The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1914-08-06
In the Light of the Morning
A Short Story by Elma Cadwallader.

before he continued. The words ap-
peared to be wrung from him against
his will, yet he spoke with a passion
ate relief.
GIVE"
"Go on" Tom persisted, in the grip
of fearsome ana irresistible curios-
|ity.
"I'vc killed a mani"
The meadow was very still. The
horse stopped cropping the grass to
listen to tinkling cowbell across the
valley. From Tom mind the fog of
his recent anger vanished, leaving him
in sudden, confusing light. He bent
down and carefully removed a beetle
from his overalls without knowing what
he did. "Why?" he breathed, at last.
But the stranger only repeated, "I've
killed man." He shivered in the
warm rays Of the sunshine, and as the
horse moved he groped his way up till
he clung to its name.
"Did he-hit youl''
"No. 1t wasn't that. I've a mad
temper. ! struck in blind, crazy rage
before knew. He was my stepfather,
but he'd always treated me square
Twas about money that we quarreled-
money my mother left him. He d earned
the right to it, workin' on the ranch for
more N ten years, SO as the mortgage
conld be paid off. He done splendid
by the old place. Maybe if l hadn It
got to care lot for hinl--a lot more N
1 thought wouldn feel like this
People don't know low inuch they care
till something happens to show em. ("
Tom drew long breath.
"l've been runnin since yesterday
noon-seems like ia been runnin' for
weeks" His hand went to his bare
throat. "I was afraid of the woods.
The face was with me, his face and the
Ieyes, after d struck. l was afraid of
the shadows under the trees in the
woods, and-the nights, and the wind
in the canyons. can It stay alone. It S
awful to be alone with thoughts.
had to come baek--to see people. Yet
| m afraid to talk against my will, as
| I'm doin' now. I'r, afraid to see men
comm to take me, and the women IS
scared faces, and children followin' to
watch. When l saw you and your
horse | came out. Perhaps he IL help
me get away, l thought"
Tom brushed his clean s.irt sleeve
across his eyes and clammy forehead,
and under the shirt he felt chill
creeping and perspiration bursting out
over arms and neck, and body. "Help
you get away he echoed slowly.
"That's it. l gotta. The horse
|might-you see I'm weak" A flash
seemed to pass over the dark face, and
the black eyes wavered and shifted
from Tom s white face.
There was silence, then the boy
put his arms around Club s neck and
held it pressed against his l.eart, which
was humping hard. "You mean you
want the loan of my horse!" he cried.
"But you shan't have him-not to run
away! Why-why don't you go back 2
You ought = to go back" 1t was a
thought that shook thern both, and they
stared into each others eyes for a
long, frightened, speechless half min
ute.
"Go back!" the young man whis-
pered in duh key of uncomprehen-
sion. He turned his head aside, then
suddenly hid his face in his hands.
Tom stood motionless. When the
face was raised it had changed. "I'd
not thought of it," he said, with all
ehild's simplicity. eff l 60 back I
can rest. 1t will be good to rest
|anywhere-not to be afraid Yes, III
|go back" He made the announce
ment with the blank, mreasoning yield
ing of an exhausted child. "I'd walk
back, only l m weak-it IL tale long
time"
A suspicion of the man $ good faith
flashed before Tom 8 mind, then he put
it from him with shame and a fine
pride, and led the horse up close to
the rock. "You can have him " he
said. Hfor today, Nobody amt ever