Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1920-08-20

see that his head was buzzlng with her
beauty and her kindly words. !
thrilled with pride to think he should
think so well Of my kin.
isn't she fine, Jim?" could not
help saying when we stood alone out
side the door, he lighting his pipe be-
fore he set off home.
"FineW he cried. II never saw her
match"
"We're going to be married." said I.
The pipe fell out OF his mouth, and
he stood staring at me. Then he
picked 1t up and walked or without a
word. thought that he would likely
come back, but he never did, and
saw him far off walking up the brae
with his chin on his chest.
But was not TO forget him, for
Cousin Edie had n hundred questions
to ask me about his boyhood, about
his strength, about the women tha'
he was likely to know; there was no
satisfying her. And then again, later
in the day, ] heard of him, but In
less pleasant fashion.
II was my father who came home
In the evening with his mouth full of
poor jim. He had been deadly drunk
since midday, had been down to West
house Links to fight the gypsy cham
pion, and II was not certain that the
man would live through the night. My
father had met Jim on the highroad
dour as thunder cloud, and with an
insult I'm his eye for every man that
passed him. "Guid sakesw said the
old man, Hell make fine practice
for himself If breaking bones will do
It," Cousin Edle laughed at all this,
and ! laughed because she did, but I
was not SO sure that II was funny.
On the third day afterward / was
going up Corriemuir by the sheep
track. when who should see striding
down but Jim himself But he was
another man from the big, kindly fell
low who had supped his porridge with
us the other morning. He had no col
lar nor tie, his vest was open, his hair
matted, and his face notified like a
man who has drunk heavily overnight.
He carried an oak stick, and he
slashed at the whin bushes on either
side of the path.
"Why, jim !" said l.
But he looked at me In the way that
had often seen at school when the
devil was strong in him, and when he
knew that he was in the wrong. and
yet set his will TO braZen IL out. Not
n word did he say, but he brushed past
me on the narrow path, and swag-
gered on, still brandlshIng his stick
and cutting at the bushes.
All well, l was not angry with him.
l was sorry. very sorry, and that was
all. OF course l was not so blind but
that l could see how the matter stood,
He was in love with Edie, and he could
not bear 10 think that / should have
her. Poor devil how could he help itf
Maybe ! should have been the same.
There was time when should have
wondered that girl could have turned
a strong mans head like that, but
knew more about II now.
For fortnight l saw nothing OF
Jim Horscroft, and then came the
Thursday which was 10 change the
whole current of my life.
had woke early that day, and, with
little thrill OF JOY, which is rare
thing to feel when man first opens
his eyes. Edle had been kinder than
usual the night before and had fallen
asleep with the thought that maybe ut
last | had caught the rainbow, and
That without any imaginings or make
believes, she was learning to love plain
Jack Calder of West Inch. II was this
thought still nj my heart which had
given me that little morning chirrup Of
10y. And then I remembered that If
! FASTENED | might he in time for her
FOR IL was her custom TO 90 out with
'ho sunrise.
But was too late. When l came
to her door II was half open and tile
room empty. Wen, thought |. ut least
! may meet her and have the home
wcrd walk with her, l zlgzagged up
the steep pathway, breathing in the
hin, keen morning air, and humming a
'ii' ms | went until | came out, little
.''..'' ~ 'A'NAAAt tih'ilA AAAN Wins
uUun the top. Looking down the long
slope Of TIE farther side, saw Cousin
Edie as had expected, and | saw Jim
Eorscroft walking by her side.
They were not far away, but too
taken up with each other 10 see me,
she was walking slowly, with the
little petulant cock of her dainty head
which knew so well, casting her eyes
away from him, and shooting out a
word from time to time lie paced
along beside her, looking down ut her
and bending his head in the eagerness
OF his talk. Then, as he said some
thing, she placed her hand with ca
ress, upon his arm, and he, carried Off
his feet, plucled her up and kissed
her again and again. At the sight
could neither cry out nor move, but
stood with heart OF lead and the
face OF a dead man staring down at
them. saw hor hand passed over his
shoulder, and that his kisses were as