White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1926-09-17
OF THE FIRST WATER
By WILLIAM MERRIAM ROUSE

l ever saw that wanted to marry.
don't know anything at all about her
except that And l mean it,"
"My friend" replied Pierre, ~, also
should like to marry Mademoiselle.
say so fro the frs time in my life."
Bill Hartman was surprised. But
not for a moment did he doubt the
honesty of his partners intention.
That's fair enough" he said.
She'll take the one she likes best,
guess. All we got to do is to play
the game square. We don't need to
have any trouble"
mo-" agreed Beaudry. Trouble!
1t is not necessary"
That was the most gloomy meal that
the partners had ever eaten together.
In silence they smoked the excellent
five-cent cigars and in silence they
finally rolled into their hunks.
A days chopping will put man to
sleep even though he be in love, and
Bill Hartman did not lose more than
an hour or two of his accustomed rest
But in that time he had made his sim
pie plans for the future. He would
do his best to win the girl by any open
means; when he mentioned Pierre to
her at all, it would be to speak well
of him.
The next morning Bill and Pierre
went each to his own cut of wood
They were chopping separately SO
that each could measure his own
wood when the time came to draw pay
for the work 1t was because of this
method of working that Hartman had
his second opportunity to see Marie
Malloy alone.
getting ready to log off when he be-
He had just felled a tree and was
came conscious of that feeling which
says that one is watched He swung
his gaze around his little clearing and
found himself looking into the eyes of
the girl. She had come out from be-
hind his pile of cordwood and stood
watching him, a half smile upon her
lips. In one hand she held pail and
in the other the sack she had carried
the day before.
1--WE brought you that pie, Mr..
Bill Hartman. A fresh apple pie,
with plenty of sugar and cinnamon
in it."
Bill, mumbling and blushing graft
tude, looked at flaky, light brown
crust which oozed odors and juices.
II haven't seen a pie like that for
ten years."
your partner likes apple pie, too.
He stopped at our house yesterday for
a drink of water--and ate half a pie.
Pop thinks he's fine"
He said he saw you," said Bill, with
slightly sinking heart you've come
back for more nuts?"
"More?" laughing. II didn't get
any. If you don't care, Pm going to
pick up some on Zeb Smiths land"
Care? I'll help you get every
blamed hickory nut between here and
Turner's Falls, if you want me to-"
Il don't want any from Murdoch
Barnes trees"
What's the matter with him, any
way?" Hartman took the sack from
her.
Murdoch Barnes is about the big
gest thing around here" she replied,
eyasively. HE owns three farms and
lot of woodland. Besides that, he's
the town supervisor. He usually comes
pretty close to getting what he wants"
A sudden thought began to stir
wrath whiting Big Bill. He tried to
look into the girls eyes, but she would
not meet his gaze squarely.
Does Barnes want your" he de-
handed.
He's said" She hesitated, and
finally looked up to Bill with a revela-
ton of pain that startled him. Hes
said I've got to marry him, Or"
Cor what?"
He can do what he likes. Pop is
only Jim Malloy, the fisherman"
How can man make girl marry
him, If she don't want to?"