The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1920-12-24

corners of his eyes. I'D have the
woods to myself II / tried"
She looked at him. The tiniest sug-
gestion of frown seemed to be trying
to find place on her face.
Il know what am saying when !
say that. You could sing Your voice
Is soft and low and strong-like Dad
dy's. / didn't notice 1t till little bit
ago, but / think I felt 1t all along.
guess that's why trusted you--be-
cause your voice Is like Daddy's."
The Pearlhunter was standing
quite close to her. His eyes drank In
the plump white mystery of her throat
the bit Of ribbon rising and falling
upon her bosom. 1t was an old ribbon,
old and worn. He studied her Dress
1t had been many a day since 1t was
new. He recalled the old mans coat
and his shoes. They were as old as
hers. He glanced around the cabin;
stole 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 Rose !"
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 a girl to say to
man. The Almighty alone knows
whether III do to trust. Now, don't
think hard OF what I'm about to say.
And / wish | knew some nice way to
say 1t. But don't know any way only
money, l mean?"
A succession of emotions fitted
across the girls face-pleasure at the
name; bewilderment as he talked on ;
and at the last smile. The man
watched the smile. 1t was brave
smile, but it had to retreat, beaten
back by stronger foe. Her lips drew
together; her chin quivered; she
bowed her head and buried her face
in her arms.
What had he done! Had she mis-
understood him. The pearhuf1ter
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.
1t seemed long time to the Pearl
hunter before she raised her face. He
half dreaded to see her eyes; but-a
desperate glance-no reproach in
them. He had not been misunder-
stood.
II don't know how l 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 he spared l have
sold"
"Only your own" he blurted out.
rather imprudently, as he reflected afts
erward, for how was she to know that
he had glanced into her room?
II didn't wish Daddy to miss any
thing"
The unselishness 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. Pm afraid to think hcw zach
owe him. But he is old, and his wife
has been i'll. 1t mortlfes 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 Daddy's
name. MOTHERHOOD"
Her voice fell very low. The Pearl
hunter pitied her, for he knew what
1t was like not to know "Daddy's
name"
1.-THE doctor says she went on,
"that the bullet broke piece of skull,
so that it presses on the brain. He
thinks a 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 II done"
She stopped; turned her head away.
look that the hard pen of the river
had learned to know.
"Listenl" he said. you nist trust
me. You must let me help you. You
already know the story of the Blue
Moon. Such find always brings the
pearl buyers. They flock TO 1t like
vultures to a carcass. They'll soon
be here-maybe tomorrow. I'll sell the
pearl, and you shall send for that sur
geon."
Like one waking from 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 IL, the immense fact of
it. escaped her In the first moments.
Only a mere detail Of 1t reached her.
"I-we-couldn't eeer pay you back"
1t was on his tongue TO say he didn't