The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1915-12-16
CHAPTER XVIII.
"say 'sandry'I"

of the stricken man IN the pine or |;
ice. All OF the day and as much Of;
the night as her strength would per-.
init she was beside him. soothing his !,
restlessness. tending him with a.,
skill that showed intelligent training /,
Outwardly she was as quiet as the
spring days. lnwardly she painted and !
suffered with the abandon OF the pas
sionate nature which sees its desires
in danger. More and more she grew;
to fear and hate the silent. soft-footed
girl whose face between its dark
braids was a mask OF tragedy With
her woman's instinct and her almost
unnatural cleverness she knew that
way lay danger. Selfshly. in self
centered passion, this woman loved.
and to gain the object of that love she
felt within her heart that she could
wreck the universe. And its object
was in twofold danger-from Sandry's
death and from SiletZ.
Therefore she began to watch Siletz
with catlike glances from under her
lasnes, and to think with all her bril-
liant BRAIN of some way to eliminate
her from the question, of some bond
stronger than her work with Hamp-
den to bind herself into Sandrys life,
should he recover.
AS for Sandry himself, he was far
on that road which has no turning.
For day or two he had lain in tor
por, to rouse at last, as high fever
set in, to delirium. He began to talk.
first in rambling, reminiscent whis-
per of his early life. He was charm
ing, eager, high-soued boy again, and
the woman beside him saw clearly into
the clean depths of his life.
But on the second day of his de-
lirium something seemed to fall upon
him from the past that drew line OF
trouble around his lips and set some
great, hard question in the hot, blue
eyes. For long intervals he lay silent,
as if the tired mind were turning and
returning some important thing, to
break out suddenly in excited speech.
mol" he cried out suddenly; mo,
by heaven! Not while I'm alive to
right it,"
And again:
Legitimate! My God, it's done le-
gitimatelyI"
This was as the sun, soft, golden,
benign sun of early spring, dropped
over the western ridge, sending long,
> blue shadows across the narrow val
ley. AS the shadows darkened into
twilight Ma Daily, bearing some
Strengthening brew, doomed hugely in
the Office door.
III take watch, now" she said,
you ben on guard long while. Bet
ter go get some rest"
But Poppy Ordway, who was bend
ing closely over the cot, sprang sud
denly erect. Her cheeks were flushed,
and in her face was strange excite
ment. NO." she said firmly, Il shall
stay the night out. He is delirious
still and l cannot leave him."
Ma Daily, that shrewd old general
of men and meals, took keen note OF
every small thing in the hushed room,
set down the broth and turned away,
her whole kindly heart filed with sus-
picion.
Outside in the darkness Siletz stood
a little later and looked through the
open window at the figure on the
white cot, and the watcher beside it
Her hands were clasped tightly to-
gether and her dark eyes were heavy
with unshed tears.
IF he-dies." she gasped dryly be-
tween her parted lips. IN kill her and
go with him to hell. for he has no
God!"
But Sandry did not die. For week
he travelled on strange paths of mem
DRY, calling on Ruth to come out OF
the cleaning of a far land. standing
aside to watch Naomi send back the
ones she loved, and sometimes crying
out sharply. "oh. Absaloml My son.
my son!" Again he laughed bitterly
and spoke of lost faith in men.
Throughout the week Poppy Ordwey
stood such a vigil as only a woman
who loves. be she good or bad. can
stand With clever jealousy she kept
everything under her own capable
hands. only giving grudging place to
Ma Daily when she could no longer
command her overtaxed strength.
One night she refused to leave San
dry at all, firmly dismissing Ma, who
ragged inwardly but was no match for
her in the open ways of blum. AT mid
night the owner Of the Dillingworth
suddenly opened his eyes, weak and
tired. but sane. He saw, on the dim
background of faint light from shad-
ed candle. the TRANSPORTED face of
the watcher, and with feeble, smile
OF utter content dropped back to OBJ
.livion-this time the oblivion of heal
Ing sleep.
With that look, that weak smile. the
woman knew that he had turned his
face toward life and would journey
back to it. and the surge and SWAY
of passionate joy rocked her soul in
a storm of emotion.
She stepped lightly and restlessly
about. Strengthening cloth on table.
dipping the candle shade at better