The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1921-02-12

very softly. as if his voice might dis
turb the spell of the music before me
echoes had finished carrying it TO the
rest of the woods.
The leaves hung motioness, as
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.
1.-THE telegram came" he went on
after long time. 1T savs-he
hesitated, as If bordering the next
words before giving them speech. as
If half dreading to give them speech
''that Judge Eskridge is coming Tor
YOU
The words strangely carried the
girls thoughts back TO mother driven
forth to die in loneliness and poverty !;
to a grave on a hill overlooking the
river. where the hand of a friend had
laid her; to a. great. silent house; 10
stern old man relenting In his last
hours
81 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.
81 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 underbrush. lay out
grounds. and build a house. Why
should leave the FlatwOOds? All
that ! care for In the world Is here
my father. my mother. and-you."
The last word came hard for him
The girl lifted hurried. shy half
glance TO his face: dropped her eyes
again to the quiet water.
"The Blue Moor" he went on. Ais--
somehow-weiI, ii oughtn't to pass
from hand to hat d for iust-money
Mother spent her life for 1t. nov
know why" There came pause. I'll
never need that Ave thousand dollars
and maybe Louie Solomon's widow
| does. I've arranged with the sheriff
| to send her the draft. and I've KEEP
the pearl"
The girl softly clasped her hand
together and looked up at him witt
beaming eyes. $50
.And maybe I'll get to see IT. afte
all"
II think maybe you wili!"
/ He reached into the pocket sf hi
| blouse. drew out the small velvet boz
raised the lid. lifted the girls hand
and laid the Blue Moon i'm her pain
The snnse.. the green of the leave:
/ the glory of silver-ed.ed cloud fioa'
ing across the sly-the wonderfr
gem caught them all, and lay iaughin
them M info her face.
"Wiid Rose!" Her eyes left IN
nearl and rose TO his face. What sh
saw there brought little catch TO he
breath. And there was note in HI
voice that had never been there b
fore. 81 reckon there's nobody le'
| hut iust-sou. anime And nsfl
ing in the world counts to me but
YOU. The pearl is your birthday pre-
.ens.'' .as s
~ ..Ifs your birthday. foo" she stan
q mered. her face bowed and turnt
AWAY. .sAsid have no present"
~rhe most wonderful man ever r
ceiyed. "A Wild Rose"
L He held out hts nnwonnded arr
\ His heart had Ienped to his eyes. Fl
voice held the note that makes q
voices musical. The girl lifted1h'
face-like the dawn of day: hersey
glorious with the light not Of star
sun; the light 1t is given man n
once TO see. Her hands came fOwal
him. found their way abont his neck
The sunset stole softly through Il
hushed branches and touched the
heads, and bound the two together
the gold and the brownwifh sha
81 living bronze.se A little breeSe eau
by. lifted a strand Of her hair, iaid
across his face and slipped away
| tell the trees.
fTFyT END1