Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1914-07-02

mistake"
But Hedda did not even hear the re-
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 spotiess pillow.
1t ban old trouble?" asked Hedds
with clumsy tact
The girl nodded.
Heart. The DOCTOR couldn't pay
him after lost my job-said I might
have Q chance IL / could get 70 the
sea and live near it. But I'm tired.
don't care. can't work, and how
can live?
People look at me like ] was q mad
dog! wish I'D die, here and now.
You've been % good! It'd be a good
finish. ! tried hard, but ] amt near
the sea yet, and l can't work when
get there. and who'll help me?"'
You ban awful near. Tree mile.
You 60 to sleep now"
And nodding wisely. Hedda depart
ed into her realm.
The world-beaten bird stayed secret
ly In the cage Of the rag-carpeted
room, and not a 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 q
commonplace life. an innocent, hard
working girl life.
And on Wednesday that to which
Hedda had been looking forward Oc-
CURED.
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. s..
Really. Hedd8?" he asked. I've
got a packhorse. an we'll 60 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 talk to you. You
come in"
He stepped gingerly In, hulking like
an elephant In a china shop.
"Yim." said Hedda 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, II ban
too near the sea Dot roar. roar, It
make my lead go round. But you
listen here. Yim-Aye ban got you a
cyril all right"
And with a certain skill Hedda 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,
You big fool, Yim." said Hedda.
you come along" And she led him
into the sanctum.
The girl was asleep. a white flower
drifting on the golden seaweed 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 lonely child.
Why-why-you poor little thing!"
he whispered in the frst wonder OF
awakening. You 1want-your mother"
closing his lumber-jack's fingers over
the tiny, ciawlike hand on the patch
work guilt.
She was not frightened. neither was
there any withdrawal from his clasp.
II was as IL she saw sanctuary In his
face. and with the sure instinct OF the
young. accepted It without question or
this Hedda saw nothing. She only
saw her plan working out as IL should.
You ban go with Yim," she said
confidently. he got a cabin up In the
hills and the sea 1t roar, roar, and the
wind blow and you ban get well Vim
ban gOot man" And she left them to-
gether to look after some other mys-
terry OF the kitchen.
When a half-ho. later Jim Hen
bricks came out and D. 'ught his pack
horse close TO the sIS he took her
big red hand a moment.
I'm mighty glad, He, a - he said
tactlessly. after the fashiC OF q man,
and want to thank you. hos goin'
with me- Why-why-I cant ,nder-
stand it-sucb purity little tia u an
newly me. such . big, ovei. wn
brute!"