The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1923-11-22

JACK
She dropped the piece of shale f;
thoughtfuIly passed her fingers over
the names and glanced down at the
foot of the outstanding pinnacle. In
a sheltered pocket Of the great rock,
where only the tempered rays OF the
sun could strike 1t, lay q tiny bed Of
leaf mold set with clumps of yellow
orchids not yet abloom-"lady slip
pers." In the quaint and expressive
vernacular of the Wabash country
that had doubtless been transplanted
from the deep woods.
The girl stopped above the tiny flow
er bed-a friendly spot in its setting
Of stern rocks; plucked away an OBJ
trusive weed or two; let her sobered
eyes stray back to the red-roofed cot
tage, across a small orchard that lay
spread at her feet, and out over the
rather pr~etentious farmstead to which
the orchard belonged.
PretentiOus-just that a promise of
comfort and affiuence never fulfilled.
There was every evidence that the
farmstead had been laid out on a scale
much more elaborate than was usual
in the Flatwoods, but nothing had
been fnished-an attempt that failed |;
a dream that never came true.
Outlined among the weeds and en-
c%roaching brambles lay the extensive
foundation Of the farmhouse, but 1t
had been carried little beyond the
foundation. A few sills-huge squared
logs, cut and hewed In the upland
woods-had been laid. OF the few
timbers Of the superstructure, some
had fallen entirely, others had fallen
at n end and hung straining, while
even the frmest canted far gu Of
plumb.
Back of this creaking skeleton Of
time-blackened timbers, and nearer the
cliff, stood a mite of y log cabin. rude
iy constructed, where doubtless a man
had housed while dreaming his I'M
finished dream of house and barns and
happy homestead. Rooted beside the
door and almost completely covering
the cabin. a crimson rambler of many
years growth-a far wanderer that no
surroundings can degrade-offered a
fragrant suggestion that a woman had
shared the dreams of the man.
Three horses grazed In the barn lot
down neal a big elm that stood at the
road gate; some geese squatted along
the diminutive rivulet leading from
the spring; out in the feed lot lolled
a bunch Of cattle, fine and thrifty as
could have been seen the length of
the Wabash.
The eyes Of the girl suddenly walked
from brooding; darted TO a point a
short distance up the cliff livened.
The SLOUGH hat and drab corduroy
hunting blouse Of a tall young woods
man with an immense spread of Shout
der had fitted past a break In the
bushes as he sprang down the steep
and rugged path that picked its way
among the rocks from The uplands.
She was just In time to see him reach
up, put his hand on the top rail of
the fence and vault over into the barn
lot. The girl missed a breath. Few
men In the Flatwoods could have made
that leap.
Down by the big elm At the road
gate one Of the horses, a powerful
gelding, glossy black save for one
white lock In his foretop. raised his
head; came trotting up the lot. The
big woodsman put his arm about the
arched neck laid his face against the
glossy name and stroked the soft nose.
Good oil Graylock J" he muttered-
bound r free, t you a mans a man"
A shadow subdued the bold frank
ness OF his face. as a chance cloud
draws across a fair field; he gazed
hard at the wind-staggered skeleton
of the unfinished farmhouse.
His rowing eye. following the glow
of approaching sunset. found the girl
upon the rock, her plant body softly
outlined against the silver-green back
ground Of the woods.
"Texie-w'y-!"
In another moment he was racing
up the cliff. The girl was waiting for
him by the outstanding pinnacle OF
sandstone, a half sadness In her eyes
that gradually subdued the eagerness
In his. He laid his big hand on her
shoulder: slid 1t down Ter arm and
gathered her fingers In his great palm.
There was not even q twitch Of re-
Spouse. He dropped the fingers.
backed away a step and stood study
ing her.
Jack? Do y'u know what dag
this Isl" +.
He puzzled to find the answer she
doubtless had In mind; finally ven
tured the only one he could think OF
Tuesday. May 10th. I849."
She hared around at him. "You
Know that Amt what | meaD."
The girl pointed 10 the carved
names on the monolith of sandstone,
lie followed the motion stepped past
her and ran his hand over the three
names. lingering an instant " the
.nfddlA mo