The Washburn leader., 1916-08-11
The Takiing
OF :: Lorena
How the Surrender Came
About.
BY ANNE HElLMAN.

BY ANNE HElLMAN.
Although it was the third week in
! April, there we're sudden and chill
whiffs of wind from the north, &C.
companied by flying particles Of ice
and snow, grim warning that winter
had not yet renounced its sway in
the northland.
Floyd Jordan, striding down the
steep mountain trail, halted irreso-
lutely near the abrupt turning at
Farrell's bluff. He appeared to be
meditating deeply. Suddenly he
threw up his head, squared his
shoulders and hurried on, not in the
direction Of the boarding house in
the gulch, but toward Farrell's
cabin.
Farrell's cabin was two log houses
Joined together and chinked with
mud. There were other cabins of
the same simple architecture scat
tered over the mountain side and
nestled in the gulches, but white
curtains hung at the Farrell win
dows, and the windward side of the
living room was hung with gay Nav
ajo blankets; the brown fur of a
mountain bear was on the floor, and
it's mate was spread luxuriously be-
meath the red pillows of a couch.
And, set like torch in the south
window, a geranium, potted in a
brilliant Indian basket, lifted its
scarlet blooms. "'s->. 49, E
But Jordan felt without seeing
this harmony, He was looking into
the face of the girl who had opened
the door. It was a face of light and
shade that spoke the swift thought
before the voice found words, face
to hold a mans glance in crowd.
She resumed her seat by the fire
without replying to Jordan's genial
greeting.
He seemed to fill the room. Six
feet two and broad shouldered, he
looked even larger in the clumsy
canvas coat, corduroys and high
laced boots of the prospector. He
whipped his hat against his knee,
evidently Disconnected by the girls
hostile attitude. rl
3'That you, Floyd Jordan~ In
quired voice from the inner room.
eyes, Mrs. Farrell. How're you
feeling?"
Somewhat better, Pm glad to
say. Sit down and warm yourself,
Floyd. It isn't to be wondered at
that people have rheumatics in a
land where there's ten months win
ter"
Lorena closed the door. sFloyd
Jordan, what are you coming here
again for ?" she burst out suddenly.
Wouldn't be very neighborly not
to drop in with your mother sick
and your dad away, would it?"
Didn't tell you that l never
would speak to you again and that !
never wanted to see you?" she said
fiercely, taking few steps toward
him. Even in that moment, with
her eyes blazing with unjust and un-
reasonable anger, the miners heart
throbbed acknowledgment of the
tall, plant, reedlike grace before
him.
eyes, Lorena, but I have just
little hope that you don't always
mean what you say"
'Don't you think I mean it when
I tell you I've heard how you brag-
ged to the boys at the store that you
could take me whenever you got
good and ready?"
II never said anything of the
kind. Some one has garbled my
words to suit his own purpose. I've
been mad about you've loved you
from the first time ever set eyes
on you, and I've never said a disre-
spectful word about you. I've been
thinking of building cabin on my
claim, if you'll have me, Lorena. II
you won't I'll sell out and 60 back
east"
"You can't go any too quick to
suit me-" answered the girl, her
voice tense with scorn. "And you
can tell those loafers at the store
that I'm not to be had so easily. I'd
rather die than marry you, Floyd
Jordan"
s1 reckon that settles it," said
Jordan, rising and buttoning his
coat. 'Please tell your mother good
by for me-" And he was gone.
'Lorena Farrell, what have you
done?" demanded her mother, limp
ing into the room. "You ought to
know that Floyd couldn't have said
anything like that about you. De-
pend on it, those Blake girls made it
all up. You've driven him away for
good this time. He'll keep his word.
he always does. He will go back
east, mark my word!"
Lorena stealthily opened the door
and looked after her lovers retreat
ing figure. He had almost reached