The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1919-12-26

DIS utSh, Ht Sdlu, CLWcG LIZ LGGl III
"jus' like that"
They reached an open space. Some
thing black-or was 1t red?-tay o.
the ground. Dave bent over IL q me
ment, then looked up to hei white
clear face, white and clearer than eve
since witnessing the strength of hi
hate.
"It's a calf" he said, as calmly as ht
could. "Half ct up. Wolves, ! guess
"The poor, poor thlng! she breath
ed. '"The poor, innocent thingl VIII!
did 1t have to die?"
Its always the innocent things "a
suffers" he answered. 2
always the innocent things" sh,
repeated mechanically. Always
She sprang to her feet ana faced him
Then what about the justice o
God?" she demanded.
IL don't know nothin' about the jus
tice Of God" he answered bitterly
"An / know is the crittur at can
run gets caught"
There was a long pause. at doesn'
seem right" she said at length.
at amt right" he agreed, "But
guess it's life. / see it here on thu
prairles with every Iivin' thing.
guess / was like that, some. I've beer
caught. l guess 6 baby amt respon
sible for anything, is it? 1 didn
pick my father or my mother, did /
But I got to bear It,"
There was something near q breal
in his voice on the last words. ShC
felt she must speak.
81 think your father Is q wonderful
old man." she said, "and your mothe.
must have been wonderful, too. You
should be proud Of them both"
"Reenie, do you mea thatT he de
manded. His eyes were lookini
straight into hers,
Absolutely" she answered. Sab
solutely 1 NEAR it,"
"Then I'm goin' to say some more
things to YOU" he went on rapidly
"Things at l didn't know whether t.
say OF not, but now they've got TO bC
said, whatever happens. Reenie,
haven't eve been to school or Learned
lots Of things / should "a learned, Blu.
/ amt q fool, neither. l didn't learI
TO break all those bottles In a day
Well, 1 can learn other things, too
an l will, If only it will take mc
across. I'm goin' to leave this ole
ranch, some way, JUS as soon as /
can be arranged. I'm goin' to towI
an work. I'm strong; l car get prett!
good wages. I've been thlnkin' it al
over, an was askin' some question,
in town today. / can work days an
go to school nights. An I'll do it
mean. l amt askin' no pledges, Rec
ME, but what's the chance? / know
don't talk right, and I don't eat right
you tried not to notice but you couldn'
help-but, Reenie, / think right, an
guess with a girl like you that count
more than eatin' and talkin'."
She had thought she could sny ye
or no to any question he could ask
but as he poured forth these plain
passionate words she found hersel
enveloped in a flame that found no ex
| preston In speech. She had n,
words. She was glad when he wen
on:
81 know I'm only a boy an your,
only a girl. That's why / don't asl
no pledge. / leave you free. only
| want you to stay free until 1 hav'
my chance. Will you promise that?"
She tried to pull herself together
"You know I've had a good time witt
| you, Dave" she said, "and I've gon,
with you everywhere, like 1 would no
have gone with any other boy l eve
knew, and I've talked and let you tall
| about things / never talked about be
fore. and / believe you're true ant
clean and-and-"
"Yes," he said. "What's your an
swer?"
81 know you're true and %clean," SIN
repeated. "Come to me-like that
when I'm a woman and you're a man
and then-then weM know"
He was tall and straight, and hi
shadow fell across her face. rs though