The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-11-19
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a 49, g..
feet upon Tom and Jerry. Theis
compassion increased when they
leaned how Sam Kirby had been
taken off and how Rouletta had been
brought to this desperate pass. The
story of her devotion. her sacrifice,
reused their deepest pity, and in the
heat Of that emotion they grew soft
This mcllowing process was not
sudden; no spirit of forgiveness was:
appa.en: in either of the pair. Far
from it. Both remained sullen, I'M
reienting; both maintained the same
icy front. They continued to ignore
each others presence and they ex-
changed speech only with Doret.
Nevertheless. their sympathy had
been stirred and 4 subtle change had
come over them. r..
This change was most noticeable
in Linton. AS the night wore on dis
tressing memories. memories he con-
sidered long dead and gone. arose
to harass him. 1t was true that he
had been unhappily married, but
time had cured the sting of that ex-
perienee, or 50 he had believed. He
discovered now that such was not
the case: certain incidents of those
forgotten days REQUIRED with pois-
nant effect. He had experienced the
dawn of fathers love. a fathers
pride; he lost himse in a mclan-
eholy consideration of what NIGH,
have been had not that dawn been
darkened How different, how full.
how satisfying, il As he looked
down upon the fair, fever. flushed
face of this girl he felt an unac-
customed heartachc. a throbbing pity
and a yearning tenderness. The
hand with which he stroked the hair
back from her brow and rearranged
her pillow was as gentle az
woman's.
Jerry. too. altered in his peculiar
way. As the hours heightened, his
wrinkled face became, less vinegary, :,
between his eyes there appeared a
deepening frown Of apprehension
More than once he opened his lips
TO ask Toms opinion of how the
fight progressed. but managed in
tin,c 10 restrain himself Finally he
could maintain silence 10 longer, so
he spoke to Dorct: ., ..
Mister! It look, to me like she
amt doin' we'll" '-... . ....
Polcon rose from his position &C.
eide the stove; he bent over the sick
bed and touched Rouletta's brow
with his great hand. In low voice
he addressed her: .....
mo srn,' Ma Petite sear, Its
'Polcon spik to you" :. ="
Roulctta's eyes remained vacant.
her ceaselcss whispering continued
and the man Strengthened himself,
turning upon his elderly companions.
l<'arm was in his face: his voice
shook. ..- e.
"Mrsitns! Wa. shall We dor
Queeck! Tell me-" ..
But Tom and Jerry were helpless
hopeless. Doret stared at them; his
hands came slowly together over his
breast. his groping fingers inter
locked; he closed his eyes, and for
a moment he stood swaying Then
he spoke again as man speaks who
suffers mortal anguish. "She mus
not die! She-mus' not die! tell
you something now: dis lii gal she's
come to mean whole lot for me At
frs I'm sorry, de same lax you feel.
Sure! But bimeby I get to know,
her. for she talk, talk-all tam SIC
talk. lax crazec person. an I learn
to know her soul, her life. Her soul
| is wife, m'sicn's. its wife an beauti-
'ful; her Iifc-I fit i'm together III b..
tie piece. lax broken dish. Some
piece never fin. bat save 'nouRlt
to max picture here and deere. Some
tam I smile an listen to her; more
tam / cry. She max de tears splasl,
OH my hand. ~ ,a-
wal, begin talk back to her.
sing her iii song. I tell her story /
cool her face. give her medicine.
an den she sleep. sit an wstcf,
hcr--how many day an night I watch
her l dom know. Sometam sleep
lii bit. but when she stir an moan
l spik to her an sing again until
she know my voice"
olScI pluSNu OlU yDSU
watched his working face. ~.
"M:aens." he wcnt on, I'm
lonely man. l got no frien's. no
family; l live in dreams Dat, all
! got in dis whole worr-jus'
dreams. One dream is dis, dat
some day I'm going find something
70 love. something dat will love me.
De mammals tame dcy run away;
de birds max pay wit dey Az
scuth when de winter come. saw,
'Doret. dis gal she's poor. she's
frienless, she's alone. She's very
sceck. but you goin' max her we'll.
She amt goin' run away She aim.
Gain fly off lak dem birds. No.
She's soin' love. you lax brodcr. an
naebbe she's goin' let you stay elese
by Rea! OATS fine dream, Ell I?
Il max me sing inside; il max me
warm an glad. I Whisper in her ear,
Ma sesri Ma, ttesifc ,s0wvi It's
your beeg broder 'Poleon. dat spik.
He's goin'e maxi you WELL an every,
tam she onderstan'. But now"
| A sob chokcd the speaker he
opened his tisht-shut eyes and stared
miserably at the two old men. II
call to her am she dom hear. WAT
I'm goin' do, ef?"
/ Neither Linton nor Qu;rk made
reply. 'Poleon. leaned forward,
fiercely he inquired:
(Which ono of you Teller is. de
bcs' man? Which, one, is gosto church
de mos'?" 40
Tom and Jerry exchanged glances.
It was the latter who spoke:
"Tom = this gentleman - knows
more about churches than I do. He
was married in one