New Britain herald., 1925-01-07

out of country where Dan had lived and get you into a new place where folks had never heard of him.
 She wanted to go east, but l showed her that there wasn't enough money between us to sup port us in the east in a city. But there was enough to start a small ranch. That was what we doIs. We came away down here and got this place between us, and the best way to cover up tracks seemed to be for her and you to take my name"
 She didn't marry you after he died, them"
 When he died. she died" said Daniels. That is, all except that part of her that was wrapped up in you. And that part kept her alive for few years. But she was more'n half dead. You remember how quiet she was wouldn't speak through a whole day, maybe, except to give you your lessons?"
 "Yes. And when She walked around the house, used to feel, sometimes, as though she were afraid "of the noise she was mak- ing"
 But remember her as happy as sunshine, full of singing and laughing. Made people smile just to see her pass. All that died out of her when Dan was gone. You never knew more'n a shadow of your mother, Joan. And when she come to die, she begged me to take you away from the west as soon as I could-p
 He paused for a moment, then went on again.
 "she begged me to keep the name of your father away from you"
 A great new thought had come to Joan.
 But how could she ask you to do all these things if you -- if you were not even my stepfather?"
 Because she knew that I loved her, Joan, more than I loved God or feared. the devil. She knew that she could trust me for her sake to do my best for you, and I've done it, Joan, as well as l could. but I guess that I ain't done more than to make you unhappy"
 Don't" gasped Joan. "Oh, when I think how patient and how gen. tie you've been when I think of that and how you've"
 Tears flooded down her face.
 i've done no more than any man would of done for her." he insisted calmly. There was never a woman like her before and there'll never be another like her again. You're pretty girl, Joan. You've got a stronger mind and a stronger body than she had. But she was sort of half queen and half child, and be- tween them two things she worked on the heart of man till he'd die to give her one happy day"
 And Dan Barry" she asked. Did it help you to hate him be- cause you loved my mother so much?"
 Joan, the other day I was tell ing you about one man in all my life that was friend to me-"
 'l'll never forget what you said. It seemed as though I'd never known you until you told me that"
 Well, Dan Barry was that man. Does that help you to understand"
 Again she was stricken dumb. She had gone for years teehng that the most prosaic man in the world was this same fellow she had called dad" but now she discovered, enough 10 make her think of end- less possibilities in him.
 He was saying now: But I've never forgotten that as Katie died she asked me to take you east as soon as could. I've been saving and scraping ever since. And though I ain't got quite enough to- gether, we can make it do. l can find work of some sort that will pay - all want is your promise to try 10 go on doipg what your mother wanted you 10 do."
 And Joan, drying her eyes. was about to answer in the affirmative when. through the open kitchen window, the faint calling of the northbound wild geese fioated into he room, a chill and dissonant lund. It stopped her voice.
 Buck Daniels, with a stiffed oath,
 rode 10 the window and slammed
 down 70 shut out those wild otceS, but the old building was full # rifts and cracks which served LOW as ears. He himself could hear ,othing, but he knew from the lulvering lips and the far-seelng yes Of the girl that she still was istening
 (To Be COntinucd)