Evening star., 1928-04-29

H, AND SHE THOUGHT DESPERATE
most hear the rumination Of the COWS.
Their fragrant breath rode on the
softly stirring air. And the man of the
house was sleeping there. He had
worked the long day, would work the
long tomorrow, bending his back to
heavy tasks And his hands were hard.
Lin's hand touched her arm, gently.
Molly" he whispered.
She freed herself from his touch and
turned turned toward the kitchen door;
and he spoke quickly: please"
Something drove her. II must tell
him" she said, before I CO."
"Why?"
She struggled to explain. $50 that
he'll know" was all she found to say.
But she added: HE might come at you.
You stay back away"
In the darkness she saw Lin touch
/ his side: and she knew, with a curious,
Unconditional prescience. that he had a
weapon there. He was not, she thought,
man for brawls. But she must not
/ let Tup come out TO this. Yet, he must
be told, must know.
Stay away" she said again. And she
/ went toward the kitchen door. From
the door she saw that Lin had moved
I 70 the middle of the barnyard. He
/ could look in through the lighted win
i dow and watch what went forward
/ there. And she heSitated, uncertainty. a
/ little regretful that he would watch,
that ne must see.
/ II did not occur to her to be afraid
of Tup, glad Of Lin's presence there;
+ il did not occur to her to be afraid of
Tup. for all he was so strong And 1t
+ did not occur TO her TO wonder why she
was not afraid.
! %% *&
! IN the dining room, looking down at
t Tup asleep in his chair. she stood
uncertainty. The little room was
/ pleasant and familiar. After supper
she had folded the end leaves Of the
| table. to make more room When Tup
/ fell asleep, she had moved the lamp 10
/ the small table by the window, leaving
/ him in the shadow. He sat in the
I chair ne liked. with a back and seat
made of carpet fastened by tacks upon
/ the frame; and he was relaxed. his
/ great head low.
! She, thought he would be furious and
f all deStruction-she must not. she re-
membered, let him come at Lin. For
I Lin would not Vait for him. She was
able to see. In her thoughts, what would
happen: Tup's great bulk ranlming to-
ward the other man. the orange flash
of flame. the thudding fall upon the
sod Not that, she told herself.
She touched Tup's heavy shoulder,
and he opened his eyes, lifted his heavy
head.
oh" he said heavily. Time for
bed?"
She hesitated. NO"
Late. amt it?" His tongue was thick
with sleep.
II want TO talk to YOU"
He nodded. Not much company. !
guess" he confessed.
She put the table between them. and
her eyes turned toward the dark pane
OF the windows. Lin outside there
watching.
Listen. Tup" she said, and swung to
him again.
He gave her slow attention, rubbing
at hts eyes
What's the matter. Molly?"
"Tup. I'm going away"
He considered this at length.
"Going home?" he asked.
no No. clear away"
She saw his hand slowly ciench, and
she thought desperately, I must keep
him still Keep him here" But he
only said. In his grave way:
where to-"
She heSitated, remembering that she
did not know Did not know the end
Of this Journey she meant to undertake
tonight Who could know The end Of
ito And she was shaken: but she
thought that the Journey would be
elaniorous and fine. And woman could
make the end Of II what she chose.
THAT don't matter" she said de-
enSively~-"Where SO. But wouldn't
go without YOU knew"
He considered this. Il guess YOU Just
want to set away
Yes"
Don't figure you want I should SO
along?" His tone was mild. she was
and this irritated her-~Sorry for him
mo"
"Dont aim TO say where you're So
ing?"
"No"
Nor whye"
she heSitated, then nodded Yes
YES. III tell You why" And he asked /
no question. and at last she went ON, (
strueglng for words There's nothing
here" she said.
keeps me busy" he reminded her,
Nothing for me-" she explained, +
"Oh, it's not the work I mind"
ME. Is IT." There was a slow blaze /
In his ewes, and she tremhled Not /.
afraid og him for herself Rlt-~what (
pistol could stop this great mane or +.
ii Il didP Or~~why must she decidee /
She had thought herself already de /
cided hut blow might settle 1t, A .
grapple in the dark would save her /
these miserable queStioningS she re- /
abruptly. two men eltmhtng /
out of the waters Of the harhor and /
away Co hide And great
shock of man, like stout post, firm /
upon the ground olp, as she saw him
there
"or some one else, II II amt me"
he suggested pile nayhee"
No, no"
Her eyes swung uneenSciouSly toward
the window. and he marked the glance
and looked that way,
"Out there. Ii heP"
You can't 10 anything" she pleaded
Why amt he In herea Rack OF you, /
maybe, hut-~m heree"
&&%
CHE felt the need aI defending LIN,
~ named him, elIe passed yeu enc
day, In his ear You Wouldn't let him
hy,
"HlmP" lup commented mildly. II |,
didn't take 20 HIM" he said sid have Il
had 10 put the team IN the ditch. Tie Ii
ge1Hk EaaEx hn&a 4