The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1939-06-15

IL =
I've come back a-scarecrow, the
shadow of a man. And you're just
where | left you-only lovelier-
more of woman-more to be wor-
shiped-Jane-"
AS he caught her hand up in his,
she had sudden flashing vision of
him as he had been when he last
sat with her in the grove-the swing
of his strong figure, his bare head
borrowing gold from the sun-the
touch of assurance which had been
SO compelling.
'.I never knew that you cared"
81 knew it, but not as I did after
your wonderful letters to me over
there. I felt, if I ever came back,
I'd move heaven and earth" He
stopped. "But came back--differ-
ent. And haven't any right to say
these things to you. I'm not going
to say them-Jane. 1t might spoil
our-friendship."
Nothing can spoil our friendship,
Evans"
He laid his hand on hers. "Then
you are mine until somebody
comes along and claims your"
'tThere isn't anybody else," she
turned her fingers up to meet his,
$50 don't worry, old dear" she
smiled at him but her lashes were
wet. Her hand was warm in his
and she let it stay there, and aft
er a while she said, II have some
times thought that if it would make
you happy, l might"
'Might-love me?"
Eyes"
He shook his head. 81 didn't say
it for that. just had to have the
truth between US. And I don't want
pity. If-if l ever get back-PH
make you love me, Jane" There
was hint of his old masterful-
ness-and she was thrilled by it.
She withdrew her hand and stood
up. Then Pn-pray-that you
get back"
do you mean it, Janey?"
II mean it, Evans"
"Then pray good and hard, my
dear, for I'm going to do it."
They smiled at each other, but it
was a sacred moment.
The things they did after that
were rendered unimportant by the
haze of enchantment which hung
over Evans revelation. No man
can tell woman that he loves her,
no woman can listen, without a
throbbing sense of the magnitude of
the thing which has happened. From
such beginnings is written the his
tory of humanity.
Deep in a hollow where the wind
had swept up the snow, and left the
ground bare they found crowfoot in
an emerald carpet-there were hol-
ly branches dripping red berries
like blood on the white drifts. They
filed their arms, and at last they
were ready to go.
Evans whistled for Rusty but the
little dog did not come. Hell find
US; he knows every inch of the
way"
But Rusty did not find them, and
they were on the ridge when that
first awful cry came to them.
Jane clutched Evans. what is it
--oh, what is it?"
He swallowed twice before he
could speak. "It's-Rusty-one of
those steel traps"-he was painting
now-his forehead wet-"the Ne
groes put them around for rab-
bits" Again that frenzied cry
broke the stiffness. They're hellish
things"
Jane began to run in the direction
of the sound. "Come on, Evans
oh, come quick"
He stumbled after her. At last he
caught at her dress and held her.
eff he's hurt can't stand it."
1t was dreadful to see him. Jane
felt as if clutched by nightmare.
"Stay here, and don't worry. III
get him out"
It was cruel thing to face. There
was blood and that little trembling
body. The cry reduced now to an
agonized whimpering. How she
opened the trap she never knew,
but she did open it, and made a
bandage from her blouse which she
tore from her shoulders regardless
of the cold. And after what seemed
to be ages, she staggered back to
Evans with her dreadful burden
wrapped in her cape. We've got
to get him to a veterinary. Run
down to the road and see if there's a
car in sight"
There was a car, and when Evans
stopped it, two men came charging