The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1919-11-27
G4cov f Fl
Isxk ~. By Robert JC. Stead
N0EXNVESIkSH Qukor@
Y ~ /S& Kitchener. and other poems

man, as God made HMM exchange
for a machine-made counterfeit with
the stamp OF Society," Deeply did she
ponder these questions. and as the day
wore on she found herself possessed
Of a steadily growing determination
that she would not follow the beaten
trail. let the by-paths lead where they
might.
Darkness, save for white moon,
had settled over the foothills when the
boy returned with another young man.
The stranger ate a ravenous supper,
but was not too occupied to essay con-
versation with Irene. He chose to call
her cook.
"Swell pancakes. cook" was his
opening remark. "Can you find an
other for yours trulyf
She refilled his plate without an
swer
USED to know q girl mighty like
you" he went on. -"Waitress In the
Royal Edward. Geei but she was
swell A pippini Class? Say. she
had 'em all guessing. Had me guessing
myself for o while. But just for a
while" He voiced these remarks with
an air OF intense self-approval more
offensive than the words.
Irene felt the color rise about her
neck and checks and run like an over
flowing stream into her ears and about
her hair. II was evident that. for a
n.x haA oh IN On
nothing TO strangers about her pres
enae at the ranch. Her father and Mr..
Eden were In Dawes room: Dave had
stopped eating. and she saw the veins
rising In his clenched fists. But the
challenge was TO her. and she would
accept IL; she felt no need Of his pro-
lection.
Fill your stomach" she said. pass
ing more pancakes; "your head Is
hopeless"
He attempted a laugh. but the meal
was finished In silence. . The stranger
lit a cigarette and Irene went to the
door with Dave.
"Come for a walk" he whispered.
THE horses are tired. 80 let's walk.
>. It's our last chance"
She ran for her sweater and rejoined
him In a moment. They walked In
silence down a path through the fra
grant trees, but Dave turned from time
to time to catch a glimpse Of her face.
white and fine as ivory In the soft
light He had much to say, but he was
tongue-tied under the spell Of her
beauty.
"You squelched him, all right" he
broke out, at length.
Just In time. too. think" she re-
piled. II was watching your hands"
He smiled a'quiet but very confident
smile. "Reenie," he said, that fellow
makes me sick. All the way out he
talked about girls. He's a city chap
am wears white collar. but he amt
At TO speak your name. Another min
ute an I'd o. had i'm by the neck"
He seized a spruce limb that stuck
across their path. II was the size of
stout stick. but he snapped II with
turn of his wrist II was very tough I;
Il oozed sticky stuff where he broke II.
'His neck" he said. between his teeth,
"jus' like that"
They reached an open space. Some
thing black-or was II redf-lay on
the ground. Dave bent over II mo-
ment. then looked up TO her white.
clear face, white and clearer than ever
since witnessing the strength OF his
hate.
Its a calf" he said, as calmly as he
could. "Half ct up. Wolves, / guess"
"The poor. poor thingl" she breath
ed. 1.-THE poor, innocent thing Why
did IL have to diet" a
"It's always the innocent things at
suffers" he answered.
always the innocent things" she
repeated mechanically. Always"
She sprang to her feet and faced him.
"Then what about the justice OF
God2" 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 a long pause. 1T doesn't
seem right" she said at length.
at amt right" he agreed. but
guess it's life. l see II here on the
pralries with every Twin thing. i
guess l was like that. some. I've been
caught. l guess n baby amt respon-
sible for anything. is it, 1 didn't
pick my father or my mother. did IL
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. ''and your mother
must have been wonderful, too. You
should be proud of them both"
"Reenie. do you mean thatT he de-
manded. His eyes were looking
straight into hers.
Absolutely" she answered. "Ab-
solutely l mean H."
"Then I'm goln' 10 say some more
things TO you" he went on rapidly.
Things at 1 didn't know whether TO
say or not. but now they've got 10 be
said. whatever happens. Reenie. 1
haven't ever been TO school or learned
Iofs NJ things \ should m learned but