The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1919-06-12

walked away into the woods. lp In &
few minutes he returned with them
dripping, his own faco rudy with re
cent washing. and his curls still damn
and dark above his forehead; while
the strong hands that held the would
be cups clean rs water could
makethem. Ea3
Would you like to wash your face?'
he asked as he held out the cup for
her to drink. Never mind the Der
ries, they r all right as they are
Ill show you the water and then come
back to guard the food. We don't
know what wild creature may find our
table and clear out with the whole
set-out." F'8
"oh, would they do that?" laughed
Jean, Interested. Wouldn't that be
funny?" '"
"It might not be SO funny If we don't
strike a ranch pretty soon," said Holt,
looking serious. "We need all that
breakfast to help us on our way after
the night we've spent" y7 ar IA
81 will not wash my face until after
breakfast" said Jean decidedly, com
ing back to the rock and seating her.
self by n of the leaf-plates. "Sit
down, please, and break your fast, for
we are not running any risks on this
trip. l want to get to a telegraph Of
fee and send word to my mother and
father. They will hear about the acct
dent and will be terribly frightened
about me. You won't mind my eating
with unwashcd hands, will your"
." should worry" declared Holt,
seating himself on the other side OF the
rock with the ease OF one who is as
much at home on the ground as on a
chair.
These crackers are a little limp"
said Jean, "but it was the best
could do considering that they were
submerged for a long time"
They're great" said Holt, sam
pling one, "but how did you happen to
have them?"
She told him merrily OF her visit the
day before and how she had saved
them.
They're all you have!" said Holt
suddenly; you may need the rest of
them before we are through. Put
these away and keep them till you
need them. I'll just eat the berries.
I'm used to going without for a long
time" @
Wasn't your life the only one you
had when you risked il to save me?'
asked Jean, looking at him earnestly.
Il guess you'll eat half Of all there Is
Or l won't have any
Holt looked at her admiringly.
That's all right, but I'd rather you
saved them. You're q woman"
THAT may be all right, but ! won't"
said Jean decidedly, "and / won't eat
another bite until you eat yours"
He looked at her with the glow Of
appreciation growing in his eyes. He
never had seen a girl like this.
You're all white!" he said at last.
You're the real thing. You're a good
fellow. I guess we're partners, then"
He held out his hand as he would
have done to q man. and the girl, with
a quick appreciation of his words, laid
her small bcrry-stained hand in the
big. hard one.
Thank YOU" she said earnestly;
T" that rather puts US on an equality,
doesn't it? But I'm not so foolish as
to think we really are. know it's
only a very little bit that / can do on
this expedition. You do all the big,
grand. hard things. But you mustn't
deny me the chance to do the little
things I can do; and sharing, or even
going without sometimes, belongs to
my part. haven't forgotten yet that
you saved my life"
He looked at the little hand wonder
ingly and held 1t gently in his own,
with just a slight, lingering, wistful
closing Of his strong fingers around it;
then let it 90 as though he were
afraid he might crush it, it seemed to
him so frail and exquisite and fine.
II can tell you n thing" he said,
you're some Improvement on the last
partner I had" Jean gave him a
swirl, TelleNcu lUOh. lhdl uoiiiu Olu
mianT" she asked, comprehendingly.
He nodded, but searched her face
keenly, as if he would make sure of
something. He seemed satisfied, how
ever, with the frank look in her clear
eyes and said no more. Perhaps he
hoped she would conide in him-or
perhaps he liked her all the better that
she did not-who knows?
They ate their meager breakfast
hungrily, yet fingered over It happily,
The morning seemed to each as an ex'
quisite treasure of time loaned to them
for this once. and there fell a charm
upon them that neither quito under
stood; only they were conscious OF joy
in being alive and having each other
The experiences Of the night and the
unusual surroundings did away will
| all conyentionalitics and feelings ol
embarrassment they would otherwise
have had in their strange plight; and
their laughter mingled and rang Out
among the treea ~joyously or that earl,
beautiful morning after the disaster.
He led her down TO the stream tt
wash while he made o basket o
~icnves plnncd together with stems