The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-02-08
ing your friends, Mr. Sanders. she

ing your friends, Mr. Sanders she
said lightly.
cts walk" she continued, and
he noticed that the eyes, and mouth
had softened to a tender smile. 81
can't talk here, Daye.".
They walked out OF tho town into
the golden autumn sunlight OF the
foothills. Neither Of them spoke.
She carried herself buoyantly. chin
up, har face a flushed cameo Of
loveliness. As she took the uphill
trail small breath Of wind wrap
ped the white skirt about her slen.
der limbsl He found In her a new
note, one Of unaccustomed shyness.
The silence grew at last too sig.
niticant She was driven TO break
It
S"I suppose I'm foolish" she be.
gan haltingly. but had been ex.
pectlng-all Of US had--that when
you came home from-from Denver
the first time, | mean-you would
be tho old Dave Sanders we all
knew and liked. We wanted our
friendship toto help mako up to
you for what you must have sui.
Tered. We didn't think you'd hold
US on like this"
"lt I could tell you!" He said 1t
In a whisper, TO himself, but she
just caught the words.
Won't you try?" she said. ever
so gently.
He could not sully her innocence
by telling of the furtiye whisper.
ings that had fouled the prison life,
made OF It IN experience degrading
and corrosive. He told her, in.
stead, Of the externals OF that OK,
istence, Of how he had risen,
dressed, eaten, worked, exercised,
and slept under orders. He describ,
ed to her the cells, four by seven
by seven, barred, built III tiers.
faced by narrow iron balconies,
each containing a stool, chair, a
shelf, bunk. J.
When he had finished he knew
that he had failed. She wept for
pity and murmured, "You poor boy
You poor boy!"
He tried again, and this time he
drew the moral. Don't you sec, I'nt
q marked man-marked for llfe,"
He hesitated, then pushed on.
You're fine and clean anti gcner.
ous-If come too near you, don't
you see l faint you?"
'Fiddlesticks! You're q man who
has been done a'wrong. After oil.
you've been found innocent"
THAT isn't what counts. I've
been in tho penitentiary. Nothing
can wipe that out. The stain OF IT'S
on me and can't DO washed away"
She turned on him with a little
burst Of feminine ferocity. How
dare you talk that way, Dave San
ders! ] want to be proud Of you,
We all do. But how can we be ii
you give up like a quitter?"
Tho color crept into his face.
Tim not quitting. The point is
whether I'm to ask my friends to
carry my load for me-"
What are your friends for?" she
demanded, and her Dyes were like
stars lin+a. field OF snow. Don't you
seeTits on insult to assume they
don't want to stand with you in
yol1r trouble? You've been warped,
You're eaten up with vain pride"
joyce bit her lips TO choke hack q
swelling In her throat"
But you've got to look at this nv
way, too" he urged. II can't repay
your fathers kindness-yes, and
yours, toby letting folks coup,e
your name, even in friedshlp, With
q man who"
She turned on him, glowing with
color. Nov that's absurd, Dave
Sanders. I'm not IA nice little
china doll. I'm q flesh.and.biood
IGirl. And I'm not statue on n
pedestal. Let's stop this foolish.
ness and be sureonough friends
Dave"
He took her outstretched hand in
his brown palm, smiling down at
her. All right. l know when I'm
beaten"
"And now don't know whether
I've done right" she said ruefully.
Dad warned me I'd better be care.
You've done me a million dol.
lars, worth of good. Please dont
regret it."
well, l won't" She added. ia a
hesttant murmur. "You won't-mis.
understand"
His look turned aside the long.
iashed eyes and brought a faint
flush OF pink to her cheeks"
mo, III not do that" he said.
CHAPTER Xxx,
Up in the hills back Of. Bear
Canon two men were camping
Nights well be hfttin' thn fraIIn