The Kendrick gazette., 1920-04-02

His neck" he said, between his teeth,
"tus' like that"
They reached an open space. Some
thing black--Or was it red?-lay on
the ground. Dave bent over it mo-
ment, then looked up to her white,
clear face, white and clearer than ever
since witnessing the strength of his
hate.
TITS calf" he said, as calmly as he
could. "Half ct up. Wolves, guess"
"The poor, poor thing" she breath
ed. "The poor, innocent thing! Why
did it have to die?'
TITS always the innocent things at
SUFFERS" he answered.
Always the innocent things" she
repeated mechanically. Always"
She sprang to her feet and faced him.
"Then what about the justice Of
God?" she demanded
Il don't know nothin' about the JUS
tice of Cod" he answered bitterly.
"All I know is the crittur at can't
run gets caught"
There was long pause. ut doesn't
seem right" she said at length.
1T amt right" he agreed. "But /
guess it's life. l see it here on the
prairies with every livin' thing. I
guess was like that, some. I've been
caught. guess a baby amt respon-
sible for anything, Is it? didn't
pick my father or my mother, did I?
But got to bear it,"
There was something near a break
in his voice on the last words. She
felt she must speak.
II think your father is a wonderful
old man." she said, "and your mother
must have been wonderful, too You
should be proud of them BOTH"
"Reenie, do you mean that?" he de-
manded. His eyes were looking
straight into hers.
Absolutely" she answered. "Ab.
solutely mean it,"
"Then I'm goin' to say some more
things to you," he went on rapidly.
Things at didn't know whether to
say or not, but now they've got to be
said, whatever happens. Reenie, I
haven't ever been to school or learned
lots of things should "a learned, but
l amt fool, neither. l didn't learn
to break all those bottles in day.
Well, can learn other things, too,
an will, if only it will take me
across. I'm goin' to leave this old
ranch, some way, JUS as soon as it
can be arranged. I'm goin' to town
an work. Pm strong; can get pretty
good wages. I've been thinkin' it all
over, an was askin' some questions
in town today. can work days an
go to school nights. An I'll do tiff
it'll get me across. You know what ]
mean. l amt askin' no pledges, Rec.
ME, but what's the chance? l know ]
don't talk right, and don't eat right
you tried not to notice but you couldn't
help-but, Reenie, think right, an |
guess with girl like you that counts
more than eatin' and talkin'."
She had thought she could say yes
or no to any question he could ask,
but as he poured forth these plain,
passionate words she found herself |
enveloped in flame that found no ex.
pAcoSiOA III SpccCu. she ndO no /
words. She was glad when he went
on:
Il know I'm only boy an you're
only girl. That's why don't ask
no pledge. leave you free, only /
want you to stay free until l have
my chance. Will you promise that?"
She tried to pull herself together
"You know I've had good time with
you, Dave" she said, "and I've gone
with you everywhere, like l would not
have gone with any other boy l ever
knew, and I've talked and let you talk
about things I never talked about be-
fore, and I believe you're true and
clean and-and--"
"Yes," he said. "What's your an.
swer?"
Il know you're true and Clean" she
repeated. "Come to me-like that
when I'm woman and you're man,
and then-then Well know"
He was tall and straight, and his
shadow fell across her face. as though