Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-03-16

trouble il it wasn't done. POmpous
md a coward-like all these natives,
except that unhoIy fisherman
"Pompous and a coward" Miller
repeated thoughtfully. Il guess you're
right. couldn't interest him i'm the
wrists, and ii made ME wonder, but
! guess you're right He was only
afraid and in a hurry to get away
Probably that was all. Anyway, stop
trying. ANDY. to pin physical fact TO
IN unhealthy fancy. The spirits didn't
get Jake"
Anderson went up stairs shaking
his head. He came down very soon
with Molly
Il can't thank you for what YOU dill
last night" Anderson said why
why did have to be away"
"You couldn't have done great
deal Of good Andy-except taking care
Of Molly. There was nothing else any
of US could do"
taking care of Jake in that piece
of woods" Anderson whispered. ooh.
that was a good deal, JIM good
deal.'
They went outside. There was no
longer any excuse for delay. The lin
1t Of time appointed by the coroner
was at hand. It would soon be dark.
Molly whispered something to An
derson who shook his head
81 haven't the courage he said
She turned to Miller, holding out a
pocket prayer book.
There's no clergyman" she ex-
planned simply. ITS too brutal with
out something
Miller cleared his throat.
I'm scarcely fit, but if no one else
will"
She sighed She looked at Morgan.
She held The book out to him. tenta-
lively, appealngly.
Morgan stepped forward He took
the book, opened il. and fumhied wi,
The pages until he had found the place.
III it will make you feel BETTER" he
said in low voice.
"Oh. thank you" she whispered.
Morgan walked to the grave over
which the gnarlcd branches OF two
stunted oak trees dropped. TIE others
gathered near him. The sun was about
10 set The cOquina house threw 4
heavy shadow over the little company
and across the freshly turned earth
and the yawning expectant pit.
As Morgan commenced TO read the
sOnOrous and memorable words the
sun disappeared and dusk entered the
island greedly.
Miller who was standing next Ia
Morgan let his eyes wander about the
gloomy setting for this task which
had involved them SO Unexpectedly
All at once his eyes became station.
AIRY. They had shown him something
moving on the other side of the clear.
ing, just within the entrance of the
path TO the shore. II was something
white. In this obscure atmosphere Il
seemed almost immaterial. Yet he saw
It move almost wholly hidden by the
trees
Fer the moment Miler's mind was
swept from the service which Morgan
was reading slowly, almost inaudbl,
now, for it came TO him that the hal!
seen thing in white, fitting among the
trees was the elfin girl.
The reading stopped abruptly. Miller
glanced at Morgan. The hand with
the prayer book had dropped. An ex
preston Of pain had driven the pas
sive sorrow from Morgan's face as he
leo, stared across the murkv clearing
| At last his eyes went back TO the book
and he resumed his reading, but his
voice was lower than before and Oil
,rembled.
Miller gazed at the forest again. r.
started. The girl was still there, bu,
she appeared to be off the path and
moving through the underbrush which
he would have sworn was impene
trabe. He told himself that som,
turn Of the path or the falling lght
created this Illusion. In order to con
vince himself he had to recall the
morning on the beach when he hat
felt the soft flesh OF her arms yielt
beneath his grasp. When he lookCt
again she was gone.