The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1935-10-24
CHAPTER III-Continued


at random toward the deep shade of
the woods. She came to the brook be-
low Wills farm, and stayed there by
the stream a while, leaning against
tree, her hands behind her, her eyes
Swallowed, deep in long thoughts of
him; and presently she crossed the
stream where powders gave footing.
Above her, rocky precipice rose fifty
or sixty feet abruptly from the head
of the grout pile that sloped down to
the brook; but to one side there was a
path she knew, where by a steep scram-
BILE she might come to the gentler
slopes above. And it occurred to her
that, going cautiously, she might have
some far glimpse of viii, busy in his
fields. The thought drew her irresist-
IDLY; she began to climb.
The trail was steep and she was
warm and painting. At the top of the
rise, the path swung to the right,
where broken lodges served like a
flight of stairs, to debOuch at last upon
smooth ledge like an epaulet on this
shoulder of the hill. Below the ledge
q
or more; and the ledge looked out
across the lower trees, across the
sweep of valley. Jenny knew the spot
of old, and loved it, too.
But when she came there today,
Hubby was before her. Jenny saw her
in a confused impression of naked
flesh golden from the sun. Hubby lay
at length on a messy bank at the head
of the ledge, where low jumpers served
as screen on the side toward the
house; and she must have heard Jen-
ny's painting approach, for as the girl
appeared she half-covered herself with
garment caught up quickly. Yet did
not rise, but still lay there, looking at
Jenny with that smile the girl found
so disquieting.
Jenny for moment could not speak;
she stared at Hubby, and stared all
around, and Hubby said in amused
derision:
There's nobody here only mel"
Somebody might come along" Jen-
ny protested, her cheek crimson with
shame for the other woman. "You
hadn't ought to lay there like that.
They'll see you'll"
Huldy's dark eyes widened. "What if
they did," she countered, smiling.
And Jenny found no answer that
could be uttered calmly. Then Hubby
spoke again. Il guess yo're looking for
WILL" she said mockingly. Hes in the
upper field"
Deep color stained Jenny's cheek and
brow, and drained away and left her
white and still. She shook her head.
NO." she said, huskily. "No!"
you've trailed around after him
a-plenty," Hubby insisted, in compla-
cent scorn. IF you wanted him, why
didn't you get him, JennyY
Jenny had no weapons adequate for
this encounter; she could not hope
or wish-to meet the other woman on
even terms. Yet there lay in her that
long devotion to Will which was like
rock of strength upon which she
could lean; and she found suddenl'
that she knew many things she had
not guessed before.
"Pd not want what you want from
a man." she said steadily. "Nor bait
him the way you do"
Huldy's eyes narrowed in dry anger.
Nor you wouldn't get him, either"
she retorted.
"But if did, I'd know how to keep
him." Jenny countered. "And that's one
thing you'll never know!"
And from that day Jenny under
stood Hubby, completely; and without
word from Marin Pierce, or from Amy,
| or from any other at all. Yet, she went
no more to the brook, or up the scram-
bling trail. Between her and Will there
was barrier raised which she could
| never seek to pass or set aside; and
she accepted this fact, and found
way to cloak her grief and sorrow.
Only her heart brooded over Will In
an agony of longing to protect him
| from the hurt she knew must sumo
day come.
After that day In June when he and
Hubby returned to the little house in
the Valley, Jenny did not see Will till
October. Fall that year came early.
with a swift frost stroke that brushed
color all across the hills till they were
clad in gold and crimson glory. Then
followed days of sun and GREATNESS
airs Ordinarily. by the third week in
October. the alders and the birch sap
lings are stripped; the oaks and
beeches are losing their topmost leaves.
But this year the first deep frost was
followed by no rain nor wind to tear
the bright leaves from their tenuous
hold, till in the last week of October
frost gripped the land again. 1t set.
tied heavy in the Valley; and when the
sun rose. the leaves were locked in an
icy clasp, held In place by the very
frost that was their destruction. Then
as the sun climbed higher and the day
warmed, the frost melted. and at hrst
by ones and twos and then by dozens
and by scores. the leaves came down.
falling silently. like bright rain OF
color through the woods.
! Jenny. at mid-morning, left the
house and went past the barn toward