The state herald., 1921-01-11

drinking In every word, frightened hil
fingers reassuringly upon her hand.
II answered never q word.
couldn't" she faltsred on. "My breast
was hollow; empty as . gray sky.
".The lady can answer that heard
the voice Of the-other man sneer.
There was . cry. and your fathei
sprang at him. The maids screamed
I uncovered my eyes. expecting to look
upon death. But the-other man leaped
through the window and was gone.
"Your father put the Inaids out Of
the room and stood over me. dared
not look up. His face-it was ter.
rtblel Once he raised his great arm
to strike. I've prayed thousand
times he had-it would have saved me
many death.
"'You-! But I'll not speak the
name that belongs to you His voice
was hard; hoarse: awful. And be-
lieved you'll There's the window-still
open Go, II you want him! I'm
through with your
"He strobe out at the door and
slammed II after him. have never
seen him since" The Iron-Gray-
Woman shuddered: turned her face
toward the strong rocks above the
trees. II remember I took one step
after him. knew nothing more till
some time late In the night, when
waked with your crying and found my
self lying face down upon the floor.
My heart grew hard rs quieted you.
He probably thought to find me next
morning all tears and repentance-for
a sin Of which was as Innocent as
the babe at my breast. I would show
him that my blood was proud rs his.
Wrapping you In your cradle clothes.
I mufiied cloak about me and stole
from the house; stole down to the riv-
er. There loosed a skin, whose.
never knew. lay down In the stern and
set It adrift. There was not q star.
Only the moon looked down out Of the
dull sky. pale and sickly and rimmed
with red: the gray sky my bosom; the
sickly moon my heart I rose and tried
to row. but a faIntness came over me
and lay down again in the skin.
THE next I knew I was on rude
bed In q houseboat miles down the
river. with q kindly family Of pearl
fishers. They told me had been sick
for 4 long time. When I grew strong.
I sold my jewelry. all but my wedding
ring-that saved for your sake
bought this houseboat, and became Q
pearl fisher. You know the rest"
The Iron-Gray-woman fell silent I:
rocked softly back and forth time or
two; allowed the chair to settle still.
The man reached an arm around her
shoulders and drew her head over
upon his breast. The little act Of ten
derness seemed to touch her deeply.
For 4 long time the tears flowed on
while the young man knelt and mar
veled.
Mother" he said very gently at last.
stroking her hair. "we must 20 back
to him."
He felt her quiver ut the word. She
sat for long time staring down at
the floor.
"For your sake-we must" she an.
swered at length. "But not until you
are twenty-one. or-we find the pearl
the pearlv'
"I3ut am twenty -one In June-this
June-the twentieth: and this is the
thirteenth" The man was trembling
with nm eagerness he could not con.
ceal. THE time Is SO near-hls name
my fathers nnme!'
He searched her wet eyes for the
answer. In all his life. II was the first
time the curtain that hid his past had
ever raised. It must have been ths
fever that made her speak now. Il
was no light matter to unlock that
| door: to probe n wound OF twenty
years. She trembied up from her
chair. her eyes wide and wild.
"Your father" The young man,
too. hnd risen. She clutched his arm.
"Your father"
The words seemed to choke her.
There came u torrent Of coughing
and the man gently eased her back
into the chair.
As he stopped over her. anxious "a
do something to alleviate her suffer.
Ing, yet not knowing whnt, she raised
her face In n gasp for breath. and he
saw blood upon her lips. He snntched
another cup Of water and kneit beside
her. but for a long time she bumped
forward. her shoulders cupped In nnd
her arms locked ms II trying TO hold
back the cough. until she seemed nc
tunliy to conquer Il by theer force oi
will. Finally she CROPPED with ons
hand for tho cup; supped the cool We
ter. Strengthened. and lny back In heI
chair. There was no more blood of
her lips. and the man I'D nothing oi
the tiny hcck he had se,n there.
"Mothcr. they're getting worse
these spells. Let me bring the doctoI
down from the villnge."
"Ths Man In The Fasey