The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1915-11-11

ance. She nerved herself to them.
HE comes Wen the dcw's on the
flowers, and rests in the dusk in my
chair. And I'm not lonesome! And
I'm not a failure!"
In the dreaded silence that follow.
ed, Brannon swayed towards her! his
eyes were very tender.
where is he now" he demanded.
Her head dropped.
Toms voice was scarcely audible.
." know how it is" he confessed.
when l put up that little home in the
valley, I used to make believe that
somebody was there! l set out lilacs,
and roses and petunias, because-I
knew somebody who'd have liked
them"
At last the auction was over. The
tail team creaked behind the cattle
shed and wound across the stubble to-
wards town. A solitary blue crane
winged screaming up from the tule.
and countless marsh birds chartered
unmolested.
In the little upstairs bedroom, Myra
rose from her knees. Her face was
gray. She knew, and Tom Brannon
knew, and God knew that she had lied.
She did not see Brannon enter n
door as she passed out from the 9TH
er. Mechanically, she gathered the
cups and strung them by their handles
Oh a cord. She piled the ans and the
platters; then, sinking to the bench.
she folded her arms or the table and
stared across the marsh.
The sun went down. Wind scudded
through the tule; blackbirds gOssiped
in the t%enantless corrals. Gradually.
their voices lulled to drowsy twitter-
ings. Still, she did not stir. Over and
over she repeated-"Wherewith shall
l make atonement?"
A coppery moor peered over the
stubble. She could smell the honey
suckle on her porch; its swinging CEN
sers called her to the closed front
room. She stood up, determined. Her
were as ice, but she walked unflinch-
ingly to the woodpile. Fiercely she
split a box into strips.
HE that kindleth a fire shall sure
ly made restitution" she quoted. 1T
ought to atone to give up the only
thing I've got!" Every blow Of the
Ratchet seemed like striking her
heart.
She carried the wood to the open,
facing town. Laboriously, she pulled
up clumps of stubble and formed with
them a huge ring, then added kind
lings, setting each %taperlike on end.
when the pyre was finished, 1t was
long and broad and fiat. Still the hon.
eysuckle called.
The moon, filtering through the &C.
dars, fell in white patches on the ST.
lent house. The doors gaped; the cur
tain denuded windows stared at her
like lidless eyes. Only the flowers
poured out familiar fragrance and in
the closed front room, she knew stood
the big armchair.
She dragged herself through the
empty dining-room to the door beyond
Her strength seeped from her SO she
could not turf the knob and she wait
cC, LII d HlOLlcIl, ny luc wall. ouloluOp
the wind squeaked a twig against the
window pane. Once, she was sure she
heard a sound in the adjoining
Her heart lost a beat, then pounded.
She edged to the door. 1t was her
last night in a home.
The chair stood in a flood of moon
light, occupied!
Myra Curtis did not scream. At first
her feet refused to carry her; then
she advanced determinedly to the mid
die of the room. Half way across the
floor, she stopped and shut her eyes.
She opened them; it was no illusion:
there was some n in the chair. She
did not recognize Brannon, though he
tried to speak.
1T is not true!" she affirmed, near
ing a step. 1T will go presently" she
asserted, her voice rising. III l touch
it" She reached out and a firm warm
hand closed over hers.
"Myra.' Brannon began, but she was
on her knees.
Its judgment upon me-" she
moaned, ito believe what isn't and
touch what l knows not there!"
"Myra," Brannon called. "Myra!"
Thou hast said I shall repay" she
whispered, but l thought If l burned
the chair"
Brannon caught her by the should
ers, shaking her. "Myra Curtis" he
blurted. TITS this fool me! I've had
something to tell you for months! I
couldn't find a way till you said
the mar who loved you sat in the dark
in this chair!"
She got to her feet, dazed, ashamed,
Inundated. "But-there isn't any
mani" she confessed. There never
has been! I-lied!"
"No-no you didn't" His arms com
forted; his tones caressed. "You said
there's some one who cares, and there
is! You said he comes to tell you
about it; he has come. He can't
bring you 'pansies and dahlias'; won't
the lilacs and roses do?"