The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1915-12-23

been a very wet day, with heavier
showers than usual, ard the wells Of
fog chung low along the hills. The
little drops of mist were thick on he
flannel shirt and on the two braids
which hung down across her breast
round and girlish under the clingine
wooden garment. AS she came up tC
him he noticed the look of her eyes
and knew that something had stirred
the emotions beneath that quiet ex
terror.
Been up on the ridge?" he asked
fort to keep his voice to the common.
place. This girl in her natural setting
always took him out of the everyday
affected him like a play with lowered
lights, soft music and alien cenes
Yes" she said dreamily, falling in
to the whimsical speech that only es.
capped her when she stood apart on the
hills, or listened to the pines, 1T came
tonight"
+ IT."
Sandry had gone a little way to meet
her and the camp was shut from sight
By a clump OF spruce, new growth and
low-branched.
"Yes-the light. Oh, the great lights
red and gold and purple. When the
sun breaks through just at the last.
And | know the ocean is under it
blue and purple, too, like the hills,
Some day III see it.
You picture these things, don't
your" ne said, "the things you have
never seen-the sea and the cities and
the outside world?"
"Yes-I know them all-my way.
Sometimes | don't think 1 want to see
them in their way-the real way They
might not be so beautiful. The Preach.
er says the glories of the world are a
lure Of the Devil. But | don't think so.
1t don't seem as if God would make
things beautiful and let the Devil nave
them to ruin people with-and God
made all things And we are his best
things"
You believe that" asked Sandry,
with an odd note in his voice.
Believe it?" said the girl wonder
tngly. "Of course. Don't your"
"Well-it's been a long while since
I've believed anything"
The girl was near to him now, the
dreamy look of her eyes d~issipated in
amazement.
You're LOST" she said simply. THE
Preacher would say so-even Wahloo-
wah would say 80, and old Kolawmie!"
Observation-Disclosures? Who are
The Indian woman you saw me
to in the glade and an old, old
man Of the Siletz. He who believes
nothing will be punished by the Great
Spirit-even as the preacher says in
his way. And the Bible"
That sudden mist in her eyes
touched Sandry.
And SO you would have me believe,
little Sletz?" he asked gently. The
mist had thickened under the heavy
ashes, and a look Of distress was on
Ter face where every emotion barred
Itself in %unguarded innocence to the
observer.
ooh, dear heaven" she breathed,
'yes-oh, yes, you must! Why you
Eould-you would" put she could get
10 further with the appalling thought.
And you?" probed Sandry curious
y. Have you visions Of the souls re-
ward and punishment? Are you bound
'or celestial peace?"
Yes" she said solemnly. 81 must
ave my soul, though l lose the whole
The majestic Bible language cast
the man a feeling of smallness
Ind he dropped his eyes.
All right, S letz," he said, smooth
-ng the braid in his fingers, "Ill be-
ieve anything you say-set me up a
.otem pole or attend Sunday school at
Toledo. Only forget it. By George,
what a head of hair! If l were a wom-
In I'd give a thousand dollars for it,"
He lifted the rope and weighed it
critically.
why, what for?" asked Siletz, her
ayes still solemn.
ITO have it, Of course. You're dread
July unsophisticated. Come along"
And swinging the mail sack ne
toward camp. Siletz came ST.
emily at his heels, falling in behind
with a certain instinct, and Sandry
had an unpleasant suggestion Of will
1erness professions he had seen enter
ng Toledo. enlivened by brilliant hues
and canine adjuncts. He turned
for a look at the rear.
Coosnah brought it up with a faithful.
ness to detail that was convincing.
At the western door Of the cook
shack they were met by Miss Ordway.
like a dollhouse plant behind
plate glass, an incongruous element in
her belted dress of light brcsdcloth.
She leaned in the doorway with mimi.
able grace, an immaculate hand on
sither side.
1.-THE wild huntress!" she smiled at
5iletz.
mo-" said the girl, II never hunt.
love the deer best in the fern"
"Yes?" said Miss Ordway curiously,
and Sandry, kicking the clinging
earth from his caulked boots, saw the