The Arvada enterprise. (Arvada, Colo.) 1908-1970, 1920-12-02

I The man kneeling at her side. eagerly
drinking In every word, frightened hil
fingers reassuringly upon her hand.
II answered never a word. !
couldn't" she faltere,l on. my breast
was hollow; empty as gray sky.
"'The lady Gun answer that heard
the voice of the-Other man sneer.
"There was n cry, and your father
sprang at him. The maids screamed.
I uncovered my>eyes, expecting to look
upon death. But the-Other man leaped
through the window and was gone.
"YOur father put the maids out of
the room and stood over me. l dared
not look up. His FACET was ter
rible! Once he raised his great arm
to strike. I've prayed thousand
times he had-it would have saved me
many death.
"'You-! But I'll not speak the
name that belongs to YOU His voice
was hard; hoarse; awful. And I be-
lieved you! There's the wlndOw--still
open! Go. II you want him! I'm
through with your
"He strobe out at the door and
slammed 1t after him. have never
seen him since" The Iron Gray
Woman shuddered: turned her face
toward the strong rocks above the
trees. Il remember I took one step
after him. knew nothing more till
some time late In the night, when I
walked with your crying and found my.
0sA1f V,1n Hhn
My heart grew hard Us I quieted you.
He probably thought to find me next
morning all tears md experimentation
a sin Of which was as innocent as
the babe at my breast. I would show
him that my blood was proud as his.
Wrapping you In your cradle clothes.
! mumed cloak about me and stole
from the house; stole down to the riv.
er. There lOosed a skif, whose. I
never knew. lay down in the stern and
set II adrlft. There was not q star.
Only the moon looked down out Of the
dull sky. pale and sickly and trimmed
with red; the gray sky my bosom; the
sickly moon my heart. rose and tried
to row. but u faintness came over me
and I lay down again In the skin.
1.-THE next knew was on a rude
bed In 4 houseb0at miles down the
river. with q kindly family Of pearl
nshefs. They told me had teen sick
for long time. When grew strong,
sold my jewclry, all but my wedding
rinG-that saved for your sake
bought this hOuseb0at. and became Q
pearl fisher. You know the rest"
The lron-Gray- Woman fell silent :
rocked softly back and forth time or
two: allowed the chair to settle still.
The man reached an arm around her
shoulders and drew her head over
upon his breast. The little act OF ten
derness seemed to touch her deeply.
For long time the tears flowed on
while the young man knelt and mar.
veled.
Mother" he said very gently ut last,
stroking her hair. 1--WE must so back
to him."
He felt her culver ut the word. She
Sat for long time staring down at
the floor.
"FOr your sake-we must" she an.
swered at length. But not until you
are twenty-One. or-we find the penri
the pearl!"
"But am twenty-one In June-this
June-the twentieth: and this Is the
thirteenth" The man was trembling
with an eagerness he could not con.
ceal. 1.-THE time Is so near--his name
my fathers nnme!"
He searched her wet eyes for the
answer. In all his life, It was the first
time the curtain that hid his past had
ever rniseti. 1t must have been the
fever that made her speak now. II
was no light matter to unlock that
door: to probe wound Of twenty
years. She trcmbled up from her
chair. her eyes wide and wild.
"Your father" The young man,
too. had riren. She clutched his arm.
"Your father"
The words seemed to choke her,
There came torrent Of coughing |:
and the man gently cased her back
Into the chair.
As he stopped over her. anxious to
do something to alleviate her suffer.
ing, yet not knowing what, she raised
her fnce In gasp for breath. and he
saw blood upon her lips. lie snatched
another cup Of wnter and knclt beside
her, but for a long time she bumped
forwnr,l. her shoulders cuppcd In and
her arms locked ns II trying to hold