The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1919-06-26
mo- she said firmly, taking his

IA iaOhi ao UCAOiO AhOh hS oSSSPsS0
them as II they were a sacred trust,
folding his reverently about them.
Il am not talking Of gratitude" she
said, and her voice was tense with
feeling. "You raved my life and ]
know what you are, and what you haze
done Tor me. Nothing can eve change
that. not even what you< have done In
the past ;and nobdy can ever make
me feel differently about you. I
know you, ! trust you-I-love--you!"
Her voice was low and sweet as she
said this and she did not lift her eyes.
The young mar felt her fingers trem.
BILE within his own strong grasp. and
he looked down wonderingly at the
slender wrists and thrilled with holy
w at her words. 1t BUNDLED him.
shamed him, with a pain that was a
solemn JOY, to hear her. And he had
nothing to say. What gracious in1u-
nee had been at work ia his behalf
that miracle so great should have been
wrought In a pure girls heart for him;
an outlaw-a careless. selfish, wild
man who had hitherto lived as he
pleased, for himself, caring for mo-
body, nobody caring for him. He had
held his head high and gone his indie
pendent way. He hal held the creed
that the whole world was against him,
and his chief aim in life should be to
circumvent and annoy that world.
Nothing good and holy had ever come
into his life before. knowledge he
had, and a certain amount Of worldly
wisdom learned in a hard school, and
well learned; but love, care, tender
ness, trust, had never been given to
him even in his babyhood. No won.
der he was confounded at the sudden
treasure thrust upon him.
Il am only a very young girl"
Jeans voice went on. II know you
are right that I must not do anything
to distress my father and mother.
They love me very much and ! love
them. You and / IA go our separate
ways II we must, but nobody can hin.
der me from trusting you. II IL
right I should. / owe 1t to you for
what you have done for me-and my
love I could not help giving you.
know you are going to be right and
true forever; I know you will not do
those things any more that have made
people think you we're not good
know you will always be just what I
thin kyou are row, won't your"
His voice was low and solemn, and
his eyes held depths Of sincerity as he
lifted them to her pleading ones and
answered: ~
II promise you" g.
"And I promise you that / will trust
you always" she said, and thus their
covenant was made.
For a long moment they sat with
clasping hands, unaware of the beauty
of the evening, aware only Of their own
two strtled, suffering spirits, that had
found and lost each other and learned
the consequences of sin. They did not
seem to need words, for each knew
what was in the others heart.
He raised her at last to his feet and,
bending low, whispered:
81 thank you"
He stood a moment hesitating, then
gave her hands n quick pressure
again and turned away.
II was going to ask something" he
said, "but I guess that isn't square,"
And she stood bordering what II
might have been.
Silently he helped her on the pony
and without words they rode away into
the moonlight.
There we're tears in the girls eyes
when she lifted them at last and
asked:
"And won't I see you at all? Wona
you aver come to the house?"
There was a sound almost of tears
in the mans voice as he answered:
IT am afraid not"
After that they talked softly in tones
that people use when they are about
to go apart on a long journey and may
not ever meet again. Monosyllables
half finished sentences, of which eacf
knew the beginning or ending without
the words. Large understanding
QulCh pdlu, WlbllulIcSb, tOH6iuB, .
question now and then-this was thefl
conversation.
They came at last to the brow of {
hill where below them at a gentl,
slope Hawk Valley lay, its lights
twinkling among the velvety shadows
of the night. In the clear moonlight
seemed so near, so sudden, as 1t la.
just below them that Jean caught he,
breath in a cry that was almost a sob
She knew without being told that thu
parting Of the ways had come. B!
common consent they checked thet
horses and made them stand side b.
side. Holt put out his hand and lait
it on hers.
"Don't!" he said huskily. II won
disappoint you. No matter what any
body tells you, always remember that
I won't disappoint you! ,You needn'
think I've forgotten or changed.
don't forget the only good thing tina
ever came into my life. You can trus
mel" Az
~ know" she replied softly. 81 know
I can trust you. And I've been thinh
ing. There's no reason why yol
couldn't come to see me. I don't car
what anybody thinks. You saved m;
life! I'm not ashamed of you. I hav