The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1920-12-16

She looked nj him The tiniest sug-
gestion of a frown seemed TO be trying
TO find a place OF her face.
II know what I am saying when !
say that. You could sing. Your voice
is soft and low and strong-like Dad
dy's. l didn't notice II till a little bit
ago, but | think | felt 1t all along. /
guess that's why / trusted you-be-
cause your voice is like Daddy's."
The ~Pearlhunter was standing
quite close TO her. His ewes drank In
the plump white mystery of her throat /;
the bit of ribbon rising and falling
upon her bosom. Ii was an old ribbon
old and wor He studied her dress.
II had been many a day since II was
new. He recalled the old mans coat
and his shoes. They were as old as
hers. He glanced around the cabin
stole n 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 a mighty big thing
TO me. You've said you trust me.
That's a big thing for a girl to say to
a n The Almighty alone knows
whether I'll do TO trust. Now, don't
think hard of what I'm about to say.
And wish | knew some nice way to
say It. But don't know any way only
Just to say 1t. Don't you need help
money, i mean?"
A succession Of emotions fitted
acros the girls face-pleasure at the
name; bewilderment as he talked on:
and at the last, a smile. The man
watched the smile. Ii was a brave
smile, but 1t had to retreat. beaten
back by a stronger foe. Her lips drew
together; her chin %quivered; she
bowed her head and buried her face
In her arms.
What had he donel Had she mis-
understood him. The Pearllunter
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 smoothed them.
IT seemed a long time to the Pearl
hunter before she raised her face. He
half dreaded to see her eyes; but-a
desperate glance-no -eproach In
them. He had not been mlsunder-
stood.
81 don't know how / am TO 90 On"
Her throat and neck and face famed
crimson at the admission. al can't
leave to go out to service and all the
furniture that can be spared / have
sold"
"Only your own" he blurted out.
rather imprudently, as he reflected aft
erward. for how was she TO know that
he had glanced into her room?
81 didn't wish Daddy to miss any
thing"
The unselfshness of her act seemed
no to have entered her mind, bu, II
was not lost on the Pearlhunter.
1.-The ~storekeeper has been so good
TO me. and trusted me for so many
tiiiiikr. III list W AiiiAh
| owe him. But he Is old. and his wife
has beer Ill. II mortifies me 10 have
TO ask him for more credit, but I can't
let Daddy starve. Money uSeu 20 come
TO us before he got-hurt. But ]
found ont afterward that 1t always
.ame addressed simply to Box 23. Not
wen the postmaster knows Daddy's
name. Neither-do-Ir
Her voice fell very low. The Pearl
hunter pitied her. for he knew what
1t was like not to know "Daddy's
name"
''1'he doctor says she went on.
that the bullet broke a piece of skull.
so that II presses on the brain. He
thinks q great surgeon he knows might
lie able to raise that little piece OF
skull and made Daddy well. 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
q look that the hard men of the river
had learned to know.
Listen ~ he said. You met trust
me. You musf let me help you. You
already know the story of the Blue
Moon. Such a find always brings the
pearl buyers. They flock to II like
v~ultures to a carcass. They'll soon
be here-maybe tomorrow. I'll sell the
pearl, and you shall send for that SUR
geon."
Like one waking from a 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
II. escaped her In the first moments
Only a mere detail OF II reached her.
T-we-couldn't ever pay you back"
1t was on his tongue to say he didn't
expect to he paid back-that he didn't
want TO be paid back. but q glance AT
her somehow made such an answer Inn
possible. The book case gave him an
inspiration.
You could let me read these hooks.
.why. you could do that anyway"
She looked at him III curious FUR
prise. Not knowing the hope that was
slowly waking In her. he mlsinterpret-
ed the look. He avoided her eyes.
His generosity had o~verreached his
tncf. Such an offer cculGn't be -made
=. cs.a a. fho ~nmo wnN n could I've