The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1921-05-21
~ ~

ENENNSN22N2A2N2S2XES2X:H S2X:H:XXH2Hx2NNSNNNA2N
very softly, as If his voice might dis
turb the spell Of the music before the
echoes had finished carrying 1t to the
rest Of the woods.
The leaves hung motionless, as II
waiting for the song to start again.
The tinkle Of the rifle where the wa
ter walked up at the lower edge OF the
pool came out Of the silence.
THE telegram came" he went on
after long time. "It says"-he
hesitated, as II pondering the next
words before giving them speech, as
II half dreading to give them speech
that Judge Eskridge is coming for
you"
The words strangely carried the
girls thoughts back to a mother driven
forth to die in loneliness and poverty;
to a grave on a hill overlooking the
river. where the hand of friend had
laid her; to great, silent house; to
a stern old man relenting In his last
hours
Il shan't go back with him." she
said Some day I'll go back to the
grave on the hill, but not-now."
The man stood weighing the words
In his slow way.
II shan't either" He paused q mo
ment; went on. I'm going to tear
down the old cabin at Fallen Rock,
clear out the underbrush. lay out
grounds. and build a house. Why
should leave the F1atwoods7 All
that care for In the world Is here:
my father. my mother. and-you."
The last word came hard for him.
The girl lifted a hurried. shy half.
glance to his face; dropped her eyes
again to the quiet water.
'-The Blue Moon." he went on. Dis
somehcw-well. It oughtn't to pass
from hand to hand for 1ust-money
Mother spent her life for It. I now
know why" There came q pause. 'Tn
never need that flve thousand doIlarA
and maybe Louie Solomon's widow
does. I've arranged with tho sheriff
to send her the draft, and I've kept
the pearl"
The girl softly clasped her hands
together and looked up 1t him with
beaming eyes.
~And maybe I'll get to - IT, after
air
Il think maybe you winI"
He reached into the pocket Of his
blouse. drew out the small velvet bon.
raised the lid. lifted the girl'S hand
and laid the Blue Moon IN hee palm
The sunset. the green Of the leavea
the glory Of q silvsr-edged cloud noat
ing across the sky-the wondered
gem caught them all, and lay Laughing
them up into her face.
wild Rosei" Her eyes left the.
pearl and rose to his face. What she
saw there brought little catch to her
breath. And there was a note in his
voice that had never been there be-
fore. II reckon there's nobody left
but just-you, and-me. And moth
ing In the world counts to me but
you The pearl IL your birthday pres
ent."
Its your birthday. teo." she stam-
mered, her face bowed and turned
away. "And l have no present"
1.-THE most wonderful a man ever re-
ceived! A Wild Rose"
He held out his unwounded arm.
His heart had leaped to his eyes. His
voice held the note that makes all
voices musical. The girl lifted her
face-like the dawn Of day; her eyes
glorious with the light not Of star or
sun; the light 1t is given a man but
once to see. Her hands came toward
him. found their way about his neck.
The sunset stole softly through the
hushed branches and touched their
heads, and bound the two together
the gold and the brown-with shaft
of living bronze. A little breeze came
by, lifted strand of her hair laid It
across his face and slipped away to
tell the trees.
1.-THE END.1