The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1920-11-12


1t had been many a day since II was
new. He recalled the old mans coat
and his shoes. They were as old as
hers He glanced around the cabin
stole a quick look toward the east
room-her room The Pearlhunter
was slow-in some things-but some
how he always managed to arrive In
time
wild Roser"
Her eyes jumped to his. She let him
see how much the name pleased her.
You've just said a mighty big thing
TO me. You've said you trust me.
That's big thing for girl to say to
man. The Almighty alone knows
whether I'll do to trust Now, don't
think hard of what I'm about to say.
And 1 wish / knew some nice way to
say 1t. But don't know any way only
just to say it. Don't you need help
money. 1 mean?"
across the girls face-pleasure at the
name; bewildeTment as he talked on;
and at the last, a smile. The man
watched the smile. 1t was a brave
smile, but 1T had to retreat, beaten
back by q stronger foe. Her lips drew
together; her chin quivered; she
bowed her head and buried her face
in her arms.
What had he donei Had she mis-
understood him. The Pearlhunter
inwardly cursed his clumsiness. He
found his hard hand stealing toward
her hair. How helpless she was-and
he had hurt her. His fingers strayed
over the soft locks and smoothed them.
It seemed a long time TO the Pearl
hunter before she raised her face He
half dreaded 10 see her eyes; but-a
desperate glance-no reproach In
them. He had not been misunder-
stood
II don't know how I am to go on"
Her throat and neck and face famed
crimson at the admission. II can't
leave to go out to service; and all the
furniture that can be spared / have
sold"
"Only your own" he blurted out.
rather imprudently, as he reflected aft
erward, for how was she TO know that
he had glanced into her room7
II didn't wish Daddy to miss any
thing"
The unselfshness of her act seemed
not to have entered her mind, but 1T
was not lost ON the Pearlhunter.
1.-The storekeeper has been so good
TO me, and trusted me for so many
things. I'm afraid TO think hcw ciuch
owe him. But he is old. and his wife
has been Ill. 1t mortifies me to have
TO ask him for more credit, but can't
let Daddy starve. Money used to come
to us before he got-hurt. But
found out afterward that 1t always
came addressed simply to Box %. Not
even the postmaster knows Daddys
name Neither-do-Iw
Her voice fell very low. The Pearl
hunter pitied her, for he knew what
it was like not to know "Daddy's
name"
1.-The doctor says" she went on,
that the bullet broke piece of skull,
so that 1t presses on the brain. He
thinks great surgeon he knows might
be able TO raise that little piece of
skull and made Daddy well. And that's
what hurts me worst of all-that
can't have 1t DONE"
She stopped; turned her head away.
There came into the mans level eyes
look that the hard men of the river
had learned to know.
Listen !" he said. "You must trust
me. You must let me help you. You
already know the story of the Blue
Moon. Such a find always brings the
pearl buyers. They flock to it like
vultures to a carcass. They'll soon
pearl, and you shall send for that sur
geon."
Like one waking from a dream to
find the dream come true-she turned
slowly and raised her face to his. The
full significance of his offer, the big
generosity of it, the immense fact of
It, escaped her In the first moments
Only a mere detail of it reached her.
"I-we-couldn't ever pay you back"
1t was on his tongue to say he didn't
expect to be paid back-that he didn't
want to be paid back, but a glance at
her somehow made such an answer i'm
possible The book case gave him an
inspiration.
You could let me read these books"
''Why. you could do that anyway"
she looked dI uli1 III curious sur
prise. Not knowing the hope that was
slowly waking In her, he misinterpret-
ed the look He avoided her eyes.
His generosity had overreached his
tact. Such an offer couldn't be made
10 a girl in the same way it could be
made to a man. His eye roved the
room in desperation. 1t lighted final
Is on the cello still leaning against the
old mans chair.
You can teach me singin' lessons 7"
He said ii a good deal as a man
might consent TO a surgical operation,
with the chances dead against him.
THAT wouldn't be worth-money,"
she said. THAT would just be fun, If
things were so l could"
The Pearlhunter picked up his hat
from the table, stood fumbling Ii and
thinking intently. 1t went against the
grain Of him TO give up till the last
lick was struck. Something she had
said few minutes before happened
into his thoughts.
~When your father is well, there1l
be more money coming to Box g. He
can pay me back then himself"
He said 1t slowly-like a man laying
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