The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1921-04-14

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quick, sweet, and I'll jump to du II -
The woman began to cry softly.
go on, Edie," said Uriah. why
In HI are you blubberin' over
thing you can't help?"
But i can help it," cried Edith.
"And what's more | wiz. Run away,
baby, and I'll have it out with your
pop while you're gone"
Devon reached forward and laid
strong OBTAINING hand on the girls
arm.
IT'S this" he got out between his
teeth. you got to get married. You
been Twin on me long enough"
The girl stared at him blankly.
Get married." she repeated duly.
who'd marry brat like me? I'm
nothin' but kid yet, and I'm goin' to
stay right here with my mother. Sect
don't have to-do l, mummy darlin'"
"Ytur mas word amt law On this
boat" answered Uriah in an ugly
tone. mine is, though. Fire ahead.
Edie, and tell the kid my will"
Mrs. Devon coughed spasmOdically
and tOyed with the fabric of her skirt.
A slender brown hand went up and
closed over her twitching fingers.
81 wouldn't marry any of the NUTS
you know, daddy" the girl burst out
in desperation. $50 get that notion
clean out of your mind"
Her face settled sullenly into little
lines that pursed up the lovely young
mouth. and Uriah Devon moved his
feet nervously. Perhaps his task
wasn't going TO he so easy after all.
Kid" he said huskily, "if you don't
do what you're told, I'll make you.
You amt too old to CAD yet. And
you'll be missin' one OF the best lick
ms you ever got if you mind what
tell YOU"
The girl eyed him curlously, making
a sidewise gesture with her head.
"Who's the duffer you've chose out
for me?" she asked at length. you
might as well tell me-"
"My friend, Reggie" ssid Devon.
bending over and staring at her.
Tonnibel's mouth widened until two
rows of teeth cleaned through the red
Of her lips. She made wry face
"Nothin' like that for me-eh Elder
Edith Devon was coming to a resol,S-
ton that meant trouble for herself and
| for TOnnibel.
81 amt fought II all out with your
daddy, kid" she SMILED weakly. "You
| get to the cabin and mend them old
clothes"
Uriah Devon laid his pipe beside
him and uttered an oath.
"Youll stay right here. brat" he
grtted, "and pay heed to me"
"Uriah." screamed the woman. IF
you go on with this, TIL tell 'er all
know. l swear | will. Tony, honey,
Tony, baby, II amt"
With a roar the man sprang forward
and in his effort to reach his wife
When Tonnihel rolled over and sat up,
her mother was stretched along the
boat rail. and Devon was standing
over her. She lay so dreadfully still
and limp that the girl scrambled to
her feet.
|
come fearfully to them but n short
period before with the little pig in her
arms; nor the same girl who had
swung in the treetops making play
fellows of the squirrels and answering
the shrill calls of the forest birds. She
seemed suddenly to have grown taller,
and as she flung herself on Devon, the
|
him sprawling against the side of the
cabin. "Now you killed her, d-n
YOU" she screamed. "If you kick 'er
-Tll-Tll-" She dropped at the side
of her mother, her threat broken in
two by the awful pallor on the wom-
ans face. "Oh. God, mummy darln',
mummy darlin'." she ended in a Bit
ter cry.
Growing in rage, Devon turned on
her.
"Mebbe | have killed err" said he.
eff so, I'll make a good job of it and
finish YOU too"
The girl rose before him. her eyes
blazing into his, her little fists
clenched together.
"Folks that murder other people,
Parpy Devon" she shot back, get
strapped in chair, and they get
lightning run through 'em. Go on and
finish up! Go on and finish me! I'd
ruther have sou kill me than make me
marry that old Reggie"
AS If his name had brought him out
of the forest, Reginald Brown walked
down the Hoghole path.