Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-10-10
CHAPTER TX (Continued).

33y nina w
CHAPTER X (Contnued)
He paused, struggling for some ade-
Quate expression OF the responsibility
which had been revealed to him that
afternoon over the trench; and failing
to fnd it. stammeredsa platitIde.-
I'VE want<to stand by you,""she said.
Living is SO .hard-theS least we can
do is stand by one another"
Pearl looked at him +searchingly, Is
feared to. But In the end, the ein-
stinct TO trust won. and she smiled
curious childlike smilea5
Il believe you mean It," said she.
And I'm going to take you at your
! word. And-and-Ill make It. square
with you somehow, some day.
But I o now. you'd better go of to
along, that's the girl! Take my arm.
Well! call out IL you need anythin,."
She had crossed the room and stood
again in the doorway of her chamber.
Even the post was similar to that with
which she had made her appearance.
But there was something different in
her air. Her head was thrown back
more proudly, and a light flush had
come into her face. Her voice rang
stronger, too, as ahe babe them good
night" and slipped through. closing
the door softly.
When she was gone,s.a strange,
rather uncomfortable silence reigned
In the little living room. the three men
scarcely daring to look at each other
for fear of showing the consciousness
of past guilt in their eyes.
.t sSno ~ v,ctSs yUa{A A 5o~> - Nauk S-
a low, singing tone. :
Its a queer world!" said Kipp. IT
was young m myself, and mo worse
than h rest. Yet. Its a queer
world!" sb.ss4 ~ 4
Woolcraft said nothing at all, but
presently arose and shuffled of to bed,
his great form more bowed than COM
monty. And, conversation somehow
having come to an end, the others
were not long in following his ex-
,ample. s
Next morning the fragrant odor of
boiling coffee greeted Adam when he
room. and acting as an incentive to a
quick rising. 4
Good old Kipp, right on the job!"'
he thought, as he hurried his toilet;
then he stepped out into 1.-The next
room, and discovered, to- his amaze
ment, Pearl busy over the stove! At
the sound of his entrance she turned
to him. quickly, and smiled her child
ish smile. Adam returned it, and
stood astonished at the changeSin her.
Though still pale and wan, the nights
trest Inc the sense of peace had work
ed wonders. and now the heat of the
stove had added a faint color to her
cheeks. Her curly hair was caught up
in the nape of her neck ea~relessly,
but her gown, a clean print, evidently
resurrected from her old wardrobe,
was crisp and neat, as was the full
Bingham apron about her waist. With
the amazing pseudo-recovery of the
consumptive, she was afoot almost as
actively as though she had not been
lying i'll only Twelve hours earlier. He
had not seen, before, how very pretty
Lshe was, and there was an air Of
competence about her culinary effort
which was further surprising. The
table was neatlyVset, and pot of
decoration. Their heavy scent WED
with the aroma from the stove.
"Ah-er, good morning, Miss La
Farge!" said Adam, clytching his col
lar together at the throat. You seem
much better. 1 am so glad, but aren't
you doing too SNnuch work? Old
Roh. please!" she said eagerly, II
want so much~to4do this. 1t means a
lot to me, to be let. Please don't stop
me! 1 never used to think I'd like to
cook and do the dishes, but ,now....
please let mel"
II understand, said Adam. "And
I certainly am delighted to have you.
Why! The place actually looks like
a home! haven't seen such a break
fast table in months! ], was only wor-
ROD f0~ foor. vo1YsE. SxpN,,11 r1r0rl ton
hard!"
Pearl turned back to her saucepans,
tears in her eyes. sf +
"Mr. Woolcraft brought in the flow
ers," said she. "Ain't they grand"
They are some of his BEST said
Adam. "Shall I call the men in.?"
YES" said she. Then, after an
ward the door: "But-but, just a
moment 49, -
He looked at her questioningly, and
returned. She came up to him, and
laid a hand upon his sleeve.
How can 1 thank youY' she asked.
you been so, damn good to me. T.
I don't know how to tell you how it
makes me feel. You're white. you
are. How can I show you what a lot
it e to me-this?"
He could not. answer her for a mo-
ment, and then he dropped'his hand
upon hers, holding it in. a firm hand
shake, as one comrade with another.
Poor kid" said, he. II haven't
done a thing. Don't talk about thanks.
Just get we'll, and take things easily
and naturally, and on the square"
ION the squared" she said. That's
it! I'm going to be on t~he~~square
from now on. Will it make you feel
good if l promise that? It's all I can
do for you, and, somehow. I feel as
though, while it's me that'n benefit,
1t will give you pleasure"
ut surely will give me pleasure"
said he seriously. but more than that.
it will give me faith You see, I've
cut out the rough slug, myself
you havegn she said. TT pays.
don't it? Not hat you v e hurt any
Lone but yourself. I guess, dearie. Well.
II wanted toto tell you. And I'm
glad I have!"
I'm glad. too!"" said Adam. And
they shook hands on it,~-and Adam
went to call the rest to breakfast.
A fine, misty rain set in that day,
dew-veiled beds and frames. Up the
river the great mist-sails erept, bulg-
ing in the impetus from the Sea, filling
the river-cleft. till 1t resembled ( a
valley. softening the vistaA OF the
streets till they were wrapped in the
stuff that dreams are made OF. White
clouds came down to earth. white
clouds driven in from the sea at the
far end of the long, thin. island, came
and settled over the garden, shutting
it in, isolating it from the sky, throw
ing the eye back to the brown of the
earth, and the green of its blossoms.
4 insisting Mat one should seS 1t smell
it. feel it: holding the perfumes.