The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-07-28

~
She threw up her head; the smile be-
came a laugh.
Itwas the only thing that could have
broken the restraint. After that laugh,
the Pearlhunter no longer wondered
that sounds outrivaling the wood
thrush could come from her throat.
BY some subtle bridge unseen of hu-
man eyes, the smile crossed to the
mans face and melted its grave, al
most severe, lines.
And why shouldn't the restraint be
broken? Why, indeed, should there be
restraint? For all his overalls, flannel
shirt and battered. hat, he was still a
man; for all her faded calico and
broken shoes. she was still woman.
The world was made for them. And
the world was young; the smiles more
than the tears-and the woods laugh
always.
The laugh; the slow smile that an
swered it-their introduction. She tied
the bonnet strings, while he watched
her fingers as they formed the knot.
A woman's hands show nowhere to
better advantage than when tying a
knot-that is, if they have advantages
to show.
THAT song" he said, at was the
most wonderful thing I ever heard.
The girl laughed again-a, laugh
like water tinkling over pebbles.
THE birds are my playma.es," she
answered simply. They fly down all
over me. 1 had, to learn their Ian
guage."
you live in these woods"
The Pearlhunter was a long time
asking that question.
mot far from the pool"
And you're not afraid?"
He glanced up the road toward the
village.
ooh, F live with Daddy" A shade
cross her face. Never BEFORE" she
added, as if the first statement had
not quite satisfied his question. Dad
dy is not very well and-I have TO go
to the store. Every time I've gone n
the last few days that man has tried
to talk to me I was frightened to
death today when he followed me. Fye
never did that before I'm so glad
you happened along; and I thank you
over and overt"
TT was nothing" he said simply,
twisting his hat in his hand. He
didn't tell her it wasn't a matter of
happening.
She shook the curl off her bosom
and back over her shoulder. He was
sorry for that.
"He is a gambler; at least so the
grocery man told me today-and "a
man killer"
The Pearlhunter could have added
quite startlingly to the information
impaired by the grocery man, but he
only said:
Hes all that-and more"
She glanced across the fence and up
the road He fancied a slight SILVER
lifted her shoulders.
"Miss-Miss-I don't know your
name!"
Two roguish little points pinched
up the girls eyes The two dmples
played hide-and- seek with the corners
of her mouth-artless as the flicking
wings of a Lady Cardinal She had no
art. With such feet and hands; and
eyes like little glimpses of the sky
through the tree tops, she had small
need of it.
"A little bit ago you called me"
THE Wild Rose" he finished
Il Ike that" she stammered, "ever
so much better than my-other name"
Again that slow smile broke across
the face of the Pearlhunter. He knew
he ought to say something,-but what?
We'll, Miss Wild Rose" he finally
ventured, with no idea of what else
he was going to say.
Leave off the Miss, please" It was
a timely rescue. Miss seems, we'll
so-dignified for the woods. And you
are-?"
He shifted the basket to the other
arm and stood gazing up and down
the ragged fence row.
CONTINUED tomorrow