ears and loosei
the tongues of the circle OF loungers Fl
Hargis' store In Gordonia. He ignores
the stove hugging contingent pointed.
r while he was giving his curt orders t
the storekeeper; and the contingen
, avenged itself when he was out o
r hearing.
"Te-heel" chuckled Simeon Cantrel
, the elder. pursuing his lips around tn
! stem Of his corn cob pipe; looks Xix
l Tom-Jeff was goin' to house-keeplr
RICH. late in the evenin'."
D by gol. wonder what's doin'?" sa'
another. Reckon he's done TUX u
I with Nan Bryerson, afte' airs been sal
] an done?"
(To be continued.)
q
, Hopeful Sign.