The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-03-02

put the tools away, took q great drink
OF the water that again flowed through
the pipes, and sat down on the bench
by the open kitchen door. Dede was
inside. preparing supper. and the
sound OF her footsteps gave him
vast content.
He breathed the balmy mountain air
In great gulps. like diver fresh-risen
from . sea. And. as he drank in
the he gazed with all his eyes at
the ouds and sky and valley, as II
he ere drinking in that, too, along
WISH the air.
>Oede did not know he had come
back, and at times he turned his head
and stole glances in at her-at her
efficient hands, at the bronze of her
brown hair that smouldered with FIRE
when she crossed the path of sunshine
that streamed through the window, at
the promise Of her figure that shot
through him a pang most strangely
sweet and sweetly dear. He heard
1ner approaching the door, and kept
his head turned resolutely toward the
valley. And next, he thrilled, as he
had always thrilled, when he felt the
caressing gentleness of her fingers
through his hair.
81 didn't know you were back" she
said. WAS 1t serious?"
Pretty bad. that slide," he answer
ed, still gazing away and thrilling to
her touch. More serious than reck-
oned But I've got the plan. Do you
know what I'm going to do?-I'm 60
Ing to plant eucalyptus all over It,
They'll hold it. I'll plant them thick
as grass, so that even hungry rab-
bit can't squeeze between them; and
when they get their roots agoing,
nothing in creation will ever move
that dirt again..
Why, is 1t as bad as that?
He shook his head.
Nothing exciting But I'd sure like
| to see any blamed old slide get the
best of me. that's all. I'm going to
seal that slide down so that it'll stay
there for million years. And when
/ the last trump sounds, and Sonoma
| Mountain and all the other mountains
pass into nothingness, that old slide
Will be still a-standing there, held
up by the roots"
He passed his arm around her and
pulled her down on his knees.
Say, little woman, you sure miss q
lot by living here on the ranch
music, and theaters, and such things.
Don't you ever have a hankering to
drop 1t all and go back?"
| SO great was his anxiety that he
dared not look at her. and when she
laughed and shook her head he was
aware OF great relief. Also, he noted
the undiminshed youth that rang
through that same old-time boyish
laugh Of hers.
Say" he said, with sudden fierce
ness, don't you go fooling around that
slide until after get the trees in and
rooted. It's mighty dangerous, and I
sure can't afford to lose you now"
| He drew her lips to his and kissed
her hungrily and passionately.
| What lover!" she said; and pride
In him and in her own womanhood
was in her voice.
Look at that, Dede" He removed
one encircling arm and swept 1t in q
wide gesture over the valley and the
mountains beyond. "The Valley Of the
Moon--a good name, good name.
Do you know, when look out over It
all, and think of you and of all 1t
means, 1t kind Of makes me ache in
| no. L.,
heart I can't find the words to say,
and have feeling that I can almost
understand Browning and those other
high-fvirg Doet-rellows. Look at Hood
Noun tain there just where the suns
striking. II was down IN that crease
that We found the spring"
"And that was tho night Won didn't
milk the COWS till ten O'Clock" she
laughed. "And If you keep M here
much longer, supper won't Il any
earlier than IT was that night"
Both rose from the bench, ard Day
light caught up the milk-pail from the
nail by the door. He paused a mo-
ment longer to look out ovcc the val
ley
IT'S sure grand" he said
It's sure grand" she echoed, laugh
Ing joyously at him and with him and
herself and all the world, as she
passed In through the door.
And Daylight. like the old man he
once had met, himself went down the
hill through the fires of sunset with a
milkpail on his arm.
| THE END.