Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1916-05-24

justified-how much so Jess's recital
had made horribly clear. Wearied out
-, at last by the circling of his thoughts,
Buck fell asleep.
Though he did not know it then, Jess
had won.
She took her victory as a matter OF
course-so far. at least, as her out
ward behavior showed. She evaded
meeting Buck all she could and, as the
days went by. her bearing fell once
more almost into it's accustomed man
ner-almost. yet not altogether. She
never quarreled with Buck now. She
eve leased him. Oftentimes, rest
less and dissatisfied himself, the young
fellow wished she had. In some subtle
way she had receded from him into a
more unapproachable distance.
In truth, Jess was on guard. A
wonderful thing had happened to her.
Ever in that shocked moment when
she had stood looking down upon
Blass Cardross' dead body it had been
OF Buck that she had thought. He had
saved her. He was thereby himself in
danger.
Strang, nameless emotions stirred
In her heart as she had watched him,
so clean and capable, so fine and hui
man, so wholly hers in his love. The
scales had fallen from her eyes, yet
even as her admiration had grown and
that first sweet, wild sense of her
power over his power. fear a grown,
100. In Jess Kilrain's awakened heart.
So Jess had ridden from him that
day, her soul in a tumult Of feelings
OF which not the least were the wonder
and marvel at herself for her blind
ness, her folly, the new, quick bound
ing capacity within her for JOY that
seemed to be sweeping her off her feet,
a sudden zest for life which not even
the thought of death as she had Just
seen 1t, avenging and terrible. could
serve to daunt.
Yet her fear daunted it, and even
before the news Of the dire results OF
Bucks exploding Of the dam became
known, Jess a determined she would
plead with him through his love for
her to be silent about Cardross' DEATH.
She had been quick to avail herself
of the impression that had at once es-
tablished itself in every ones mind as
to the source of that explosion, and
she had likewise been quick to see that
Buck was not going to take shelter
under 1T. So she had gone to Worth
ing.
Her action there had come at the
moments inspiration. Love and life
were in the balance, and Jess threw
in her woman's soul to give full meas
ure. She had won, as she knew she
would. Then. having won, Jess drew
the woman's caution about her-drew
it all the closer because Of the exposure
she had made.
And as though to put the past yet
more remote, the face of nature now
underwent a change
The long drought broke. and the au-
tumn came In with rains that seemed
endless. Where the creek and river
beds a lain dry as bleached bones
the water rushed in freshets that
spread over the banks and swirled like
maelstroms among the trunks of the
trees. drowning some trunks Of the
which a few weeks before had been
perishing of thirst.
Wore on Jess Kilain. One morning she
stood by he window watching the
downpour and wishing she had a mans
work that would take her out in it.
There's plenty of woman's work you
might do" said her aunt, to whom Jess
had unwisely communicated her desire.
My hands would drap off if they hung
as idle as yours. Jess"
rs that why you keep our tongue
gofn' SO. Aunt Agnes?" asked the girl.
Though l don't b'lieve it would stop
fndin' fault with me If it did drop Off"
virtuously.
MY tongue finds no more fault
than there's fault to ind." she de-
clared.
You think too much bout men, Jess
Kilrain. I'd ha' thought you'd learned
that lesson"
The girl drummed for a moment
upon the window pane with indignant
fingers. Then h turned about.
you should ha' married a parson,
Aunt Agnes" she observed as h
passed her aunt. Your children
tie brats."
She went on to her room, donned
rubber boots n over her riding
clothes put on a black slicker. Even
the hat she wore was a mans with
rubber cape about h neck.
In the stable she saddlied her horse
and rode forth.
The heavy black earth stuck like
wax until she reached the plains. soft
and soggy under her pony's hoofs.
There h broke into a splashing can
ter. the cold rain whipping in her face.
the smell Of the drenched earth sweet
to her nostrils. /.
Agnes Kilrain had been right.
Jess was thinking not of men. but
OF one man in particular; thinking of
him with an intensity that now and
again frightened her lest 1t rob her of
very thing h yearned for hungrily.
But she had learned her lesson. that
lesson Of q singing shame that even
now sent the hot blood into her cheeks
when she remembered the way she had
~cheapened herself with Blass Cardross.
Never 8u0 6WOT0 10 0erS0l1s WOUl0 n
do the shadow OF that again.
Rather would she let Buck think her
old a~ntagonism toward him once more
lived IN her heart.
He was avoiding her. she knew, and
Jess could imagine the rebellion In his
heart. She had bought his compliance
with her wishes. and then refused tho
paymept-the only payment that could
have salved his hurt manhood. But
Just because Jess had dared 70 bravely
I HAAH >0~AA AaA It, ANAL A~->A>-A-