The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1920-06-22

there" shc began, on another tack
You saved my life. Not worth
much"
She was smiling checriiy rs she
could. Sim Gage looked carefully at
her face 20 see how much she knew
Doctor Barnes told me that that
man, the ono that took mo away.
was hurt by a tree: that you got
thero too late TO save him. Hut TO
think. ia have shot that man. |
did try 10 shoot him. Mr.. Gagsr'
why. did you. ma'amT" ~aid sim
Gage, But then. II would OF been
miracle II you had a'hit him. your
eyes being poor. like. reckon IT'S
Just as well you didn't"
"oh. forgot" he resumed sud,
denly. bcthinking himself OF the or.
rand which had brought him hither.
Il got a letter fer you. maam."
~ letter. Why. that's strange
| didn't know OF any one -
sure. IT'S fer you. ma'am. It's
from Annie Sauires.'
Annie! oh, what does she say
Tell me-
Sim mad the letter opened now. hls
face puckercd.
why. nothing very much.
ria'am." said he. II can't exactly
sec what II aays--iight's rather poor
In here just now But Wild. he read
II. And she said II was all right with
her. and that she was hack In her
little room again. I reckon It's the
room whore you both used 10 live"
'She isn't married. What did she
say
Nom. not married That's all off.
Her Teller throwed her down. bur
she says she wants you To write TO
her right away and tell hcr-now---
ten her about things~-you know"
What docs she sayg--TclI mo ex.
aciiy what she said"
zone thing''-hc plunged dcspcr.
ltely--'she Haid she was sure you
was happily married. And she
wanted you 10 tell her all about your
husband. But then. good God
Almighty she didn't know
Well" said Mary Warren. her
blood high in her face. I'm have 20
write 10 her at once"
'Yon'n write 10 herr WHAT
And tell her how happy am.
how fortunate Two been. IN tell her
how you took me In even tho was
blind. how YOU saved my ne: how
kind and gentle you've been all
along. where you might have been
80 different IN tell her how fine
and splendid It's been o, you 10 take
care Of sick. blind. helpless girl like
me. and to--to-gfvc her a mans
protection"
He was speechleas. She struggled
on. red TO the hair.
You don't know women. how
much they want a strong man TO do
pend on. Mr.. Gage: a man like you
Chivalrousy Why. yes. you've been |
all Of that and more. III write TO
Annie and tell her that I'm sery
happy. and that I've got tho VEN
best--the very b@rt--hustand--l ali
the world. III tell her that, I'll say
my husband
He heard her sobhlnE. lie could
endure no more. Suddenly he reached
out hand and touched hers very
gently.
Don't ma'am." said he. Fer
Gods sake don't cry"
II was some time after that 49,
neither could have told how long
that he managed 20 so on. his voice
do you mean that.
ma'am7 Do you mean that. real and
for surc1 You wouldn't joke with
a Teller like over a thing like that"
I'm not Joking" said she. My
God, Yea. I mean it
Putting II that way. now said
sim Gage. wisely. putting u that
way. I'm here TO say amt a'soared
TO do nothing that's best fer you
And I want TO say right now and
here. didn't mean no harm TO you
| swear. neither Wild nor me ever
did dream that n woman like you'd
come out here-f never knew such n
woman as you was In tho whole
world. / just didn't know-that was
all. You won't blame me too much
fer Eettin' you here into this awful
place. viii your
NO. understand" said she gent.
~. Il think know more about you
now than did Mt first.
Il amt much 20 know, MANN. |
But you--why. II I studied NIL my
life. wouldn't begin to know you
hardly none at all" She could not /
doubt the reverence OF his tone. could |
not miss the sweetness Of IL. No. nor |
the sureness Of the anchorage that II
offered.
III this Is the way you want H."
he went on. I'm promise you never |
to bother you. no way In the world |
III be on the square with you. 80 help
me God, III take care OF you the
best way can. 40 help me Cod III
work. III do the best can fer you:
40 help me Godr'
And promise 10 be faithful 20
you. Sim Gage" said she. using his
common name unconsciously now
Il swear 10 be true TO you. and 20
help you all can. every way / can,
I'll do my duty--my duty. do you
understand"
II understand n heap % things
can't say nothing about. ma'am," said
Sim Gage. I'm that sort Of man.
that can't talk very much. But I
understand a heap more'n I'm going
to try TO say. Sometimes it's that
way"
Sometimes It's that way" said
Mary Warren. yes. Then that's our
promisew
Yes, it's a promise. so fer as I'm
concerned" said Sim Gage
Il was scared from the first OF
any woman coming out HERO said
he. truthfully. But whatever
you say goes. But our gettln' mar.
ried! When?"
The sooner the better"
They both nodded assent 20 this,
neither seeing the other. for he dared
not look her way now.