The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1923-12-27

- WIG INV AS0 IN
Bushes and Stole Toward the Bach
Door of the Cabin.
able WIDOW, ne k1Gehed- He proved t.
be a very studious man. 1t was {
rare thing indeed to see him in day
light when his peering eyes were moi
porting over a book, with another
usually tucked under his arm.
Jack Warhope had not yet climbed
the bluffs to the woods on the morn.
ing of that eventful day that 1ared
forth the startled face of the noun
tain girl with her hurried warning
its dawn still chung to cliff and scar,
and many candles were still alight in
the village, when the preacher left the
parlor bedroom and came out on the
porch.
Texie was already on the lawn, fit
ting about among the flowers and
gathering a bouquet for the breakfast
table.
She was like them-the flowers; as
much a part of the rich life of the
lawn as they. Life-it radiated from
every curve of her plant body it was
the one thought that came first to
mind when looking on her. There
were butterflies in the mellow glow
already arched above the rim of the
east and sitting in through the cool
trees adrip with dew, but she was
more alive than they.
At sight of her, a-tiptoe by a lilac
bush and reaching up for one of its
choicest blossoms, the studious con-
centration left the face of the man on
the porch and there came over his
features a curious sadness-a sadness
touched with fire, as if within him had
suddenly iared up some desperate
battle of the soul.
The girl had heard the step on the
porch. With the coveted blossom in
her hand at last, she placed it with
the others, and turned with a smile Of
sensible frankness.
The precise and studious concentra-
ton instantly returned to the eyes be-
hind the spectacles, the stoop came
back to the capable shoulders, and,
with the quick, mincing step that was
as much a part of him as the frock
coat and neck stock, he came down off
the porch and joined her.
With the stately and somewhat pom
derous courtesy of seventy years ago,
he had taken the shears, begging to
be allowed to cut the flowers, when
the slam of a gate drew their eyes to
the back of the yard. The old banker
was just coming from the barn, his
step leaving the rumpled trail in the
gray dew of the lawn, his rugged face
apparently full of its accustomed
strength and color.
IVY, father, 1 expected you'd stay
in bed a while this morning yet, after
that-fainty spell the other night"
Bed No place FIR a well man after
daylight"-he pulled himself up to the
last inch of his gaunt height; stretched
up his arms; filled his chest with the
air; expelled it with an
explosive exclamation that scared a
couple of blackbirds in the branches
and the crags and battlements
of his grim old face smoothed them
selves out into an expression as near
as they could come to a smile-'an'
l am a well man-it as a fiddle"
But, father, you don't think of
goin' to the-office t'day?"
Jaw, 1 reckon y'u'd all r'ar up If 1
I'm so glad-and won't it be nice t.
have y'u at home all day ag'in! /
wish y'u never would go back t that
horrid OF office ag'in."
The old man put his arm around her
and patted her shoulder.
you're a good gal, Texie. l dunno
what y'ur OF father would do without
y'u, now that-that-"
He stopped; let his eyes stray up
the river and far into the east, all
flushed and spangled with the close
of the sun the girl bent her
head; the preacher stood fumbling the
shears in his hand.
"Mebbe 1 will quit the office one o.
days"
His eyes were still lost in the east;
he spoke as If his heart was there.
daughter raised her head and
searched his face.
you alw'ys say that, but y'u never
do.'
II dunno, better walk out than be
out, they say, an I've come al
nigh that very thing a time r
two-heap nigher"-he brought his
yes back out of the east. noticed the
lurt o8 his daughters face and patted
Ter shoulder.
The sitting-room door opened, and
he portly form Of the housekeeper
appeared on the porch.
There's Mis- Curry" the girl cried.
her fathers arm and inviting
he preacher with her eyes. Break
ast's ready, and our bouquet not half
inished.,'