Polk County news. [volume] (Benton, Tenn.) 191?-1983, 1919-10-16

us neck, ne sdtds between his teeu
'jus' Ike that"
They reached an open space. Sons
thing black-Or was il red?-lay O.
the ground. Dave bent over it a mo
ment. then looked up to her white
clear face, white and clearer than eve
since witnessing the strength Of hi
hate.
''It's calf" he said. as calmly as h
could. 'Half ct up. Wolves, / guess
The poor, poor thing" she breath
ed. The poor. innocent thing! VIII
did Ii have TO die?"
Its always the innocent things a
suffers" he answered.
Always the innocent things" she
repeated mechanically. Always
She sprang to her feet ana faced him
Then what about the justice Of
| GOd?' she demanded.
Il don't know nOthin' about the JUS
tice Of God" he answered bitterly
"All know is the crittur at can't
run gets caught"
There was long pause. SIT doesn't
seem right" she said at length.
1T amt right" he agreed. But
guess it's life. l see it here on the
prairies with every Twin thing. l
guess was like that some. I've been
caught. l guess baby amt respon-
sible for anything, is it? didn't
pick my father or my mother, did 1?
But l got to bear it,"
There was something near a break
in his voice on the last words. She
felt she must speak.
Il think your father is a wonderful
old man." she said, land your mother
must have been wonderful, too. You
should be proud Of them BOTH
"Reenie, do you mean that?" he de-
manded. His eyes were looking
straight into hers.
Absolutely" she answered. CAB.
solutely mean it."
"Then I'm goin' to say some more
things to you he went on rapidly.
Things at l didn't know whether to
say or not, but now they've got to be
said, whatever happens. Reenie,
haven't ever been to school or learned
lots of things should "a learned, but
l amt a fool, neither. / didn't learn
to break all those bottles in a day.
Well, I can learn other things, too,
an l will, if only it will take me
across. I'm goin' to leave this old
ranch, some way, JUS as soon as it
can be arranged I'm goin' to town
an work. I'm strong; l can get pretty
good wages. I've been thinkin' it all
over, an was askin' some questions
in town today. l can work days an
90 to school nights. An I'll do tiff
TIL get me across. You know what /
mean. | amt askin' no pledges, Rec
lie, but what's the chance? l know |
1on't talk right, and don't eat right |
1Ou tried not to notice but you couldn't |
lelp-but, Reenie, think right, an I
guess with a girl like you that counts
more than eatin' and talkin'."
She had thought she could say yes
IT no to any question he could ask,
tut tAs Az pOuIcQ lOIlH lllcS0 pain, |
ASST Ute words she found herself
nveF ed in fame that found no ex-
ssesas ssS speech. She had no
vords.g She was glad when he want
n:
II know I'm only boy an you're
My a girl. That's why I don't ask
o pledge. I'leave you free, only
'ant you to stay free until l have
~ chance. Will you promise that?"
She tried to pull herself together.
You know I've had good time with
on, Dave" she said, "and I've gone
18th you everywhere, like l would not
ave gone with any other boy l ever
new, and I've talked and let you talk
bout things l never talked about be-
IRE, and l believe you're true and ;
can and-and-"
YES" he said. "What's your an
ver?" ?
II Know you're true and clean," she
peated. Come to me-like that T
hen Tn a woman and you're a man, i
ID then-then we'll know" S
He was tall and straight, and his
adow fell across her face as though e