Okolona messenger., 1921-10-06

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grope idly In the snow At her side, and
she did, feel the cold. suddenI,
she realized that her hand was full
Of shavIngH. whittlingR Seme mar
had been sitting there whiting with
q pocket knife-lt must have been 1
man, for who ever heard Of q woman
whittlingi She felt In the snow with
both hands, and found more whiting
there were bushels OF whittlIngs, Il
seemed to her, lying there under the
snow.
Then she wondered wondered who
1t could have been.
It was quite dark now, but the moon
was not yet up. A great bright star
blazed above David Moreland's tomb
like q beacon fire. She heard the muf.
fed sounds Of slow masculine foot.
steps In the snow behind her. She
did not turn her head. In her soul
she knew 1t could be but one man.
Bill Dale's head was down, and he
moved as though he neither knew nor
cared whittier he went. Then he saw
the dark heap on the rivers bank be-
fore him, and he halted. He knew in
his soul that 1t could be but one wom-
an.
Dale went on and sat down on q
stone the size Of small barrel that
lay at the rivers rim.
"Babef" he said. 1t was the mating
call Of his heart in the springtime Of
his life.
who d-dOne all O. this whittlin'.
Bill2" asked Elizabeth.
II did," softly.
"But thought you were so busy
herel It's nobody but idlers, Of
course, that whittles-that Is, most O.
the time It's nobody but idIers that
whittles."
But I'm not busy on Sundays, y
know replied Dale.
"TeIl me this" Elizabeth asked
pointedly: What made you come to
this one spot to do your whIttlin'2
Couldn't you whittle up there in my
daddy's cabin yardT'
He answered her unhesltatingly:
Because like to be here. This
place is a shrine to me. It was here
that ! first loved you, Babe. Now you
tell me this: Why did you come to
this particular spot to sit down in
the snow? There's snow In your dad
dy's cabin yardI"
Said Elizabeth, in voice that sound.
ed smothered: Because like to be
here-this place Is shrine to me,
tOO-it was here that l first loved you,
Bill Dale!"
Then why" he demanded, won't
you marry met"
Because it was me that shot-Ad.
am Ball."
She went on, and though emotion
had set every fibre of her to Qulvering,
she did not fall into the old hill talk.
which was proof Of the magnincence
of her:
Il thought you wouldn't want me
II You knew that / did that, and l
couldn't marry you without telling you.
But you know nowl And do what
ever you feel like doing or saying. you
can't hurt me;, ! can never be hurt
any-any m-m-m-mOre-"
Bill Dale shot erect. Truly, this
was day Of surprises for him. He |
stopped and caught her up.
"A real woman |" he said happily,
Strengthening with her in his arms. "A
real, all gold, pure gold woman! You
loved me well enough to kill man
to save me, and wouldn't let me know
It! Woman is mystery, sure enough.
But perhaps it's because women are
30 fine and so far above menfolk that
cannot understand then.
Well, Babe, kitten. must / drag you
to the altar, or will you go with me
If your own accord?"
She put her arms around his neck
and drew them tight.
I'D 60 with you, Bill DaIe-or David
Moreland, whichever 1t is-to the very
asst inch of the end Of the world" she
said.
Early the next morning, there came
'trOlling lazIly up the rivers bank
all and lanky mOuntalneer who wore,
lmOng other things, Niagara Falls
nustache and cowhide boots that
eemed ridiculOusly short because Of
he great length Of his slender legs.
he carried a rifle in the hollow Of one
lrm; he was looking for rabbit-tracks
n the snow. Near the pool above the
'lown-down sycamore, he came upon
racks that had not been made by any
our-foOted animals. There were the
footprints Of man coming from one
Erection, and the footprints Of wom-
N coming from another direction;
'nly the footprints Of the man went
way toward Ben LlttIeford's cabin.
By Heck was puzzled. "Here comes
Bill" he frowned. "and over here
ONES Babe. And thar. as plain as
ay, goes Bill; but what become O.
'abe? Whar In the name o. the DEVILS
et ridin'-hoss did she 60 to-? Not
traight up, shorelyi"
He scrutinized the signs with the
eye Of the born woods
ian. Then he grinned broadly and
MD to himself:
ssWell. dang nv forrard and hlast