Cleveland County herald., 1921-01-20
the three gables few days for com


 | pany.
 The Pearlhunter came from the vil4 lage in the still evening. Along the l dim, slim path through the woods he came, against the face of the sunset The swing and spring of a master of men was in his stride, for he carried in his pocket telegram addressed to man with a name at last to David Wulf Warbritton. The telegram told of two fortunes awaiting down the l river, of houses and lands, and advfs- ing that Judge Eskridge was on his way.
 Near the turn of the path he stopped and stood listening. The song of thrush was charming the silence. Only, the song carried a certain delicious, elusive witchery that no bird throat ever knew. He stole along the path, stopped and stood with barred head.
 Upon the fiat rock at the pool stood the Wild Rose, the tears running down her face, her lips and throat alive with the magic of song A lady cardinal | perched upon her shoulder. r. Ling cardinal fidgeted and twitched his crest on an overhanging twig that almost brushed her hair. A pair of shy thrushes 1uttered and fitted in reach of her hand. Other birds walked up and down nearby branches, or darted down for hurried peck at the crumbs she had scattered over the rock. The tears drowned the blue; the song ceased. The birds f1uttered away one by one. The girl bowed her head and stood with clasped hands, gazing 1 down at the quiet water.
 The mans step reused her. She turned, and her hands unclasped as if to reach toward him-but instantly l clasped themselves again. He turned from the path, stepped out on the rock 1 and came to her side. A moment her eyes met his, and then went back to the placid water, and she stood crying softly.
 She turned back to him after time, poor little half-drowned smile strug- gIed out and brought a suggestion of | the dimples back.
 q had to tell theml" she said
 Ut was wonderful !" he answered very softly, as if his voice might dis turb the spell of the music before the echoes had finished carrying it to the rest of the woods.
 The leaves hung motionless, as if 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 a long time. Tt says"-heI hesitated as if pondering the next i words before giving them speech, as if half dreading to give them speech-l that Judge Eskridge is coming for you"
 The words strangely carried the girls thoughts back to mother driven forth to die in loneliness and poverty l; to a grave on hill overlooking the river, where the hand of a friend had laid her; to a great, silent house; to | stern old man relenting in his last hours
 l q 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.
 q shan't either" He paused a mo- ment; went on. "I'm going to tear down the old cabin at Fallen Rock, clear out the undefbrush, lay out grounds, and build a house. Why should I leave the Flatwoods? All that I 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, '1s- somehow-well, it oughtn't to pass from hand to hand for just-money! Mother spent. her life for it. I now know why" There came a pause 'pu never need that five thousand dollars, and maybe Louie Solomon's widow does. I've arranged with the sheriff to send her the draft, and I've kept the pearl"
 The girl softly clasped her hands together and looked up at him with beaming eyes.
 And maybe I'll get to see it, after all"
 q think maybe you wiIlp'
 He reached into the pocket of his blouse, drew out the small velvet box. raised the lid, lifted the girls hand. and laid the Blue Moon in her palm The sunset, the green of the leaves, the glory of a silver-edced cloud float
 
 gem caught them all, and lay laughing them up into her face.
 "Wild Rose!" Her eyes left inc pearl and rose to lis face What sbe saw there brought a little catch to her breath. And there was note in his i voice that had noVeT Fe9n TneFe De fore q reckon there's nobody left but just-you, and-me And noth- ing in the world counts to me but l you. The pearl is your birthday pres