The Detroit times., 1913-07-23
CHAPTER vi.
To Occupy the Land.

| Point blum on one side the creek
shrouded with laurel and sumac, on
| the otner the uncouth board fences
Of the rear lots of the town. She
did not heed her steps. Once, on
rise OF the path. she stopped and
gazed stonily back at the lights OF
the house Al last she seemed 10 I'M
derstand that she had been bowed
| out, dismissed In manner 30 mar
velously gracious that she, the little
fool had not known it-she had
stood with heart so full of CRATE
fulness that she had not dared trust
her voice: she had given all with an
inexplicable rapture Of remuneration
She was burning with fear that she
had been outrageously tricked, and
then a knowledge that, In some desc
lating way the mother was right
She never shook hands with me. 4"
the girl whispered and climbed on,
her pale face turned TO the hills. she
Just smiled And had her way! oh,
| wish | could do that-thats being
a lady" Then she turned fiercely
10 look back u hate email Of
EN-, They're different. Harlan's diff
lferent--I see now"
Then last faint note OF the piano
came on the night wind, and she shut
her ears with her hands and ed on
to gain the cliff. up. anywhere, 10 ST.
| lence and TO freedom. She burst
around the buttress OF rock where tho
road ended in Eagle Point trail, and
there, directly behind the News Of
ice fence. man In shirt-sleeves was
emptying basket OF bottles down the
creek bank. he girl almost struck
him az she sped across the foot
bridge. He stopped his task. looked
up. cried after her. and then. fol
lowed. She reached the trail and
heard him toiling on among the
boulders.
"Aurelie he gasped Whats the
natter"
She did not answer and he leaped
on But the girl gained swiftly on
him, steep as IN ascent was until he
saw her slip on a pinnacle of rock,
heard her cry out and pitch down
into a hollow filled with dry leaves
| He dashed on 10 find her a prisoner
in the Pocket. waist deep in the
leaves. sullen, breathing hard, her
hair disordered. She would not look
at him
"Aurelie-what on earths the mat
teri"
Il fell and broke nv arm
He leaped down and struggled to
her. They both were painting
You're suffering" Mr.. Curran gasp
ed.
She laughed and flung bloody
little hand up TO him. He saw her
tense and tragic face; there was
more than mortal hurt there.
He took her arm and she rebelled
pulling II away until she writhed
with pain. But he made her sit, and
tore his handkerchief to bind the cut,
after examining II.
IT'S not broken. Aureie, Only
gashed-maybe sprained."
Il wish It was broken-every.
thing"
He could hear her heart beat as he
! bent TO bind the wrist You little
savage-running off wild like this.
And the prize <inner. Aurelie The
most beautiful girl in all the west.
they say"
! She stared dumbly at him Per-
haps he. too, was hooking her. play
ing on her full heart. her needless
generosity, her hungry soul, her love.
There was none OF her small poses
and airs about her now but the Celt's
romance stirred in him at some wild
beauty in her. When he had bound
her arm she quivered and he had a
sense she was about 10 leap from him
like a creature Of the woods at the
chance OF freedom. Then she turned
to him
she fooled me: and I'm going
away"
Fooled your"
! His mother And | said I'd give
him up to her. but now see she only
fooled me. hate them now-and
him. too"
| "Aurelie," Mr.. Curran was bewild.
cred. Il never knew Of this affair
you and Harlan It's astounding
he rubbed his .forehead-"impos.
sible"
You think so, too?" she blurted
All right. I'm fool, guess. But
! III show 'em." She came directly
to him. "Oh, Mr. Curran. | want to-
go away. ] told 'em I'd give up this
prize thing. u ne wanted me to- But
now It's different. Mr. Curran. / want
to be some odyi"
She was staring at him In the moon.
light. Mr. Curran. could not stand
that; his own vagabond heart throb-
bed nightly. He. too. was the ex.
lie. the outlander To be somebody
Right then and there. Mr.. Curran
knew he would lead any forlorn hope
for her for any one who wanted 10 be-
somebody.
You arel" he cried And you can
go away. too. and show 'em!"
Her white face stirred bit. Then.
with the direct simplicity Of her down.
river years. she muttered. Mr.. Cur.
ran, could just love you. / never
would have been aNbeautiful girl IL II
hadn't been for you!'
Mr.. Curran sat down and rubbed
the bald spot on his head. He was a
man who had walked alone and known
the sorrow OF evil. He put a kindly
hand TO her shoulder He was trying
to believe he had great fatherly pity
for her.
Now. little GIRL" he said. lets
walk the trail home. It's beautiful
we can see the river In a moment
there, The Mississippi, Way on
there you came from, didn't you?
lived there once. Aurelie. left bit
OF my heart there among your people.
You're something OF savage, and