Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1923-07-21
ANY PORT

BY MoLLIE MATTER

/ ms uIst iupies6lOL was OF q searls.
blur against the somber sky. Ia-ar -
discovered that the young wona.
wore a scarletIined cape
| The young woman continued n la.,
upon the fence, her arms crosses :.
fore her. King waited irresolsra n.
was so boyishiy eager to make -
quaintance, so apprehensive Of n.
small creatures disdaln Again ~
summoned courage.
I'm this part of the world Gala
King, cheerfully. ut is the custom -
address strangers without latro5uo.
ton And" his engaging smile Mead.
ed with her-"those of us from ia,
away are mighty darned lonesome fl,
home folks"
The smile that few could resist mo,
the cold barrier of the girls blue ewes.
she merely drew the collar of her csns
closer and continued to watch tbe
blowing Of the tall grass. King sighed
audibly and passed on his way.
'Who is she?" he asked Of his man.
of-all-work as he sat at table for bls
evening meal. He described the in.
| terestirg stranger to Joe.
Mean the girl with the black hair
an the red cape?" Joe asked. "stoD.
ping at Brooks placer She came here
to get the Western air TO heal m her
throat, so she can sing again. On the
way to be a great singer, Brooks says
when something went wrong with her
throat and queered 1t all. Brooks wife
is a cousin, and l guess she's glad
enough, on the lonely ranch TO have
woman company-if the girl IS com
pany; always seems to be incoming
over her lost voice, or something, out
In the fields by herself. First you've
seen her today?"
"The very first" answered the en-.
gineer.
Supper hastily finished, he set out
determinedly for the Brooks home
The ranch had been left to the
young man by an eccentric but wealthy
relative, upon condition that he make
good there. Brooks wife had Loyalty
accompanied her ambitious husband to
the mans land" She greeted King
gratefully. II am sorry" Mrs Brooks
regretted, when he frankly made his
errand known. paula will not meet
anyone. She has been spoiled, am
afraid, by too many admirlng friends
or perhaps the disappointment about
her lovely voice, after years Of train
ing, is wearing upon her I ho,'a'
Brooks wife added, that you WIN not
fall in love with Paula, as men 10
general do. She's as independent as
she is charming and, heretofore has
cared for men only to lord Il over
them. Now, that's the truth
A low laugh followed the warning
and King looked up to see the one dis
cussed standing, her cape across her
arm, in the doorway. The blue eyes
were twinkling now and she was en-
trancing when she smiled.
Not as bad as all that the gf
amended. "It is only that J am quite
7cient unto myself, so why botberF
She was gone In vain he tried 70
find her as he went his homeward way
During weeks which followed he
saw her often in the fields-loveIy al
ways hopelessly aloof.
The warning of his friends wife bad
not saved King; he was in love Al
| first he blamed the solitude for me
constant haunting thought Of her-no
other woman had so obsessed hin-
Then he realized that this was me
miracle of love which must cone 10
every man.
His heart was heavy as he crossed
one evening, the stretch Of barren ianl
that led to the workmen's cabin
this hour they would have departed
for the night and he might De alone
with his overwhelming disappointment
Paula, the desired. Mrs Brooks aaa
told him, was leaving upon The io.-o".
ing day. and she would thus pass 0-
of his life with no word. He sat %
] lON SttUl Ut lllt DAAH N-
and lit his pipe. Absently he aeara
downpour of rain upon the raof. ha-l
that swept In torrents across '17
empty spaces.
Into the shaking hut rushed reL
soaked figure. BreathlesS. %
slender form dropped, as # IN
on the floor. King was there nj .-7
raising the girl in his arms.
ST was crossing the fields 5
painted, when I went out OF
and when the storm came I f
self-here. I was almost
when found your cabin 5a.s
came in to be sheltered.
Gently Kings arms closed .
trembling figure. Vi.
Paula" he said, low and
unbelieving.
1T was any port IN
Paula said, her laughter music
1T was fate" King spoke
1.-THE storm drove you 70 me
OF my heart. because I wanIei
Paula peered near IN The e
to look into his eyes.
We'll" she admitted, 49,