Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1916-06-22

- SeSe0 - psg1 hung nh csothes ma
Narxarita's and. ON the lowest pee ef
Ill. the Lilliputian garments OF the
Man. The noor was hare and rolling.
for the boards, roughhewn from hard
wood giants OF the forest, had warped
steadily through many years. n ID
center stood the great rustic bsd nat
Gerry had made from the twisted
limbs Of trees and Honifacio had plait-
"a with thongs. NJ raising himself
to the full length OF Ais arm Gerry
could see Marsarita lying uncovered
on the coarse. yellowish homespun,
On her bare. brown arm lay IL blach
head Of her son.
Gerry shnddersd at the nearnsss---
tho familiarity--of everything. Tho
seams Of elementary life stood out bru-
tally. For the 0rst dime he saw them.
From the touch of the coarse homespun
that covered him. Hts mind went hack
- the feel OF IAeber's nne linen. and
from that It poised on Alan and then
dew hack to Alix--Alix, who, seen
through tho years. became doubly ethe.
real and fowerlike. Where was AK
What had Alan done with herr He
must ask him. That, at least, be must
know. But before he could ask he
must decide about Margarita ana steel
himself to his purpose. He thought oil
the long, still days II Fasenda Flores
before Alan had come to Ileber's- the
struggle and the reward that had been
his--and the firmness In him, the
steadfastness that had led Alan Ia
name him The Rock. rose MP Ii do.
Tense Of MarEarita and her son.
Gerry was up early. Az he wal
adding True Blue Margarita came On
to the veranda. where art thou 70
ingy' she asked.
Gerry looked up. Hs was I
little pale from tho waksful nigh,
and there were slight shadows undsa
his eyes. II am going to Llsbsr's
There II sick man there -hs Ii dyin1
and must help. He b my fellow
countryman."
Margarine eyes searched his face
Her bosom rose and fell rapidly. "Dl
not Co." she said, and Gerry started 1,
the passion In her voice.
He looked ct her and smiled. n
must sec this man before he dies" n
said, half to himself.
"Ah," said Margarita. heating viii
her little brown iist on the veranda Dill
lar. " know. know. II ID not death
that calls thee. Why should One turr
from things that live to fondie death,
Il n the stranger thou wouldst see
Gerry dropped the reins Of his horse
and, hurrying up the steps, took Mar
garita In his arms.
"And why not my belovedf II ID
not Z woman I 60 to Gee. but q man
Shall I not talk with Q man that Il
At deaths door7'
"I.et him but die" pleaded Marga
rita; "let him but die and thou shall,
90 and bury him. See, the day d
beautiful. There II . cloud. Perhaps
II will rain. Come. my Geree, let III
70 down to the river and swim. WI
will take the Man. He shall Ut on ths
bank and the river win play with hi
bare toes. He will laugh"
Gerry smiled but shook his head
Tomorrow, my beloved. tomorrow ",
shall play with the Man and the river
Margarita's arms Cell to her side
In pathetic surrender. She watched
Gerry mount and ride slowly up thu
slope to the bridge where Kemp await
ed him. Then she went back 10 III
veranda steps, sat down and wspt
with her face hidden In her hand. She
did not know why she wept, but ah>
knew she wept for things that were
going to be.