The Yale expositor., 1921-03-17


word, do you suppose? And why
should any word prevent you falling
heir to his fortune,-your fathers %
81 wondered about that guess it's
just lawyer talk. DO you think /
should answer that letter."
81 think you should"
but what would | say? AS I said
while ago, never wrote letter"
Neither did l." He saw the answer
ala not relieve the perplexity on the
thoughtful face, and went on. But
I'd tell him about your life here, and
about your fathers-accident, and
that this is the first letter you've re-
ceived for seven years" He hesitated,
seemed to study his next word finally
added: And / believe I'd ask him to
come; yes, l believe would-asx him
to come"
why, Of course; why couldn't
think of that? Now you'd better lie
down while l get You mite of sup
per-"
In an instant he was on his feet,
protesting.
u shall have to get supper for
Daddy, anyhow" she emphasized.
"And l wouldn't think of letting you
go without"
When woman talks like that, It's
no use to argue. The Pearlhunter
didn't-which shows that he was
learning-fast.
"Will you eat with me agaln?"
She swept him a deep courtesy.
IF the famous finder OF the Blue
Moon Is not ashamed to eat with his
cook"
He bowed low. 1t cost him a pang
in his side, but it didn't get to his
face.
IF the rich heiress Miss Hesper
Dawn, is not above eating with the
the Pearlhunter-"
Wonderful is the residence Of youth.
With gay laugh she danced away to
the kitchen. He tramped after her.
His two old friends. the Boss and
dour-faced Bull Masterson, would
have been astonished at the sounds
that came through that kitchen door.
The slow, deliberate, serious-faced
Psarlhunter He was dancing abou,
the cook stove. carrying dishes. and
laughing as lightly as If half the
neighborhood was not out hunting him
with every sort Of weapon the Flat
woods could furnish.
That supper! Bacon and eggs,
brown toast, and coffee And the
hands that poured that coffee and put
the sugar in, and spread the toast 1t
had TO he eaten in semidarkness, for 1t
wouldn't do to risk a candle-semi-
darkness, but not in silence. He for
got that the girl just around the cor
ner Of the table had turned out to he
rich helress-the princess" of his
fairy story-while he was only the
man without a name.
Twilight at the windows warned
him that the dark was lowering like q
night raven over the woods. His time
had come. The business Of man was
afOOt.
She closed the stove hearth to hioe
the fire light. He opened the east
door of the kitchen. once more the
grave. cautious woodsman. She held
out her hand; he laid it upon the arm
In the sling; covered ii with his own
"Wild Rose!" he said you'll al
ways be that, no matter what they call
you"
The fancy went through him that
her hand thrilled, ever so slightly, up
on his arm. He closed his great palm
over It,
"The woods shall be safe tomorrow
for you-and me-" he said, and fol-
lowed the words with the bOldest act
Of his life-picked up the hand from
his arm and laid It to his lips. The
next instant he had slipped away into
the gathering night.
Buried in the bushes, he spared a
second to look back. She was still In
the dark frame Of the door.
A sound like the passing Of whis-
per, like the breeze playing with soft
leaves, caught his quick ear A gray
Wild Man Of the Flatwoods
fitted along under the cliffs and en-
tered the cabin.