The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1929-01-25

ACAt ~ "AfJ t~--'
This looked like back country. oil
right. Another world. He felt lost
inland. Now, how could he explain
that? When he was uncomfortable
on the lake? He shrugged his shout
ders, with one of his mothers funny
little gestures. II was too deep for
him!
The Richauds all were busy on the
farm. Julie. when she saw him ap-
proach, put down the box of cherries
which she was pitting and opened
the bars at the end of the lane. Her
cheeks were sharply eolored when he
came up with her, and her purple
black hair was curling in the heat.
More than ever she looked like little
girl.
You. after all this time!" she
cried, and stared at him. whats
happened to your head. Norman?
And your hands?"
Burned a little" he replied. He
had short way of answering ques-
TONS His mother used to tell him
il was rude.
"BurnedP'
He laughed off her anxiety. He was
glad to see Julie, gladder than he had
imagined he would be- Somehow, he
expected her TO have changed So
many things had happened since last
he saw her +. years had run by in
a few months But If she had
changed, il vas onl. that she was
handsOmer, that her eyes were dark
er and rounder and that the color on
her cheeks was a deeper scarlet. She
held her head little higher, perhaps.
But she looked so young as if
the soil had been kind to her. had
permitted her TO have quiet thoughts.
And her eyes told Norman just now
that she was happy, deliciously happy
to see him, and nothing else in the
world was bOthering her head
swell, | came back" he said. He
laughed. and then wondered why he
laughed Perhaps ii was because of
jules smile.
But NormanI You are thinn she
told him. "Thin as bean pole. And
your head must be very badly hurt
Here, come into the shade. When
were you hurt? 2"
1.-Two weeks today. Did you hear
Julie, I'm working at the lighthouse?"
A deep crease shot across her fore
head. 81 know" For moment she
was silent, and then her mood
changed She was like that, Norman
remembered She could shift her
humors like a Great Lakes wind
"Have you had your dinner?" she
asked. "Ours is late today. Mother
and father will both be glad to see
you. Come in with me-
She opened the kitchen door.
The room was full of steam, OF
little Richards, of the inviting scent
of French cooking. Old Germaine
was scrubbing his face in towel.
"Ho, Norman" he cried. 1.-THE good
saints abOyeI Who who hurt
you?"
Norman grinned. He had forgotten
how Germaine could scream. He was
as excitable as Captain Stocking.
I'm not hurt Just burnt a little"
He told the story bluntIy. GerInaine
seemed impressed when he finished !;
all the family were admiring. It
pleased Norman for the Richards to
think him a hero. They even called
him one. There was a thought to
make the coast guard laugh AT din
ner, while jules mother dubbed
busily about the table. with Germaine
growing, waving his knife and fork,
gulping carrots and peas between ex-
cited sentences, and with Julie
Richaud silent beside him, Norman
described Blind Mans Eye and his
days and nights on duty.
Come with me-" Julie babe when
they finished their dinner. 81 must
carry salt, two blocks of IL, over
there" she pointed toward the north.
west. "The sheep are in that pas
ture."
Norman picked up the salt and
strobe willingly beside her. He was
glad TO be alone with her. Julie had
become silent. she whose tongue was
unaccustOmed to silence She walked
now gravely, as If there were mat
ter she wished to speak of and dared
not
"Have you heard anything of my IA
there" Norman asked.
Julie turned. and her pink face re-
taxed. She had been waiting for that.
AYES" she answered HE is very
angry at you. Norman I had seen him
once before since you went away. He
was angry then because you did nor
go out in the storm with him. This
time il was something else. He had
heard that you broke mans head in
the dark. Your father was very angry
al that. He screamed so loud all
Madrid Bay listened. He told me
Eddie Baker says ii was over a
girl
: "What'd he say?"
Eddie Baker?"
Baker? No. my father. I don't
care what Baker says"
Julie looked at him keenly, then
flushed.
your father sat on the bridge Sun.
day." she related I'VE stopped, my
father and L So long We have not
heard of you. asked about you Zut
He gave me the look of a panther
Norman. That boy is not my son +
he screamed. He's afear'dr He cried
out you must never come back to
Madrid, never.
"'Goodr I said. Maybe he will
come TO the farm But mol Eddie
Baker has told your father about the
lighthouse -. he says you went
there because of girl. :"
"a girl? Baker said that?" Nor
man felt his face redden. THAT Is
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