The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1943-05-06

1 ~~~o--Ni
my aunt had left me legacy but
I couldn't get it at once. was
a bit of driftwood, alone in the
J city, ripe for mischief, it seems
There's no excuse. I make none,
but this" he lifted his head
never thought Of meeting you'll!
Their eyes met and held each
other; she could see the flicker OF
the flame in his.
you're not telling me all!' she
cried impulsively, and then, re-
Numbering herself, don't! l don't
ask it; L" she held out her hand
-"Im still your friend"
"You forgive me for-comlng
here like that?" he exclaimed.
She nodded; she could not
speak, for he had her hand IN
both his; she could feel the emo
ton that shook him. But still he
did not speak.
Il think you must have had
some reason for it, she said
simply; Il cant believe ill - OF
YOU"
Don't look at me like that" he
exclaimed. 'Turn your eyes
away! For I've no right to speak
to you until I tell you've been
in prison."
In the silence a log fell from the
andirons and a mass Of sparks
flew up the black throat of the
chimney. He did not look at her
he waited. Then he heard her
voice, and it was astonishingly
clear and cheerful.
THAT doesn't shake my belief in
you; you see, I'm your friend"
He drew a long breath, lifting
his eyes again to hers. She looked
so calm that it shook him with a
new and deep excitment; she be-
lieved in him; it was the most
marvellous thing in the world!
"And you don't ask me about
it? Nor why I was sent there?'
he cried.
She shook her head, smiling.
you're my FRIEND" she repeated
softly.
The beauty of it swept him off
his feet. He caught her hands IN
his, in another moment he would
have told her that he loved her
told her the whole story-but his
eyes fell suddenly on a green
thing on the table at her elbow,
a squat shining figure, marve-
lousy carved it was, the face
cunning and old as the ages-was
grinning up at him-one of the
small uplifted hands pointed.
Her hands slipped out of his; he
reached for the jade god and lift
ed it, turning it over slowly in his
hands. Underneath, where the
fat-kneed goblin sat so squat. the
jade was smooth except for a
cipher or a dent, something that
marked it indelibly. Mark ran
his finger along the broken sur
face and felt it. Then he looked
at the queer elfin face again and
his own face went white
my God," he said below his
breath; "how did it come here
here of all places?"
"You know it," Pam leaned
forward, her own face flushed.
What is it? What's the mat
ter?"
He had collected himself, but
he held the god hard in one of
his powerful hands.
"Where did you get this -
thing?" he demanded, and, for the
moment, even the girl herself
seemed to melt away from the
reality of the thing he held!
Its uncles." She was shaken
by his emotion; she felt the ten
sion, the excitement of his discov-
cry. "He wouldn't give it to me
1 put it here for-fun!"
He looked at her for the first
time without seeming to be aware
of her; his face was so white that
his eyes looked black.
where's your uncle?" he asked
excitedly.
''He ought to be here soon. It's
late for him now" she glanced
toward the window.
It was quite dark outside; the
eye of street-lamp flickered IN
her eyes. The room was dim ex-
cept for the fire and the lamp be-
hind her chair. It's radiance lifted
her figure out of the gloom and
touched her cheek, her chin, her
young full throat.
Mark, holding the jade god in
his hands, looked down at her and
seemed to come to himself.
II must see your uncle" he
said gravely. The girls eyes trav-
eled from his face to the ugly