The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1923-01-24
Periwinkle House

early for the hills. but she was afraid
lest he might have changed his mind
She heard him moving about, but she
waited long time before she went to
meet him. so sweet IL was to stand
there at the window to catch the first
ray Of the sun.
The old man hummed jagged tune:
In a garden Of melody It would have
been a briar. Nadine came out, and
CALAMITY he kissed her hand, laughing
softly; and then as was his wont, he
kissed her hair.
Her duties about the house were
light, but he helped her. and when
their queer assortment Of plates and
dishes. gold-rimmed china, crockery,
stoneware and tin plate had been
washed and put away. they sat In the
shade Of the house, the girl anxious
and wondering.
II have sent Tony back TO the ceety,
as I tell you I will he said TO her.
"He does the good work TO burn the
spy. the carpetbaggair. Now he have
spree. with the red wine an the white
When the time come. he be back. 1
have need of heem with the cattle that
1 buy. He drive them Up TO the
town Natchez l have trouble The OF
scoun'rel Bethpage, go in the tav',
an he Is there. sing, laugh. eat an
look at the darby dance. wait Then
l 20 up. We have words. He jump
up. Then the young man, big. he
grab my wrist like this. He squeeze.
I say: Monsieur you was YER strong.
I see you again. An when I do. l
keel heem. 1 hear old Bethpage call
him Vergeel. The old man 1 keel too,
ehT"
"Oh, no-no" she cried Let
US go away somewhere. They will
never let you alone. 1t will be better
to be in the city than here"
"Just a little while longer we stay
in this place. Ell? Then we'meet Mon
sieur Boyce in Memphis. an you mar
" him. an he take you away for the
honeymoon. per'aps to France. An
he buy you the silk dresses. an many
beautiful things. An then / come and
Join you. an We all live happy-eh:'
~But-but I do not Ike Monsieur
Boyce,"
Hal You learn soon He is a fine
man. Wait till we see him IN Mem
phis an you know him better. You
will love him then. an be happy. :.
go now. Au revoir. ma p'tite.'
Stepho went down to his boat, feel
Ing that he had outwitted her impa-
thence Of the swamp, and she ran back
TO her room TO gaze through the win
dow. But soon she came out with
a big Battle-Ground book OF plays and
put II on the ground beneath the oaks.
Then with a broom made Of stiff twigs
she swept the ground. unstrung cat
erpillar swinging down and carried ii
away out of the range Of her stage.
From the house she brought a narrow
strip Of rush mating. spread II be
meath a tree. raising one edge as II
to form of II sort OF back. a sofa.
From the house she brought a box. 10
serve for q table. and from out he
yond the palisade of cane she gath
cred Hies. plucking from the bank a
great bloom that looked Ike a trum-
pet. These she hung on the low-sway-
ing branches Of her playhouse trees.
or with sharp thorns pinned them 10
the rugged back. curtain to drape
the wall above her "pretend-like- d.
VIM. She sat down and waited long
time. The cane stirred. and she seized
her book, opened where q lily-stem
marked her favorite play. and made
herself believe that she was reading.
II was only q breeze that rusrled in
the cane. She could hear 1t now. lisp
ing amid the glossy leaves above her.
Why should she be impatient; She
could wait. Had she not waited night
after night for her fathers footstep7 !
Had she not sat In the house. alone ]
md not afraid. when the storm /
tangled the tons Of the cypress trees /
md dashed the bayou mad?
She had not heard a sound. but look /
ng by chance. she saw brace coming 4
through the cane. and she sprang up 1
20 meet him. the play-book pressed 4
against her bosom.
Nadine"
"MOnsieuri"
Don't call me Monsieur Cal me /
Virgil"
She dropped her book. He bent 10
lick il up. but she Snatched Ii from
'eneath his reaching hand and stood
'ack from him.
'Oh. it was you. then, II was you
he so strong man that would break
ny fathers wrist. II was Won -
Nadine. il was not 10 hurt him.
With knife he would have killed IN
I'D man; and then they would have
ianged him. Nadine. my other hand
eld yours. to protect YOU"
ut must be true. I will believe you
Virgil. know you brave and not
Wish to hurt an old man. No. you
ould not do that. You will forgive
ne. yes?"
She held forth her hand and taking
tenderly, he touched ii with his lips;
.@.<.t o. s,N