Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1914-04-15

her own room. 81 ~ M; s2
The next morning the men, storm
| ing in under the oil-1amps, fresh from
the mist and outer darkness, red
checked and healthy, commenced their
1 untiring batting Of the cook,
when did you say Jim Hendricks
was coming, ,Hedda7" Jim Anworthy
inquired politely, 'for We want to give
the groom q wedding present. He De.
serves It He's q brave man and no
mistake. 55a $3s. Il asss2 5
But Hedda did not even hear the 70.
marks that at another time would have
brought anger hot In her cheeks.
She hurried through with her work
amid many trips to the mystery of
her room. and at last. In the breath
Ing space between breakfast and the
beginning OF dinner. she sat down By
the bed and contemplated the white
face on her spotless pillow.
( 1T ban old trouble?" asked HeddA
with clumsy tact. . }5l I. sj
The girl nodded. ss..y
Heart. The doctor couldn't pay
him after lost my job-said might
have . chance II I could get to the,
sea and live near 1t. But I'm tired. !
don't care. can't work. and how
can live? 4;
People look at me like was . mad
dogl 4 I. wish I'd die. here and nowl
You've been SO goodl It'd be q good
finish. I tried hard, but ! ain't near
the sea yet, and can't work when !
get there. and who'll help me = @
You ban awful near. Tree mile.
You 60 to sleep now" ys1 .j
And nodding wisely, Hedda depart
cd into her realm. There was thought
looming dimly as she went through.
the eating room down between the
long tables, great thought. almost
too big for her circumscrtbed brain.
and its sudden advent made Hedda
clutch one hard hand over the ample:
region where her sturdy heart beat
rythmically. 58.
BY the time she reached the kitchen
door it had come much nearer, emery.
Ing out of dimness and haze as the
tall, white lighthouse of Cape Foul
weather came out Of the mist and fog
at times, to dominate the bleak land
and-sea-scape, and Hedda went to the
outer door for air.
Aye" she said to herself in stolid
reasoning, "Aye ban strong. Aye work
long tam yet" VI a.: t.$ Oh
& The world beaten bird stayed secret
ly; In the cage Of the ragcarpeteds
room, and not q man at the lumber
camp knew that anyt thing unusual had
happened in the lonely valley between 1.
the ridges
Now and then she came weakly into
the kitchen between times and sat in
the rocker and told Hedda bits OF .
commonplace life. an innocent. hard
working girl life And Hedda tended
her with clumsy Kindness. striving to
lift the lethargy that had fallen with
her giving up In the struggle to reach
I the sea- d. q s4s;si$ 81 Ill 81
And on Wednesday that to which
Hedda had been looking forward 90
Cured. s 8S 4 I,. u d. .il.
/. Jim Hendricks came down from
Quarter Greek, big and awkward in
his logger's clothes Of flannel and cor.
duroys and knee:laced boots, and stood
in the cook-shack door.
Really. Hedda?" he asked. I've
got packhorse. an wen go down to
Toledo to- the preacher when you're
ready. Got to take up some grub
Aye" said Hedda, turning from her
baking board and busting her hands,
Aye ban want to tall. to you You
come In" "A a e
He stepped gingerly in, hulking Ike
an elephant In q china shop.
ri "Yim." said Hedda straightly. "Ays
ban change my mind" sssF
What? Why r i5s y.zs # NJ
There was disappointment in the big
fellows tone. u. '' ss@s d III
.'Yas. Aye ban want to work some
more. Aye don't want to 90 into no
hills. and dot cabin of yours. it ban
too near the sea Dot roar, roar. 1t
make my head 60 round But you
listen here, Yim-Aye ban got you .
gyrl all right" &. hi. h
And with q certain skill Heddas told
him the story Of the walt, from Salem
who was ready to die because she
must get to the sea and there was no
one to take care Of her. iss.
But" began the man, 'but i don't
know--maybe she'd be scared O me.
- yE3i vs. Al I'VE Sis w
i .'You big fool. Yim," said Hedda.
you come along" And she led him
into the sanctum. ,3
The girl was asleep. Z white flower
drifting on the golden seaweed Of her
hair, when this clumsy two cyept soft
ly In, and the lonely man rom the
hills. who had wanted only companions
ship from Hedda, gasped with wonder
at the sight.
The small sound walked hex and
she opened her gray eyes full upon
him. Like twin mysteries they were,
deep and halffrightened and tired
unto death. and they appealed like
those of lonely child. .tss
They pierced the man to the depths
OF his heart, filled his throat with
desperate pain. and drew his great
hand out toward her with; tender
ness that he had never felt in all his
{ life. sss
"why-why-you poor little thingl-
he whispered in the first wonder Of
awakening. 'eYou want your mother"
closing his lumber-jack's fingers over
the tiny, clawlike hand on the patch.
work quilt. 4 6.'I
She was not frightened. neither was
there any withdrawal from his clasp.
It was as il she saw sanctuary in his
face, and with the sure instinct of the
young. accepted it without question. OF
this Hedda saw nothing. She only
saw her plan working ont ~ 1t should.
you ban go with Yim." she said
confidently, che got cabin up In the
hills and the sea It roar, roar, and the
wind blow and you ban get well. Vim
ban goot man" And che left them to-
gether to look after some other mys.
terry Of the kitchen. s.3&
When half-hour later Jim Hem