The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-04-18


When did you say jim Hendrick
was coming, Hedda?" Jim Anworth
inquired politely, for we want to Civ
the groom a wedding present. He de
serves it. He's brave man and n
/ mistake"
But Hedda did not even hear the re
| marks that at another time would hay
| brought anger hot in her cheeks.
she hurried through with her worl
amld many trips to the mystery o
her room, and at last, in the breath
Ing space between breakfast and tn
beginning of dinner, she sat down b,
the bed and contemplated the whit,
lace on her spotless pillow.
1t ban old trouble?" asked Held;
with clumsy tact.
The girl nodded.
Heart The doctor-I couldn't pay
him after | lost my job said | NIGH
have a chance ii could get to the
soa and live near it. But I'm tired.
don't care. can't work, and how
can | live?
People look at me like was a mao
dog ! wish Id die, here and now
You We been SO good. ltd be Il good
finish | tried hard, but | amt near
the sea yet, and can't work when
get there, and who'll help me-"
IN nm hon aueftI1 mann Nv,
You 90 to sleep now
and noddins wisely, EIedda depart.
ed into her realm.
The world beaten bird stayed secret
ly III the cage OF the rag carpctcd
room, and hot man at the lumber
camp knew that anything unusual had
happened in the lonely valley between
the ridges.
Now and then she came weakly into
the kitchen between times and sat in
the rocker and told Hedda bits of a
NmmolrIaee life. an innocent, hard
working girl life.
And Oh Wednesday that to which
Hcdda had been looking forward oc-
cured
Jim Hendricks camo down from
Quarter Creek, big and awkward in
his loggcrs clothes Of flannel and cor
duroyo and knec-laced boots and stood
in lle ook-shack door.
Really, lIeGMa2' he asked I've
got a packhorse, an well 30 down to
Toledo to the preacher when you're
ready Got to take up some grub"
Aye, said lledda. turning from her
baking board and busting her hands
Aye ban want to talk to YOU You
come ia"
lie stepped eingerly in, hulking like
an elephant in a china shop.
YIN, said lledda straightly, Aye
ban change my mind
What? Why"
There was disappointment in the big
fellows tone
Vas, Aye ban want to work some
more Aye don't want to go into no
hills, and dot cabin Of yours, it ban
too near the sea. Dot roar, roar 1t
make Ny head 90 round But you
listen here, Yim-Aye ban got you a
cyril all right
And with a certain skill lIedda told
him the story Of the waif from Salem
who was ready to die because she
must get to the sea and there was no
one TO take care OF her
But, began the man, but don't
know maybe she'd be scared o me.
i
You big fool. Yim,' said Iledda,
you come along" And she led him
into the eanctum.
The girl was asleep, a white flower
drifting on the golden seawced of her
hair.
The small sound walked her and
she opened her gray eyes full upon
him. Like twin mysteries they were,
deep and half-frightened and tired
unto death, and they appealed like
those Of a lonely child
"Why-whY-you poor little thing"
he whispered in the first wonder Of
awakening You want-your mother"
closing his lumber jack fingers over
the tiny, clawlike hand on the patch
work quilt.
She was not frightened, neither was
here any withdrawal from his clasp.
1t was as if she saw sanctuary in his
ace, and with the sure instinct of the
'oung. accepted it without question or
his Hedda saw nothing. She only
saw her plan working out as it should.
You ban go with Yim, she said
he got cabin up in the
nils and the sea it roar, roar, and the |
wind blow and you ban get well. Yin
IAN goot man. And she left them to-
,ether to look after some other mys-
cry Of the kitchen.
When a half-hour later Jim Hen |
tricks came out and brought his pack
lorse close to the step, he took her
zig red hand a moment.
I'm mighty glae, Hedda," he said
actlessly. after the fashion of man,
and ] want to thank you. She's goin'
With me Why-why-I can't under
tand it-such purity little thing-an
me, such big, overgrown
'rute!"
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