The Richfield recorder. (Richfield, Idaho) 1909-1931, 1914-07-16
WHAT THE FROGS HEARD ;
BY W. W. wHALEN.

grade, and as he stood on the roof O
a box car he saw girl kneeling at al
open upstairs window in the hous
adjoining the station. Her head la,
on her hands; few OF her curls hun,
out over the windowledge and waved
In the breeze. Ben got on the car ant
stood looking up at her. This chance
perhaps Fortune herself had put in his
way. How often he had watched
those black curls through the station
window, when he CHANGED to be there
and Cora Goyne was in sight Yet
she had never seen him. He gave q
shrill whistle.
Could anything be prettier than
that round, dimpled, sleepy dark face
which started up from the window
sill, the eyes bright from sleep. the
hair gracefully disorderedl For a sec
ond or two she was bewildered She
looked down. and saw an engine and
train standing-and something else;
brakeman, cap in hand. looking up
into her face.
For only an instant she gazed at
him; then, with a little cry OF morti-
fication, leaped away from the window
and disappeared from his view. But
in that instant, she had with a wom-
ans facility, noted how yellow his
hair and mustache were, how big and
blue his eyes. how brawny his shout
ders. and how handsome his face
That was their introduction. They
became lovers. Every day Bens train
stopped at Locust Summit, and every
day Cora made it a point to meet
him; sometimes for only a word.
sometimes for prolonged converse
ton. His southern heart yearned to-
wards this lovely bit of northern wom-
anhood.
1t was night in July. Ben's train
was waiting for orders. He. and his
sweetheart were conyersing in low
tones, as they walked up and down
the railroad.
so you liked The Last of the Mo
hicans?"
Yes, very much; but should have
liked the story better had Maj Hey
ward married Cora and not Alice
THAT is just what / liked about
it. No wonder Major Hayward was
disguised with Cora when her father
told him of her birth"
Her birth? l don't understand"
why. her mother was a creole, or
there was trace of ne
gro or Indian blood in Cora, faint per-
haps, but there for all that" The
girl trembled and grew pale to the
Ups. He felt her CULVER on his arm.
Surely you are not chilly tonight;
why shiver?"
She was taken unawares, but her
answer shed only a faint light on
Ter thoughts. What a coincidence
hat my name is Cora, tool" she blurt-
ID out.
He laughed.
BE my wife, dearest; say yes" No
ound from her colorless lips. He
PRESSED her again to him. you lit
lie goose, thought l knew you, but
low l see that no man can ever I'M
erstand a woman. Who'd think you
o shy? Well. the answer tomorrow"
He bounded across the rails, a
pring, he climbed the side of house
ar; stood on the top, cap In hand.
he moonlight falling on his yellow
air; a kiss from the tips of his
myers, then the train rolled by and
ora was alone.
She looked at the green waters of
he swamp. whence came the sonorous
oices of the frogs.
"Oh, II 1 had never met him!" she
ried, In so low a tone that only the
-ogs heard her. And now to give
i'm up! Was 1t your fault, mother
ear, that your mother was a mu-
Itto?"
Was there In the music Of the frogs
ny note that caused her to shud- |
er SO?
Cora! Cora! where are you'll"
Her aunt's voice reached her ears
he girl started to her feet at the
>und. 30 suddenly that she well nigh
III into the water. She hurried down
le railroad to meet her aunt, who
God near the station There was
l engine. "pusher," standing near.
heezing and painting.
Get into the engine, Cora. Here
hat. I'll go with you"
Her aunt led the way and Cora
onderingly followed her into the
b. Her uncle was there, and on
8 saying. "All right" the engineer
arted the engine, and the frogs
ngs died away in the distance
Cora. must be abrupt. 1t has just
me up over the wires that Jim Glib
ms freight ran away down the
ade and plunged OF the track at
9 curve"
And Ben EveEs is killed." came In
hollow sound from Cora's lips.
mo. he's hurt and wants you"
Ben was lying on the bank on some
ats which the men standing around
d furnished: his eyes opening and
,sing, his breath failing. but he
ew Cora.
Little wife," he whispered. as her
N stole about his neck, and her hot
8 pressed his forehead. that was
t to be on earth, but God grant IT.
II be in heaven
With great effort he raised his
~ y