Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1920-06-14

the sunbonnet caught by an over:
hanging limb; the curl that wouldn't
behave-theyl all came to life out Of.
the shadows. So many things had
happened since he walked that path
with her that it seemed long, lonss
was another side ID the picture: eyes
wild and wide: a startled cry; q man
sprawled on the hard ground with
eyes afiame and fingers that seemed
to yearn toward the butt of a half
barred six-gun.
The picture dissolved. A breath
between steps it had held him, and
he was off again OF the long, lanky
jog. The memory had brought q half
longing to traverse the path again,
but prudence, warned him to keep
away. The sharpeN eyes in the Flat
woods would be onzthat path at sun
rise.
If the night did hold tho menace
he feared-that in SO many words had
velop in, or near the three-gabled
cabin. As he drew near the place
his mastery Of woodcraft showed In
his approach. The bushes were not
allowed to give up,a sound. It SEEM
ed a half boyish thing to do. oven
to the Pearlhunter. stepped in eau
tom, and covered as he was with
oiSON ~ OAuAoCSs 4AV A16AS WAS
still. The forest hardly breathed.
Surely violence and%ust and rapine
would not dare invade a scene so
peaceful.
A light shone through the front
windows Of the main room of the
cabin. He wondered at this. 1t
made him uneasy, for the evening
Not many candles were alight at that
hour in the Flatwoods. He sank
back under the bushes and crawled
nearer. The muslin curtains were
drawn, but nc shadows crossed them.
The stiffness within vaguely disquiet-
ed him. He was searching for a way
to crawl a little nearer, when the low
silence; and he knew the girl was
keeping her lonely vigil beside the
stricken old man. N#5s'l
Then came the voice from = throat
the gods had kissed. Each tone
found a kindred sound in the cello
and coaxed 1t forth to f1utter out upon
the listening night in q llstrous
wit that som .S !, br9 gas ito to
bushes ! pi6tufsso / soft winged swal-
lows skimrninf, gvefs sun-kissed wa
ters. + ,gaff L
The figure Of a man slid into the
candle glow that beat the night back
for a space outside the window
trim; compact; jaunty-the man he
The picture was M He had little
ear for the music that followed The
man in the candle-light seemed to
lose no note of IT, With his ear bent
Toward the window, he drank up
every sound.
cave, Marie! Maiden mild!
n.~~4~fbs 80
The innocent purity of theN singer
carried in her song. The hand OF
tthe listener at the window stole up
against the light and dragged of his
hat. The. man crouching in the
bushes could make out the crisp. locks
that chung close to-the barred head.
harmony Of the cello lost itself among
I the listening trees. There came a
-rhuffled shuffling inside the cabin: a
huge shadow. as of two fgures bulked
together, crossed the curtain Of the
, window at the west side of the door.
The Pearlhunter knew what was
happening:--the girl leading the
, stricken man to his bed. But. his
eyes were upon still inquire out
Aside the window.
He had replaced his hat and stood
listening. From his attitude It might
have been thought he strove to catch
I! every sound that came' from 1.-The
cabin. which, in all probability. The
did. tThe song had undoubtedly
touched him. What would be his re-
action to its beautiful influence?
That's what connts-the reaction:
emotions translated into deeds. I'm
less deeds come of them, h great
voices hat speak to the hearts Of
men speak in vain.
One shadow came back. a slim,
trim shadow; there Followed the
breaking Of a chair; a head. hung
with loose hair. rocked back and
mar who crouched under the bushes
knew the girl was alone with her
thoughts.
the shadow. 1t seemed to rouse him
Ito recall fancies that the song had
caused to wander Tar. He glanced
about: pulled htInself together; made
The mantin the underhrush stiff
ened; slowly rose. noiseless as smoke.
The man approaching the door seem.
ed to hesitate: stopped. The other
sank down again IN the bushes. The
head Of flowing hair rocked back-And
forth across the curtains.
Who fathoms all that tbs night
"@AAJ 0A2AO"
the window hat the ~contented house
hblder knows nothing Of. II was a
strained moment; . three-handed
game in the dark: an intense three
,angled' drama of 1ife-mayhap Of
more than lift.s IL the honor Of a.
woman is more than thAt.
The man hesftatine before the door
mad the next play. What held his
hand? The song? Perhaps his plans
were not yet ripened to the FULL He
made another step toward the door;
stopped: jerked his shoulders mp
.sayagely: gIared shout: brought his
eyes back to the rocking shadow:
swore softly: turned and stalked 81
'lently away down the path toward
Fallen Rock.
CHATTER XIX
ONCE TO MYEHY NAN. -
Fol some distance down the bYanch
the SPearlhunter followed the night
nRn-fAn A&ln