Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1920-12-25

corners Of his eyes. "Pd have the
woods TO myself if / tried"
She looked at him. The tiniest sug
gestion of frown seemed to be trying
to find a place on her face
II know what / am saying when I
say that. You could sing. Your voice
is soft and low and strong-like Dad
dy's. / didn't notice 1t till a little bit
ago, but ! think l felt It all along.
guess that's why 1 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 ii was
nov. lie recalled the old mans coat
and his shoes. They were as old as
hers. H 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 mighty big thing
to me. You've said you trust me-
That's a big thing for Il girl to say to
a man. The Almighty alone knows
whether I'll do to trust. Now, don't
think hard of what I'm about to say.
And l 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, l meanY
a succession of emotions fitted
across the girls face-pleasure at the
name; bewiIderment as he talked on :;
and at the last, a smile. The man
watched the smile. 1t was a brave
smile, but it had to retreat. beaten
back by a stronger foe. Her lips drew
together; her chin Iuivered; she
bowed her head and buried her face
in her arms.
What had he done! 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 sm0Othed them.
IT seemed q long time to the Pearl
hunter before she raised her face He
70 hat Init
desperate gance-nO reproach in
them. He had not been misunder-
stood.
81 don't know how I am to go on"
Her throat and neck and face famed
crimson at the admission 81 can't
leave to go out to service; and all the
furniture that can be spared l have
sold"
"Only your own" he blurted ont,
rather imprudentIy, as he reflected aft
erwar9, for how was she to know that
he had glanced into her room?
81 didn't wish Daddy to miss any
thing"
The unselfishness of her act seemed
not to have entered her mind, bus 1t
was not lost on the Pearlhunter.
THE storekeeper has been so good
to me, and trusted me for so many
things. I'm afraid to think tcw Zach
| owe him. But he is old. and his wife
has been III. II mortifies me IN have
10 ask him for more credit, but can't
let Daddy starve Money used to come
to us before he got art. But /
found ont 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
it was like not to know "Daddy's
name"
The doctor says" she went on.
chat the bullet broke a piece of skull,
so that it presses on the brain He
thinks a great surgeon he knows might
he able TO raise that little piece of
skull and made Daddy we'll And that's
what hurts me worst of all-that !
can't have it 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 nIst trust
me. You must let nre help you. YOu
already know the story Of the Blue
Moon. Such a find always brings the
pearl buyers They flock to 1t like
vulures to a carcass. They'll soon
he here-maybe tomorrow. I'll sell the
pearl. and you shall send for that sur
geon."
Like one waking from q 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 1t, the immense fact Of
1t, escaped her in the first moments.
only a mere detail Of it reached her
"I-we-couldn't ever pay you bacl. "
1t was on his tongue Il 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"