Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1920-12-09
CHAPTER r

t3
Starr was coming up to the city for
a little shopping on the early morning
train with Michael. The summer was
almost upon her and she had not pre-
pared her apparel. Besides. she was
going away in a few days to be
bridesmaid at the wedding of an old
school friend who lived away out
West: and secretly she told herself she
wanted. the pleasure of this little trip
to town with Michael. (,
! She was ~treaaurfng every one, of.
these beautiful days filled with
precious experiences. like jewels to be
strung on memory's chain, with a
vague unrest lest some close-drawing
future was to snatch them from her
forever. She wished with all her
heart that she had given a decided
refusal to Iher friends pleading, but
the friend had put off the wedding on
her ccoun to wait until she could
leave her father; and her father had
Joined his insistance that she should
go away n have the rest and change
after the ordeal of the winter. SO
Starr seemed to nave to go. much as
she would rather have remained. She
had made a secret vow to herself that
she YOU .return at once after the
wedding in spite OF all urgings to re-
main with the family who had invited
her to stay all INNER with them.
Starr had feeling that the days Of
her companionship with Michael
might be short. She must make the
most Of them. 1t might never be the
same again after her going away. She
was not sure even that her father
would consent to remain all summer
at the farm as Michael urged. =
And on this lovely morning she was
very happy at the thought of going
with Michael. The sea seemed spark
ling with a thousand gems as the train
swept along its shore. and Michael
told her of his first coming down to
see the farm, called her attention to
assured him Old Orchard was far
prettier than any of them, now that
the roses were all beginning to bud.
It would soon be Rose Cottage indeed!
Then the talk fell on Buck and his
brief passing.
II wonder where he can be and
what he Is doing" sighed Michael. "If
he only could have stayed long enough
for me to have a talk with him.
believe ! could have persuaded him
to a better way. It is the greatest
mystery in the world how he got away
with those men watching the house.
I l. u 0LoIlA y s4H.44T. NEHEt-'eFH-
Starr, her cheeks rosy, her eyes
shining M~ischievously, looked up at
1 him.
Haven't yoY the least suspicion
where he was hiding?' she asked.
Michael looked down at her with A
= sudden start, and smiled into her
lovely eyes.
why, no. Have you?" he said,
and could not keep the worship from
his gaze.
Do you think it vas very dreadful for
me not TO tell? L couldn't bear ia
you'd had a chance to help him; and
when he used to>be 80 good to you az
a little boy; besidea I saw his face,
that terrible, hunted look: there
wasn't anything really wrong in my
opening that window and throwins
them off the track. was there?"
-aDid you open the; window? Z"
Starr nodded safely. Yes, and
SAM saw me do 1t. Sam knew all
about 1t. Buck went up the chimney
right through that hot fire. Ioidn'
you hear the tongs fail down? He
went like q nash before you opened
the door, and one foot was stiil II
sight when that sheriff came In. j
was so afraid he'd see It. Was Il
wrong? /"
~ suppose II vas, he. said sadly
1.-THE law must be maintained, /,
cant be set astde for one fellow who
has touched ones heart ny some
chiIdhood.s action. But right o,
wrong I can't help being glad thai
you cared "a DO something for poor
Buck
n think 4 did it mostly Sor-you?.
she said SOFTLY. her eyes Aiii. down.
For answer, Michael reached on
his hand and took her little slowed
one that l1yin her lap In = clpas pres
sure Tor Just an instant.t There. 4.
sIif. q mighty power we're 1ortine him
.Ihte hand away.
starr feit Inc pressure 81 inst strcns
, hand and the r,sssage that II raw