The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1917-12-27
WHAT COULD TIlEYDO? |
By ELIZABETH SHIELDS.

II was JUST u country FUau, uuSty
and crooked. A tiny brook lazily
flowed along On one side of 1t and q
jungle of dense green banked the 9th.
er. A tumbied rail fence divided thu
brook from the road. The still, sweet
scented air was unbroken by even the
song of a bird. But, mingled with The
gurgling melody of the brook, was the
sound of Il young girls sobs.
A gaily-colored weuter and WOODEN
cap hung over the rail fence. A girl,
slender and pretty, leaned wearily
against the fence.
Wiping the tears away, with eyes
bright and little head high, she turned
toward the hill. %I'aEting and breath.
less she hurried on to the little white
house at the top. This road led di.
rectly from the little house occupied
by Roland Jackson and his father. on
the hilltop, to the small country estate
of Mrs. Harris Harvey and her dAugh.
ter, Myra.
Each morning for three days Myra
had waited, at the bend of the read.
where the brook formed in miniature
falls, for Roland Jackson to colne
down the hillside. But Roland did not
come.
When Myra and her mother rented
the house in the farming section OF
Essex, they expected to remain on!S
till late in September. But the red anG
golden days of October came AnG
passed and they still fingered in The
large, old house far back from the
road. sheltered by venue of tail ruliI
trees. With Roland as guide ani
teacher, Myrn found a Joy and beauty
in nature of Which she had only hett
vaguely aware before. The call of The
city had never before failed in its np
peal to Myra, but 1t did not reach hnl
now.
AS she trudgcd up the hill her minG
flew to the events of her stay in !ht
country. and she went white as she
recalled and reviewed the last morn
ing she had spent with Roland. The
habits of a lifetime in the city hHG
swaycd her completely that morning
when Roland asked her to share his
little hut or the hilltop. Sle hnG
weighed the MAJ by the flattest ot
standards.
Not being versed in the ways OF
wonan knowing nothing Of their in
conSistencies, Roland could not know
that the next morning. Myra, after q
Vr,t,3,nJl, y.I.rr,1 ,:,l,t .,,I.,1 ~
longer n laughing girl, but a woman
with Il woNaan'S desire for her man
After waiting three days for Roland tt
come to her. Myra went to him.
Coming out of a patch Of dense
woods. Myra turned into the lane !ii;lt
led to the jackson house. Roland SAW
her through, the trees and coming to
ward h." with outstrctclieii arms. his
! eyes smiled into hers with Simple, hal,
ny confidence in her love for him. so
with til" beginning of TIE love OF no
!and and AiyFa. began the days Of s0r
row and much confusion for Roland:
father and Aiyia's mother.
Mrs. Harvey went about With quiv
ering lips :Gl reu-rimmed eyes. Si!:
| declared that HnlIling in the wild,
world could separate her from lie
only child. and in the same breath in
formed Myra that no power under tn
heaven could induce her to settle .lowl
to a life in the wild farming country
One day Roland came to sIyra unt
taking her in his arms whispered. il
tragic voice, that his father was vast
ing away before his very eyes! II
confessed that his father pointed.
ignored their approaching marring
and with the passing Of each day til
older man grew more u%nyielding ant
sad.
well elope," cried Roland.
IT'S the only way" :sSuntcd MIYra
Thereafter SO deeply absorbed wcr
they in their plan: to run away o
the w Of Thanksgiving to the liitl
parsonage in the village and return
married, that the complaints of hlyra'
mother and the gioomiliess OF Roland
father affected them not at all. Til
sOlace Mrs. Harvey found in tel!in:
Mr.. Jackson about the utter lack 0
consideration daughters accorded
mothers in those days, and the com
fort he extracted from discussion
with her on the neglectfulness OF son
passed entirely unnoticed by taei
children.
Early dusk was falling on Thanks
giving eve, when Myra, wrapped in
long gray motor coat, with Il scar
about her head, slipped out Of til
house into the shadow of the trees
She stole quietly down the path, eS
pecting to Slip into the waiting ma
chine, pick up Roland down the roa,