Gilpin observer., 1916-06-08
Ny God. it.s DON. Il,

8lS1M8I9AyS
This was a. the sun. ! soft. golden,
benign sun Of early spring. dropped
over the western ridge. sending hong,
blue shadows across thei narrow val.
ley. AS the shadows darkened into
twilight Ma Daily, bearing some
strengthening brew. loomed hugely in
the office door.
'Tl 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 q strange excite.
ment. NO." she said firmly. IT shall
stay the night out. He IL delirious
still and I cannot leave him."
Ma Daily, that shrewd old general
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 Silets 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.
IF he-dies." she gasped dryly be-
tween her parted lips, "IIl kill her and
60 with him to hell. for he has no
God!"
But Sandry did not die. For q 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
ones she loved, and sometimes crying
out sharply. "Oh, Absalom! My son,
my sonl" Again he laughed bitterly
and spoke of lost faith in men.
Throughout the week Poppy Ordway
stood such a vigil as only a woman
who loves. be she good or bad. can
stand. With clever jealousy she kept
everything under her own capable
hands. only giving grudging place to
Ma Daily when she could no longer
command her overtaxed strength.
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 bluff. 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 q shad-
ed candle. the transagured face Of
the watcher. and with q 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 1t. and the surge and sway
of passionate Joy rocked her soul in
q storm of emotion.
She stepped lightly and restlessly
about. strengthening a cloth on a 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 q post Of the porch, a slim
little figure kept also a midnight viRtl.
The woman looked at her and all the
danger that lay that way arose sud.
denly before her. rousing her hatred
swiftly. and somethios ugly and cat.
like prompted her to strike.
She laughed, Q little. low, musical
laugh. and spoke In q 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. a moment before dropping,
whir1ed 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 useless hand-a trembling
! hand, palm outward-and 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 an
II had lived, on the turn of moment.
and she let out great breath and
covered her face with her hands after
a fashion she had
NO" she whispered in her palms,
he kissed me and I am his woman I
Oh. ! am unworthy! What would /
have done?" And she shuddered. as II
In fear.
So the camp went forward. John
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