The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1921-08-18
He staggered Against the Wall.

He staggered Against the Wall.
you II one q you touches him he's
goin' to die"
with her gun leveled at the head of
McNoll. Her face was red with anger.
Her eyes glowed. As he looked q tear
welled from a Of them and trailed
down the scarlet surface OF her cheek.
McNoll turned without q word and
walked sulkily out Of the back door.
The others crowded after him. They
ran as soon Al they had got out Of the
door. She left the window. In 4 mo-
ment the young men were galloping
away. "
BIN came into the house sobbing
with emotion but with her head erect.
She stood her gun In . corner and
knelt by the helpless boy. He was
crying also. Her hair fell upon his
face as she looked at the spot Of deep
scarlet color made BY the shot bag.
She kissed 1t and held her cheek
against his and whispered: Don't
cry. It's all over now. Tn going to.
cut these ropes"
It was as IL she had known and
loved him always. She was RE q
young mother with her first child.
Tendepiy she wiped his tears away
with her blond, silken hair. She cut
his bonds ana he rose and stood be-
fore her. Her face changed like
magic.
"Oh what I fool rye been" she
exclaimed.
"Why sol" he asked.
II cried and I kissed you and we
never have been introduced to each
other" s
she covered her eyes with her hair
and with bent head went out Of the
door.
ETH never forget that kiss as long
as I live" said the boy as he followed
her. "Tll never forget your help o
your crying either"
go away from mel won't speak
to you," she said. "Go back to your
work. I'll stay here and keep watch"
The boy returned to his task point
ing up the inside walls but his mind
and heart were out in the sunlight
talking with BIN. Once he looked out
Of the door and saw her leaning
against the neck of the pony, her face
hidden in his NAME. When the sun
was low she came to the door and
said: rs<
you had better stop now and 60
home"
She looked down at the ground and
added:
please, please, don't tell on me-"
"Of curse not" he answered. But
I hope you won't be afraid OF me any
more"
She looked up at him with a little
smile. do you think Tn afraid OF
you p she asked as IL 1t were too alb
surd to be thought Of. She unhitched
and mounted her pony but did not 60.
II do wish you could raise q mus
tache," she said, looking wistfully into
his face. II can't bear to see you
look so terribly young; you get worse
and worse every time ! see you. /
want you to be a regular man right
quick"
He wondered what he ought to. say
and presently stammered: TIN.
tend to. / guess I'm more Of a man
than anybody would think to look at
me"
you're too young to ever fall in
love, I reckon"
mo, I'm not he answered with de.
cision.
"Have you got 4 razor1'' she asked.
mo"
Il reckon. 1t would be d powerful
help. You put soap on your lip and
NOW 1t oh with a razor. My father
says 1t makes the grass grow"
There was a moment OF silence dur
ing which she brushed the name Of
her pony. Then she asked timidly:
do you like yellow hair1'
Eyes, liz it looks like yours"
III you don't mind I'll put q mus
tache on you j~ust--jpst to look AT.
every time 1 think Of you.'
when I think Of you I put violets
In your hair" he said.
He took 4 step toward her 10 he
spoke and as he did 40 she started
her pony. ~ little way OF she checked
him and said:
I'm sorry. There are no Xiolets
now,
She rode away slowly waving her
land and singing with the 10y 0f 4
bird IN tie springtime.
That evening when Harry was help
Ing Samson with the horses he SAID:
I'm going til tell yOu secret.
wish YOU wouldn't say anything about
I'll q f
samson stood pulling TIE hair out
of his card and looking very stern a.
he listened While Harry told of the
assault upon him, and how BIN had
arrived ana driven the rowdiee aWays
with HI nm but a said not word
04 hsr deInAQpstfAtion tendeE y1u,s
6alas haathaAaesshA!s e6I