The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1920-01-02

LAS neck. lac said, IA SseA
"jus' like that
They reached an open space. Some
thing black-Or was it red?--lay on
the ground. Dave bent owe it a mo-
ment, her looked up to her white.
clear face, white and clearer than ever
since witnessing the strength of his
hate.
ITS q calf" he said. as calmly as he
could. "Half ct up. Wolves. I guess"
1.-THE poor, poor thlng!" she breath
ed. '"The poor. innocent thing! Why
did 1t have to dieT"
Its always the innocent things at
SUFFERS" he answered.
Always the innocent things" she
repeated mechanically. always
She sprang to her feet and faced him.
Then what about the justice OF
Godi" she demanded.
II don't know nothin' about the JUS
tice of God" he answered bitterly.
"All l know is the crittur at can't
run gets caught"
1nefc was d lOLS pause. uOSSA
seem right" she said at length.
ut amt right" he agreed. But l
| guess it's life. I see 1t here on the
prairies with every Twin thing. l
guess l was like that, some. I've been
caught. l guess a baby amt respon.
sible for anything, is it, I didn't
pick my father or my mother. did II
But l got to bear It."
There was something lea n break
in his voice on the last words. She
felt she must speak.
II think your father is a wonderful
old man." she said, land your mother
must have been wonderful, too. You
| should be proud Of them BOTH"
"Reenie. do you mean thatY" he de-
manded. His eyes were looking
| straight into hers.
Absolutely" she answered. "Ab.
solutely l mean it"
"Then I'm goin' to say some
things to you,' he went on rapidly.
Things at l didn't know whether to
say or not, but now they've got to be
said, whatever happens. Reenie, 1
haven't ever been to school or learned
lots Of things I should a learned, but
l amt a fool, neither. I didn't learn
| to break all those bottles in a day.
| Well. / can learn other things, too,
an I will, If only 1t will take me
across. I'm goin' to leave this old
ranch. some way. JUS as soon as It
can be arranged. I'm goin' to town
an work. I'm strong: / can get pretty
good wages. I've been thinkin' 1t all
over. an was askin' some questions
in town today. l can work days an
60 to school nights. An I'll do tit
it'll get me across. You know what ]
mean. l amt askin' no pledges. Rec.
ME, but what's the CHANGER I know ]
don't talk right. and l don't eat right
you tried not to notice but you couldn't
help-but. Reenie, I think right. an J
guess with a girl like you that counts
more than eatin' and talkin'."
She had thought she could say yes
or no to any question lie could ask.
hut rs he poured forth these plain,
passionate words she found herself
enveloped in a flame that found no ex.
preston In speech. She had no
words. She was glad when he went
on:
II know I'm only a boy an you're
only a girl. That's why / don't ask
no pledge. I leave you free. only
want you to stay free until l have
my chance. Will you promise thatT"
She tried to pull herself together.
You know I've had a good time with
you, Dave" she said. land I've gone
with You everywhere. like / would not
have gene with any other boy I ever
knew, and I've talked and let you talk
about things l never talked about he.
fore. and I believe you're true and
clean and-and-"
"Yes." he said. 'What's your an.
swer7"
II know you're true and clean" she
repeated. "COme to me-like that
when I'm a and you're a man
and then-then we'll know"
He was tall and straight. and his
shadow fell across her face. as though