Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1911-02-02
CHAPTER IX.-(Continued.)

And then: Il reckon we'd better be get
tim them berries 1t looks like it might
shower some; and paw IL kill me If
amt home time to get his supper"
Here was an end of the playtime, and
Tom helped industriously with the ber-
rypicking, wondering the while why
she kept her face turned from him, and
why his brain was in such a turmoil,
and why his hands shook so if they
happened to touch hers in reaching for
the pggin.
But this new mood of hers was more
unapproachable than the other; and it
vas 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 a 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
tnere was nothing to eat save the 20
tatoes she raised in the little patch
back of the cabin, and the berries she
picked on the mountain side.
Il 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 He's
some good to me when he amt red
eyed; but that amt very often, nova
days.
Toms heart swelled within him; and
this time it was not the heart of the
Pharisee. There is no lure known to
no r+ A.
SO potent as the tale of a woman In
trouble.
'Does-does he beat you, Nan?" he
asked; and there was wrathful 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 blue bruise on her
breast-"it what l 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
juggler's rose.
Il wish l could take you home with
me, Man," he said, simply
No, you don't" she said. firmly
Your nanny would call me a little
heather, same as she used to; and I
reckon that's what 1 AMI hain't had
no chanst to be anything else. And
you're goin' to be a prea cher, 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 cedars2 He could
not tell; but the fact remained
lou 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
a low rumbling of thunder and a spat-
tering of rain on the leaves punctuatei
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 it's southern
face the big boulder held a water-worn
cavity, round. and deeply followed. ana
carpeted with cedar needles. Tom
climbed in first and gave her a hand
from the mouth of the little cavern.
When she was up and in, there was
room in the nest-lil<e hollow, but none
to spare. And on the instant the sum-
mer shower shut down upon the noun
tain side and closed the cave mouth rs
with thick curtain.
There was no speech in that little H..
terval of cloud-lowering and cloud
lifting. The boy tried for IL. Uould
have taken up the condolences wher.
the storm coming had broken them off.
but it was blankly impossible. All the
curious thrills foregone seemed TO cul
inmate now in a single burning desire.
to have it rain for 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
lashes dropped over the dark eyes. and
the flush in the brown cheek matching
his own.
Mani" he whispered catching his
breath; "youre-you're the"
She slipped away from him before
he could find the word, and a moment
later she was calling to him from be-
low that the rain was over and she
must hurry.
He walked beside her to the door of
the miserable log shack under the sec
ond cliff, still strangely shaken, but
a full 70 Ia n irooa