Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1924-04-17


cramped, uncomfortable pose 20 long.
Several times one Of the women.
and once the doctor. softly opened the
door and peeped In, but they as often
closed II again and left the man to his
silent vigil.
BY the next day she was 30 much
better that the doctor declared her
out of danger--time alone being all
that was necessary to bring her well.
In the serene evening the sun peeped
under the porch roof for one last look
before reluctantly passing on to less
Interesting scenes beyond the gates Of
the west; fell In at the open parlor
window: crossed the floor and just
missed the big old-fashioned sofa. soft
and coy with blankets, where the
woodgman had carried the girl In his
great arms the wonderful landscape
Of lawn and bottoms and winding
river spreading before her.
The woodsman himself sat on q low
footstool at her side. The room had
settled still.
From the kitchen came the low
drone Of voices where Mrs. Curry and
Aunt Liza sat by the cook stove. A
tall old clock In corner of the parlor
taller than the woodsman himself,
with q peasant man and maid on the
face raking hay--punctuated the 81
lence into sort Of drowsy rhythm.
The girl was so still that he thought
she slept. CHANGING around ut her, he
was amazed to see her eyes full Of
tears.
"w'y-what's the matter-r
"Nothing-"
Her lips quivered; she turned her
face away and cried silently. He
picked up her hand; attempted com
forting word. The sprawled dead fig.
ure In the old cabin crossed his mind
the brother In whom she still be-
iieved whose death she still mourned /;
Of whose degradation and deep dis
honor she was haply spared from ever
knowing-and the attempt failed.
She turned back to him after time
brushed away the tears and a brave
suggestion OF the smile that made her
eyes so wonderful frightened them.
Amt II list terrible f'r me T. cry
like this, when y'u're all q good to
mel"
lie hitched the footstool closer 10
the sofa. II surprised him to feel
queer weakness In his breast and
tightness In his throat when he tried
TO speak.
do y'u think y'u're strong enough
q talk--somef'
ivy, ! could GIT up--a'most."
A sudden thoughtfulness displaced
the smile.
ADO y'u remember that letter y'u
give me from Pap Simons las Sat.
urdyr"
The girl raised her eyes.
"T' be opened the day you're TWEEN
ty-one-rve wondered and wondered
what was In IT,"
He looked down at the floor; looked
M again.
"This IL the day"
"Now
I'm twenty-one t'day--and''--free
he was about to say, hut didn't.
us II possible It's only ben six days
sence--"
"Slx days" was his slow comment.
Don't seem like q much could hap
pen In six days-hardly--"
lie fumbled In his blouse; took on,
the letter In Its formidable envelope
held II toward her.
She took II and. glanclng over II,
handed II back. He tore II open and
drew out Its contents.
wlde-eyed. they read II through
a title deed In fee simple to the War
hope homestead. together with all
stock and betterments and growing
crops thereon. duly conveyed and exc
cuted 10 Jack warhope: and. folded
inside the deed. bank draft In his
favor for ten thousand dollars.
The man stared at the girl. the girl
stared at the man.
I'm b1ievin' Pap Simon meant q |
do this all along" he unused ut last. |
"T can see II now, as l look back. |
That's why he was s. good 10 me. Meb |
he'--he hesitatsd. "that's why he had |
me--bound--"
Pore father '"--the girls eyes
strayed away 20 where the silver con.
tour Of the river trimmed the botto
1T was hls--way."
He let loose the deed. leaving II In
her hand. She turned back from the
silver-rlmmed bottoms and glanced II
over again.
wy. II was made out only last Fri
day--he never knowed II. but that was
iady-slipper day--and so he made Il q
big day-after ALL
Very slowly. with the tightness stiil
al his throat. the woodsman took out
his pocketbook and laid q fiattened vel
low orchld In the girls palm.
Il found II there at the edge Of Mud
haul, where you got on the house-boat.-
The girl fimbled the nattened hos
som In her hand: the color OF return.
Ing health tingled into her cheeks.
"rhe one you found that--day," she
stammered. She lifted a tiny glance
M 10 him from under her long iashes
let her eyes stray far out across the
bottoms toward Alpine island. pore
Kanf uaplin. mad - An. n