Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1920-12-11

glance, stalked down the road to-
ward the village.
The Pearlhunter stood gazing after
him. The Red Mask-and he hadn't
struck Three times affronted. and he
hadn't struck. Each time there had
been death in his eyes. What was
holding his hand7 Was he hiding his
time? II was not a pleasant thing to
contemplate for any man can kill
another II he waits mis- opportunity.
and takes him at a disadvantage.
Why hadn't he struck Always the
question came back to that And
what was holding him TO the Flat
woods? The Pearlhunter whirled with
the thought, and looked back over the
fence.
The girl was gone.
The basket and bundles were still
scattered about the path. He climbed
the fence and began gathering them
up. He had them all back in the
basket, and was leaning against tle
fence. wondering how to get them t.
their proper owner, when a slight
rustic among the bushes reached his
ear. He glanced up; the girl stood
before him.
II was the girl OF the pool-the
Wild Rose.
The woods had hid them: the woods
had nurSed them; the woods had set
them face 70 face-tlc "earlhunter
the Wild Rosa woman
Ctv4r ourou Frovv, ItSa INV
tial; bare It Of every husk OF sham
and convention: pnre 1t right down
to the red, quick core, beyond which
II is not possible to reduce It further
and you come ut Inst TO a man and a
woman. Six million years the Al
mighty Artist practiced on such sec
ondary studies az stars and suns. and
peopling them with inconceivably d.
verse and curious forms of life. before
trusting his hand on his final master
piece--s man: woman.
They stood staring, as At that other
meeting at the pool. And that was
the thought uppernoSt I'm the mind Of
the Pearlhunter-tha other meeting
And he had looked Somehow he
wished he hadn't: and vet he wasn't
sorry that he had The thought drew
his eyes to her feet, Shifting the
basket, his hand slowly stole up and
dragged off his battered hat.
The blue eyes under the sunhon-
net livened The girl drew n step
nearer The bushes she had been
bending aside sprang back into place
She drew another step nearer. As
she moved. an overhangng limb
caught the sunbonnet and dragged il
off displaying a very soft and glossy
mass OF yellow curls. She turned,
dlsengaged the bonnet from the limb,
md was shaking the curls into shape
20 replace IT when the Pearlhunrr
made a quick step toward her with
hand appraised.
Don't - he cried. 'T0n't-"
A man OF slow speech, with eyes
hard to wake. he wouldn't have be
lieved such words were in him.
The girl stood fumhllng the bonnet
Tie watched one stray curl lose It's
place and come slowly tumbllng down,
little by little, tn II fell >ver her
shoulder md lay upon the softly rls-
ing and falling bosom From The curl.
he raised his ewes to her face. Tie
saw smile steal across IT, Il Vas
only n little SIN" mt il grew under
his gaze tn fl re-, ned mp 10 her eyes,
and pinched the lids together. and
squeezed out tiny ripple Of mrrri-
mcnt that ran out over her face aud
settled in two round dlrlples fhat
teasingly uptited the corners of her
mouth-a good, WinsOme mouth
fringed with fun red lips and ~ot
with wholesome teeth The smile
grew until II quite passed beyond her
control. She threw up her head; the
smile became laugh.
II was the only thing TINT could
have broken the restraint. The hugh;
the slow smile that answered it
their Introduction. She tied the bon
net strings. while he watched her fin
gers as they formed the knot
THAT song" he said. at was the
most wonderful thing 7 ever heard"
The girl laughed agaln--a laugh like
water tinkling over pebbles.
The birds are my playmates," she
answered simply. They fly down all
over me. I had to learn their Ian
guage"
You live IN these woods"
The Pearlhunter WAS a long time
asking that question.
Not far from the pool"
And you're not afrald?"
He glanced up the road toward the
village
"Oh. live with Daddy" SHADE
crossed her face. ~Never before" she
added. as If the first statement had
not quite satisfied his question
Daddy is not very well and I have
to 70 TO the store. Every time I've
gone in the last few DAYS that man
has tried 70 talk 70 me was fright
ened to death today when he followed
me. He never did that before I'm
so glad you happened along; and !
thank you over and over :"
ut WIS nothing" ne said simply
: A.