The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1919-06-19


ft,s' she said. 7yousha ave done Is mucn
for me you know, and Know ron -
we'll" she hesitated.:s don't see
how anybody who belonged is Non
could help caring" Her cheeks were
rosy with the effort to say what she
meant without seeming u~nmaidenly.
His brow darkened.
"Belonged!"he said bitterly. Be
longed! Yes, that's it. 1 don't be-
long! I don't belong anywhere!"
His voice was SO different and 30
harsh that 1t almost frightened her.
She watched, him, half afraid as he
brought his horse to a sudden stop and
looked about him. Then he changed
the subject abruptly:
This is a good place to camp for
supper and rest" he said, as II he had
quite forgotten what they had been
saying.
He swung down from the! saddle,
hobbled his horse, and anne around to
her side to help her alight; but stood
moment looking earnestly, tefderly in
to her eyes. and she looked back q.
him trustingly, ~wonderingly, with file
worshipful homage a woman's eyes
can hold for the man who has Won
her tenderest thoughts. She did not
know she was looking that way, bless
you, MOI. She would have been filled
With confusion if she had known It.
1t was Unconscious, and the man knew
SO and treasured her look the more
for that.
II believe you do care, now" he said
in a voice filled with a sort Of holy awe
that made the girls heart leap ny and
the color fame into her cheeks.
Then before she could answer Or
think to be embarrassed, he lifted her
reverently from the saddle and put her
on the ground.
He hobbled her horse, u~nstrapped
the pack of provisions and went off to
gather up firewood, but when he e
turned she was sitting where he put
her under the tree, her face buried in
her hands, her slender form motion.
less.
He stood for a moment and watched
her, then came oveT and knels down
beside her, and taking her hands gen.
thy from her face, looked into the
dewy depths of her sweet eyes and
spoke:
DON'T" he pleaded gently. Lets
have supper now, and then we'll talk i,
all out. Will you come and help me
make a fre?"
There was something in his strong,
tender glance that helped her to rise
to his call. A lovely smile, grew in
her eyes. She let him help her t1 her
feet, and casting aside the reserved
shyness that had fallen over her like a
misty veil, she raj here and there,
gathering sticks and helping to- make
the fire blaze; talking merrilys about
the supper they were preparing just as
she had done all day; but her heart
in a tumult of wonder.
Holt shot a couple Of rabbits; and
put them to roast before the fire. Jean
set herself to toast the soggy corn
bread and make it more %palatabIe.
Their merry laughter rang out again
and again asathey prepared their SIM
Pile meal. They were like two children
playing house. No one looking ON
would have e any difference. in their
demeanor from what it had been all
day. It was only when Holt was out in
the open, shooting rabbits, that he al
lowed the sadness and gloom to settle
down upon his young face. It was
only when b e was away gathering
more, wood that Jean, left to watch the
.sputtering rabbits, let the corn bread
burn, while her face grew thoughtful
and her yes sweet with a tender
light
It waas when the supper was eaten.
and the; fire Pickering low in the dying
light of sunset that Holt came and sat
down beside the girl, and again a
great ailenee fell between them.
#olh had planned their Homecoming
Itn be in the dark. For the girls sads
he. would not have witnesses to their
arrival This thoughtfulness sprane
from finer Feelings than the people OF
Hawk VALLEY dreamed that he pos
'seased. There remained but a little.
over an hours ride 10Y to reach Hawk
Waliay, and Holt did not mean they
should get there before . o'clock at
ltfle earliest
He sat Eravely quiet, his strong
hands folded cross his. raised knaas.
his back against 4 tree, looking brave
~. wfsttully, off into the distance. He
scanned a great deal older, nox, with
tfnat grave, sad expression: Jeanist0le
ia glance at him now anc then, az she
plucked at the vegetation about. her,
and wondered why this appalling ST.
ience, which she seemed poWerlass to
break. had SC suddenly fallen upon
them.
Then the mans voice bro5te.ttte still
mes in a low, tense tones There's
something ! must tell you,n..
The very air seemed waiting 10 hear
what he would say. The. girl scarcely