The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1923-09-21

told me your name. Haven't you an
curiosity about me7~
YES" said Joan; I've thought
great deal about you" She wrinkle,
her wide brows. "You must have beef
out after game, though twas out o
season. And you must have heard m,
a-cryin' out an come In. That wal
right courageous, stranger. I woult
surely like you 70 know why 1 com.
away with you" she went on, wistfu
and weak. "but l don't know as how
can make 1t plain to you" She
paused, turning the blue jar In her
hand. you're very strange to me-
she said, IAN yet, someways, you
takin' care of me so well an 500
awful kind" her voice gave forth Its
tremolo of feeling-"seems like ]
knowed you better than any other per.
son In the world"
A flush came into his face.
II wouldn't like you to be think
In" She stopped. a little breathless.
He took the jar, sat down on the
bed, and laid hand firmly over both
| I
thing" he said, "only what you would
like me to think. Llsten-when a man
finds wounded bird out in the win
ter woods, he'll bring 1t home to care
for 1t. And he won't be thinking the
worse of it's helplessness and tame
ness. OF course | know-but tell me
your name, pleasei"
Joan Landis"
At the name, given painfully, Joan
drew a weighted breath, another, then.
pushing herself up as though oppressed
beyond endurance, she caught at
Prosper's arm. clenched her fingers
upon 1t, and bent her black head In a
terrible paroxysm Of grief 1t was like
a tempest. Prosper thought Of storm
driven, rain-wet trees wild in wind
Of music, the prelude to Ellie
gende Hollander." Joan's weeping
bent and rocked her. He put his arm
about her, tried to soothe her. At her
cry of ''Pierre Pierre" he whitened,
but suddenly she broke from him and
threw herself back amongst the pill
lows.
moaned. "What hev l to do with |
your"
1t was not the last time that bitter
exclamation was to rise between /
them; more and more fiercely 1t came
to wiring his peace and hers. This time
he bore 1t with certain philosophy,
Gained her patiently.
"H0w eould 7 holm n Too,o, ~ |
pleaded. you saw how It was?v AS
she grew quieter, he talked 'I heard
you scream like a person being tor
fured to death-twice--a grewsomc
enough sound. let me tell you, to hear
IN the dead Of a white, still night.
1idnt altogether want to break into
your house. I've heard some ugly
stories about men venturing to dis
urb the work of murderers. But, you
Zee, Joan, I've fear of myself. I've
cruel brain. I can use 1t on my own
ailures- I've been through some self
OF course, you don't
Understand all that. Anyway, {
came in. In great fear of my life, /
nd saw what l saw-a woman tied I
p and devilishly tortured, a man l
loating over her helplessness. Natural /
7. before / spoke my mind, as a man I
'as bound to speak 1t. under the pain y
nd fury of such a spectacle, I got
eady to defend myself. Your
was a biting contempt
! his tone-"saw my gesture, whipped
ut his gun, and fred. My shot was
alf second later than his. l might
ore readily have lost my life than
ken his. If he had lived. Joan, could r
~ have forgiven him?'
NO" sobbed Joan; II think not"
he trembled. HE said terrible hard =
ords to me. He didn't love me like -
loved him. He planned to put a
and on me SOS I cd be his own like
If | was beast belongin' to him.
r Holliwei. said right, don't be-
ng to no man. belong to my own
IT,"
The storm had passed into this
,ubled after-tossing OF thought.
Can you tell me about it all?" an
ked Prosper. "Would it help?" fo
II couldn't" she moaned; mo, / de
nldn't Only-if l hadn't "a left NC
ERIE allyn there alone. A dog that tie
d onct loved him wouldn't "a done ale
IT." She sat up again, white and is
Id. That's why must go back. l no,
st surely go. | must Oh, l - ly
so back thirty miles through wet ing
Nv when you can't walk across the has
I'M, Joan?" He smiled pityingly. tina
Can't you go back?" She turned fed
'olate, haunted eyes upon him. ooh, hay
1T you?-to do some kindness to
d? Can you ever stop thinkin' of V
J lynn there?" ia
'rosper's face was hard through its pou
tieness. 'T've seen too many dead ser,
D. less deserving OF death. But. mix
h l-you lie down and go to sleep. IL
try to manage II. I'll try to get sho
k and show him some kindness. as mn,
say. Therel win you be a good for
now?" h,,s,
he fell back and her eyes shone ing
r gratitude upon him. "Oh, you in =