Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1916-02-03
And again:

And again:
Legitimate! My Coo. it's done ie-
gitimately!"
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
IN 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. 81 shall
stay the night out. He is deiirious
still and | 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 Siietz stood
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
III he-dies." she gasped dryly be-
tween her parted lips. "I'll 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
ory. calling on Ruth to come out of
the cleaning of far land. standing
aside to watch Naomi send back the
cues she loved. and sometimes crying
opt sharply. "Oh. Absalom! My son.
1pAy s0n!" Again he laughed bitterly
Ind spoke of lost faith in men.
Throughout the week Poppy Ordway
god such vigil as only woman
10 loves, be she good or bad. can
n. With clever jealousy she kept
thing under her own capable
only giving grudging place to
Ma Daily when she could no longer
command her overtaxed strength.
Z 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 blur. 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 q table.
tipping the candle shade at a better
angle. for she felt imperatively the
need OF action. She picked up an
empty pitcher and in the starlit dark
ness went up the path to the cook
shack. still with that bounding. light
step OF victory. and entered the porch
where the pump stood.
There. alone. in the night, leaning
against post of the porch. a slim
little figure kept also a midnight vigil.
The woman looked at her and all the
danger that lay that way arose sud
denly before her. rousing her hatred
swiftly. and something ugly and cat
like prompted her to strike.
She laughed, little. low. musica,
laugh. and spoke in caressing tone.
Congratulate me" she said softly
"the fever has left him. I'll have him
up before the first flowers bloom In the
valleys. Dear boy-dear WALTZ"
Siletz, moment before dropping.
whirled upon her like a fury. Even
In the dusk Miss Ordway saw the hid.
den fire leap up uncovered In her eyes
and heard primal danger whimper In
her voice.
Waltz" she cried, springing toward
her and lifting hand whose slim fin.
gers threatened her throat. SAY San
dry!"
Miss Ordway in her broadcloth
sprang back against the rough planks
of the cook-shack wall. her face gone
white in the shadows and sudden. grip
ping. choking fear in her throat. She
put up a useless hand--a trembling
hand, palm outward-an strove to
speak-once. twice.
Then. "Sandry," she faltered like a
craven. She was whipped. scared. her
power gone
But the wild thing died In Siletz as
it had lived. on the turn of moment.
and she let out great breath and
covered her face with her hands after
fashion she had
No" she whispered in her palms.