The Lamar register., 1920-06-09
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sssesses.
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BY JACK lAWToN.
tcOpyrIsht. 1870. wes.ern Nswspaper UnIon

the growth about him. The tall trees
were friends to Nathan, and the wide
spaces his breathing place. Twice, he
had attempted city life.
The walls of Nathan's bungalow were
lined with books and on tables covered
with various skins were always the
latest magazines. Nathan liked to pick
out Accomplishments to his singing on
the piano which filed further cor
ner. and old Charlie. attended quietly
to Nathan's needs. Charlie was. in his
own recommendation. "a natural born
cook" and Nathan required no other
So he lived. When he returned from
some enforced stay In faraway city.
lying upon the bank Of stream with
fishing rod In hand, Nathan called
that. and not the buster life. living,
And If he missed wOman's touch or
mlnlstration he contented himself with
the thought that here he had made his
choice. Resting satisfied In his decl-
sion, Nathan looked up one fall day to
find a young woman standing before
him. He stared. surprised at her np-
pearance In his fisherman's seclusion.
and his stnre wns prolonged when he
took In the sweet charm OF her. She
wns n smiling thing. lips with dlmpled
smiling corners like those of n child.
her gray eyes deep and shadowed as
one knowing sorrow. The girls golden
brown hair blew In wisps across her
dirk lashes; and as she raised her
hand to confine II beneath her hat she
smiled. 81 have lost my way" the girl
said, will you direct mel ! am look
ing for Rawley's shack"
81 have taken the school up Mt Bel
don's Pass" she said, "and-I did not
care to board In that vicinity as for
mer school teachers did; so looked
the country overland rented the only
available walls and floors called a
house. It's Rawley's shack"
"You mean" Nathan asked. "that
you intend to live there-aloner"
ut is for that reason ! rented the
place. she replied, 80 that could be
alone"
He glanced at the modish suit the
girl wore. at the simple hat. which
bore the mark OF style.
"Tm afraid" he said gently. shat
you do not realize the situation"
The new school teacher looked inter
ested.
Then" she told him, II shall have
to lay in a larger supply of food and
fuel than / have intended. You say !
do not realize the situation. Why, II
Is much better than I anticipated.
Just passed a house back there, yours
suppose. I shall have nelghbors. peo-
pie Of my kind whom I did not hope
to find In this desolation. Your wife
would be friendly, would she not,
with n strangerT"
81 have no wife," Nathan answered,
Just an old man who acts us house
keeper. He's a silent old chap. but
would no doubt help you In an emer-
gency. There are no women-none-
In all the forest. II would be wiser 10
accept the poorest board that Belden's
Pass would offer. How do you expect
to reach the school house in winterf"
''The school is half way between"
she said. II shall make II some way.
I've brought my own horse and n bob
Sleigh" her eyes were shining. "Oh
You'll Sec" she finished: II wish you
would be less pessimistic." Nathan
sighed; he arose and went with her to
show her the way to Rawley's shack.
After that Nathan's visits there he
came n matter Of course. The little
teacher showed him her housekeeping
transformation. With cretonnes.
bright rugs, and simple home furnish
Ings she had made the Interior of the
weather-beaten cottage a place OF
actual beauty He formed a habit of
meeting the girl toward the end Of an-
tumn days as she came down the road
on her tramp from school, and long
ere this, Nathan acknowledged to him
self that he loved, with a mans one
true and faithful love. this little Mol
lie Gall. His absences from her were
filled with visions. And Nathan hoped
fearfully. and at times ALMOST conf
IDENTIFY. that the solitude would be SOL
itude for him no longer. with her pres
ence always near. He told Mollie of
his simple life. with its outer glimpses
of farther lands, Mollle did not recip
rocate making no reference to her
past. When the story Of Nathan's love
had forced his lips. Mollie trembling,
nt last whispered her story. She. too.
had learned TO love Nathan. But there
could be no betrothnl. A purpose had
brought her to this world. For year
she had lived under the shadow Of
crime. II was her father. they said,