Gilpin observer., 1920-07-15
MAKING Her WAIT {
BY RUBY II. MARTIN.
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10 put another bit of money In the vii
Iage bank. But the big house had
never seemed so lonely nor her waiting
quite so futile as 1t did this sunny day
when her bank credit stood for an
even thousand. Grizel held the worn
book tightly as she went up through
the house where she had lived aIone
since her father died. She did not
need to glance through the open doors
to be reminded that the rooms needed
renovation. Had she not known the
way SO well she would have stumbled
on the attic stairs because of tears.
Living here alone, saving every bit she
could to exc out the restoration fund.
Grizel was keeping her tryst for the
soul and body of Jim Brett.
Il promised always to be waiting.
and to believe he will make good" she
whispered on the stairs
stepping into the attic she locked
the door behind her and crossed to-
ward the caves. She always did lock
the door before she opened the old
iron-bound sea chest that smelled of
the stuff of much voyaging around the
world with some ancestor.
When they We're children Grizel and
Jim had thought the rambling attic
a marvellous place for games and dam
sells In distress, and kings, and queens,
ana Knights errant. Even then Grizel
had kept her best treasures in the old
sea chest, and what treasure could
need more careful guarding than jim
story of temptation and fall, and his
determination to make good the awful
deficit he had peculated from the
bank? Was not that confidence for her
the greatest surety of his love?
So 1t was that Grizel had kept her
tryst these five years since the short
age had been discovered and Jim had
fled to escape the punishment. How
much time stretched ahead until he
should have saved the money to make
restitution, and return? She dared not
ask to receive one word of assurance
from Jim in his far country. She
dared not lose for one moment the
grip on her own faithful waiting. That
simply must have some hold on jim
And now she knelt there by the open
chest to renew her promise.
Somewhere at distance shop
whistle blew, and Grlzel jumped up.
She had forgotten the attic door key
that had slipped into the folds of her
serge gown, and II clattered to the
floor. bounced sharply on the plank.
and slipped into Il wide floor crack.
(,riypl hnp ~ II hif hn ciIaS, Of hn
tition as it fell down and down.
Now I'm lacked up here" she
cried, dismayed by the immediate diff.
ficulty.
She could not hope to break down
the door of strong, hand-hewn planks.
She could not hope to make any
neighbor hear from the single. small,
back window of the attic. II was a
question when she might be searched
for. She opened the window to let In
the sunny air, and knelt by the sill
and laughed softly at her sorry plight
She might well be real damsel in
distress. And Jim mad always come
10 the rescue when II was game.
The shop whistle blew again. and
Grizel settled to watch. The sLad-
Ows had heightened to the wall when a
boot crunched on the gravel walk be-
low. Some one WIS at the house door
I'm locked into this atticw called
Grizel. IF you will 20 to the shed you
will find large magnet to tie to n
rope | will let down.
When she had the rope down he
came around the corner with the shoe
shaped iron, and tied II on.
Pull away, my lady Grizel - he
called.
"Jim."
Pull away" he said sternly.
Grlzel's hands trembled on the cold
iron Of the magnet, and then she let II
down through the floor crack to reach
the key. Would the magnet find that
iron? Would the key cling fast? The
rope in her hand slackencd when the
magnet touched bottom, and then she
pulled II taut. The key was found and
held,
Ringing open the unlocked door she
saw Jim, older, thinner, with eyes that
questioned hers, as he stood there on
the attic stairs. Grlzel put out her
hand. hut he had no mind for social
amenities.
"l've just handed the money In ai
the bank" he said. slowly.
you saved II allf"
Every cent! I'm ready TO start for
myself now. ! guess I need you more
than ever. Grizel. but II isn't fair "a
ask you 10 make any such wait ms you
may have TO until I'm on my feet. That
is what | came around to say"
81 don't see us waiting. jim, I've
got some money saved that | can use
TO fix the house up, and we can s:uri
having a home right now. my knight y
my lady Grizel! A fellow just has
10 keep making good with yourself
hnving the faith that he will!" said
Jim.