The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-02-07
CHAFTER III
The ShadoW on the Waters.


But the best thing that she gave US
was just her own presence. To me IL
changed the whole countryside. and the
sun was brighter and the braes greSner
and the air sweeter from the day she
came our lives were common no long
er. now that We spent them with such \
one as she. and the old. dull. gray house
was another place in my eyes since she
mad set her foot across the door mat.
IL was not her face. though that was
winsome enough. nor her form. thong
her. But AZ was her spirit. her queer.
mocking ways. her fresh. new fashion or
talk. her proud Whisk OF the dress and
toss OF the head. which made one feel
like the ground beneath her feet. and
then the quick challenge In her eye and
The kindly word that brough one Up 10
her level again.
But never quite 20 her level either
To me she was always something above
and beyond. I might brace myself and
blame myself. and do what l would. but
still l could not feel that the same
blood ran In our veins. and that she
was but a country lass as 1 was a coun-
try lad.
The more I loved her the more fright
ened ! was at her. and she could see
the fight long before she kne wthe love.
was uneasy to be away from her. and
yet. when I was with her. ] was In a
ShiNer all the time FOR fear my stumb-
ling talk might weary her or give her
onense. Had 7 known more OF the ways
OF women might have taken less pains.
cure a deal changed from what
ebA IHfu To De- JACK EAln she. LOOKING
lashes.
You said that when first We met"
said l.
"Ah. was speaking or your look.
then, and OF your ways now. You used
10 De so rough with me. and so imperi-
Gus and would have your own way. like
the little man you were. I can see you
now with your tangled brown hair and
Your mischtevous eyes. And now you
are so gentle and quiet and soft-spoken.'
o.. p
An. but Jack. liked you so much
better as YOU were"
Well when she said that fairly
stared az her. for / had thought that Sh.
could never have quite forgiven me for
the way / ucSd TO carry on. That any
one out Of datt-house could have fixed
~ was clean beyond my understanding.
] fought Of how. when she was reading
by the dooor ! would gp up on the moor.
with "A hazel switch. and fix little clay
balls az the end OF u, and sling them at
her until / made her cry.
And then / thought OF how / caught
an eel In the COrrlvmutr burn. and Chi
Wed her about with H. until she ran
screaming under my mothers apron.
halt mad with fright and my father
gave me one on the car-hOle with the
porridge stick which Knocked me and
my eel under the kitchen dresser
And these were the things that she
missed Well she must miss them. FOR
my hand would wither before I could do
them now. But Tor the first time / BE-
gan 10 understand the queerness that
lies in a woman. and that a man must
not reason about one. but just watch
and try To- learn.
We found our level after time. when
she saw that sh" had just Co do what she
liked and how She liked. and that ! was
as much az her beck and call as old Bot
"a as al mine. Noul think that ! vas a
TOOL 60 have had my head 80 turned. and
inat De- ] was. but. then. you must think
how little D was used Co. women. and how
much We We're thrown together. Besides
rhe was woman FOO a million. and / can
tsl you that 10 was "a strong head that
would NOT b, turned Boy her
Why. there was Major Elliott "a man
that had buried three wives. and had
twelve pitched battles fu his name
Eddie could have turned him round hst
finger like 90 damp ra- she. ouly
new from fI" boarding school. I mot
him hohhilug from West Inch. the first
time after -h. came. with n pink tn DTS
checks and shine Iu rfs eye that fooH
ton years from him Ho was cockiug
ur his gray mu-f1Uhes az either end
and curling them into his eyes. and
-trutfuE out with hie sound Ier f..
proud as e. piper WrHT srs had said
poo him tine Lord knows hut DO was
lIks old wine iu his VEINS
I've been uu 90 see YOU. l7dfis. said
Ie huf 7 must Er home again now Ms
visit has NOT been WasTcr however. Ha
] bad au opportunity 81 seeing I'D
belle soueius' most charming and
formal stiff way or f11kiuE. and