The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1936-02-06
CHAPTER XIII-Continued
Copyright by
Ben Ames Williams.
WNC Service.

He came down into the Valley, into
view Of VIII Ferrin's farm. The stand
Of buildings showed no change; but
the place was not so bare as it had
been before. The meadow was q
tawny green, with goldenrod in bloom,
and the orange and the red blossoms
of that rank and pestiferous weed
called Devils Paint Brush scattered
in gay clusters here and there. Field
flowers were everywhere, and a lilac
clump was green by the corner of the
house, and as SaIadine drove into the
yard he saw fresh-rurned earth where
other flower beds had been since his
last visit here prepared.
Saladine turned into the farmyard,
and stopped the car, and a man at
work with an Ak in the shed ceased
his IabOrs and came to the door. But
this was not Zeke Dace! Here was
Will He recognized Saladine and
dropped the ak and came swiftly out
into the sun. His smile was broad,
and there was welcome in his eye.
Saladine looked at this tall blond
giant with hair like fax, and steady
eyes of a deep blue like the sky at
dusk; and he slipped TO the ground,
and their hands clasped hard.
Come fishing again, did yOu?" Will
asked, with a chuckle. Don't see no
rodI"
No, just come to pass the time of
day." Saladine told him. How are
you, Will? YO're looking fine"
Il am" said VIII. II am full fine !"
Then his eyes swung to one side,
toward the house, and Saladine saw
Jenny in the kitchen door. She had a
plate and a dish towel in her hands,
and cOntentment in her countenance;
and as they went toward her she
smiled, and put the plate and towel
down and came swiftly to meet them.
So these three stayed there together
on the summed step Of the porch for a
while. Saladine asked after Marin
Pierce, and Jenny's eye twinkled, and
Will said:
"She's busy breaking Win to bride
now"
Il thought she got too much salts
faction out of her row with him ever
to make it up" Saladine suggested,
amused.
1t was Jenny who explained. her
eyes gentle. ''She just did it SOS
could marry VIII and not have to worry
about her." she confessed. "She
wouldn't hear to moving up here;
lowed if she was pulled up by the
roots she'd just wither and die. And
she said new married folks had ought
TO be by themselves till they get broke
to double harness, anyway. But I
couldn't bear to think of her living
there alone; so she sent for Uncle Win
and talked him into coming back there
to live, and now she's having as much
fun out of making him do her bidding
as she did before out of fighting with
him! :"
Il hear he's quit drinking" Saladine
suggested. VIII guffawed; and Jenny
nodded, laughing softly too.
''She put something into his rum"
she SdIu. Il Mdue Hill leIElDle SICK,
and he let on that she'd killed him,
and she said she'd kill or curew She
added contentedly: "Uncle Wins
pretty old, but he can do the chores,
and she can manage the homework.
It's better for them to be together Sol"
And she confessed, her cheek bright:
"Of course, I'm still down there the
most of the time. I just come up here
to do Wills dishes, and sweep around,
and cook him up some victuals every
day."
Saladine asked, smiling: What
does Marin Pierce think about you and
VIII waiting so long?"
Jenny's tones were mirthfuL "Gran-
ny thinks we're foolish !" she asserted.
"She says there's a time to wait and a
time TO go ahead. But VIII and me,
Wp have I'm do the deciding"