Show if A V or mr aw gyome my THC mo arp S no buch such hesitation at jake met tact us in the yard h hat at fondles font ept les less vest leae leAS although the ure as flirting fIrt lat with thi tz 9 t belcome I 1 t te exclaimed 1 I 1 lou roure louye ye come 11 to condole etith U ath me tlona 2 etlo nl abt tt affliction we inquired half halt a 6 by jake ake s manner for be ile was in simulation 0 O 1 inside aw ka la IA fir Y te re fer me this thin country rune runs ito to outside fer that all I 1 ive ve at lain pa PEI bat but by this time jakes wife ap in the door come on cn in 14 OV irli 1 the he arif d I 1 ind nev ml m id that be got half hall aa kear S himself wann warm think I 1 tell him some day ha rewe his ilia hair and abuts s bis his or I 1 bont on t stay ruji bittl to a lilt tilt mort abat whatever ever happens tin lot returned he spouse 1 re bella bells donna Is put puts she her strong point it was ai an afternoon ot at much hadl age we spent at jakes but under tt surface etere it ere were ere evidences that nr flir former land guide regarded hie his tit etli ith a tort sort of awe which he thed to obscure from public view by onoke screen of raillery bella bello it vu apparent was a woman at character f id alti iti ough jake could ay iy b bt described ae as plastic in to her blida tadi his recasting was ony only the wee on oil him on thai that account tie ue iss is to it the mills of the coda gods andl they proposed to nake make a job of it 1 1 dont law whether shell shelf make me D i a coed good wife or not he confided jb ib re but I 1 reckon set on antin me a good husband 1 but bellas bella a house was clean and tell tellas table was well set na as pion ter tables go and delia nas a thine con ent ration of 0 energy such all a jake seeded to spur him into purposeful it has as jakes lake e we w t ness that lit te kulil clr arlt i a jub job uny ih div tu tb per atrol a J le lie ile thinks I 1 e is a johr ovid bella id it this of ter ber lit ln it liri ir 1 emiler aas lies lie aly a 1 I 1 jere aites a a big difference W ZIL 1 that night walh ith as assurances aloin baie a and anti bella that they would linit ux us twice tu ire a eek all kwintera win ainger tera A amrose alch iby almost kept kepl but no not all our visiting ans with our new neighbors most blost of at it as you may suppose was back and forth fourteen aad anti twenty two spoof e counted on to make a fifth spoke in our i ircle every sunday sunda r and ile banjo lessons neglected drin d rin ear our allence at lence vere v ere now taken up in to it save cave me a 11 orthodox III gave me a little oo 00 orthodox shiver to ta think what my strict byte tl ilan parent parents would have aalf te jan an picking so 80 pervert ortO rt a all ift aa a banjo on an sunday aft anoon bye er to think ink what my strict pre pres r recta would have said to on picking 1 so 0 o perverted an at as a baijo on an a sunday after noon and blending her voice olce v wit poof in to the road to mandalay Nan dalay kui I 1 was little happier when they abandoned the secular r such old did a as a abide with me ie and blest t the tio ahm blad board ard die the enil end ot of the donth we bad 1 I fur first old sol that auns a bad a mimic sun un on either lad there t ere was a flosty glitter in n th I 1 air in which our out neighbors shanties faded out of eight sight as diddea behind a veil yell of crystal tapestry by a noo X ray a pan U broadd aro dod by and t the he now snow began to shake doun as gec I 1 1 y its M feathers raul cra uwe fluttering ard from the bosom of f some mammoth bird which had brid taken the world to be ber her nest and d in wins spring hatch batch asala again the ancient miracle of alte marjoree Marj orle and I 1 stood in to our door and watched the big rakes lowly slowly silently settling on wagon and bay rack and every blade of grass across the cully gully as through a slowly falling curtain of ivory lace ace we saw the vague vane form forms or of jack and jean watching them loo by the pound ground p was as next ext morning we lie looked upon a new world orld the he snow had find ceased teased fall ing the sky was wo clear and bright and the stars were isible at tit our rising hour bour then up came come the sun Pl ashing the heavens beavens and or lunge an annl I 1 blood red and taid suddenly s pot st t ting a million tons of at diamond diamonds wit uit bli after the enow snow came we seemed to cling to each other others company even more thin th in before its it a solemn tiling thing to be alone in a vald ot of snow per iler hops its cold coldness its stark whiteness its it ast silence eugesta that which makes the heert heart rith rw jut for sume v warm arm of friendship perhaps its it peace pence and beadth stir in our nature that insists on belaj bared shared 0 CHAPTER X days wore ore by sometime sometimes flays days of unbroken sunshine Bunsh lne days of gently sifted whiteness hit eness fluttering out of a gray cray eky sky in a week all the brair a e aus a blanketed deep tilt snow then came the great night at this thi time of the year in this lati fail ture lure it Is ark eark by ire ve in the afternoon particularly if it the sky happen lappen to be overcast on the day in ques tion jack lack and I 1 had done up VP our few chores about the stable carried in tn a supply at 0 water and arewood tre wood and returned to our shacks for upper supper ajar nor jorie jorfe brisk eff efficient lelent housewife that the he as had the table set when I 1 came in air meals were p perforce perforce simple and when we hod blid A a aud nit th tin few dishes bere bleared aawar I 1 too looked ted at my watch it was as barely six 0 clock rhia la Is coing to bo another of our conr 1 azg gsg marjorie re maikel with what seemed like a tug of complaining suppose bup pose you ask facie lack and jean to come oer I 1 don t feel feet like alk going out in to the snow jean vean may not feel like going out either I 7 retorted 1 I guess sheal she s sa as much like sugar as yon you area are I 1 added lidded having in my ray mind some reference to ao an adage about sugar melting 1 I tancy fancy you think she a a good deal more like sugar than I 1 am brother a mine Bt SIar adarle Jorl well run along aloric and fird rut later when I 1 recalled that remark I 1 was struck by its significance but at t the be moment I 1 bad had no suspicion n that jack track and Alar jorte we working i 2 scheme on me chave I 1 have always held that jean lean was innocent of eny any part in it so urged I 1 pulled on roy my pen pell jacket and overshoes nd ad fur cap and started out on the hundred yard jaunt froni from our shock to the file one across the caily I 1 made the trap witheat difficulty and entered without knocking as was custom in our Dun numerous verous tack and forth jean looked up rom the table where she sat got reading alone frank she said when I 1 ha had dosed closed the door doo r behdad me yes wh where erell jack I 1 came to gee see jack ack left felt for some same time to ask you and ago ile was irving vi to come came over you must have passed hlo rather illint f innar than what if reverse it it buge sl age I 1 came for you see him on the way I 1 locked looked in I 1 it the ue ile may bri ave ve again to al make its sore sure that the stable all till right jean suggested su ire are he laid said it ld l 1 aked d like k roua ro weather undecided 1 stood tor for a moment jack whether I 1 should go 90 back for and sd marjorie 0 or r ask jean to go CO with nith the ques me it ivas vas the jibe w who ho settled tion frank she take off YOU your r things jack will be there by this th invited company and will keep time for a night it I 1 not a good 1 to so go enking wn oking king gil lieff 1 agh a little tte so I 1 stared et ared tay cl had bad known I 1 each S others 1 l company can jean aad blace coming to the brt k of t kait since other tad each sut bad hardly teen we se orle or of f always klays jack or marjoree Marj 10 about there fe where both were sudden hill that of course had been unspoken ro velett when pettous from our bara em ab we returned bet but there settlements in 1 the li beco jeco enc of love horween talk had 1111 no 5 TO ament I 1 u had treasured ted tbt that and me as a sst as a tit of wonderful n of WO wonder tal premise but bu t I 1 bad had mt not presumed pre umed ned upon it I 1 had bad con oud ed that two months mouth low 11 kinei st bad had been too tor for jeanc jeans reserve and nd that bliff pile hnit hall dane lp nimma it hardly would be fair in to talk fe nuiL anek ottwin hn lie to la had hild lin hint wild te buck thornly j took rapa wrap off or ami and MI sat down i beak t the stove stoie hiie ahe anuth marguth tery ry pleasant after the ot of the now snow and jean lean looked very loftly end and tempt lne in the sort slow clo of t the pie lamp on the table I 1 felt eit a embarrassment growing upon me is the tho moment moments were ticked off air by ue tie little clock oa on the ebelt shelf the grew crew until I 1 rett felt flit I 1 must break it by speech of some kind ahat hat are yoa you r adgner I 1 ventured at last nothing tiling nothing Not hIngl I 1 loo have a book P 1 I know but I 1 rn not reading 10 it then what are fire you doing just w kiting sitting waiting for what then the she looked up at me and there was a light to in her eyes that was and good to af eie afe e but it beat ray mr brain reeling for a moment one she looked at roe thus and started my heart thumping like a steam pump teen her ees broo droo drooled ed dut det you know frank she he amri an muied her tier face wn was roddy ruddy in the atlow ot of the dimp imp and the plait pink akin skin etione a color that was rot all till reflected amat 1 ng nit w was s her tier revelation I 1 could no longer fall to understand it I 1 rose and oiled to lip flip table I 1 took her hand in mine and lifted her to her feet lt you arc are waiting for ine me to kaas you zou lean jean I 1 wll jerd she was trembling lne Inc but ehe she spoke with outward composure there I 1 I 1 else fl first something else firsta I 1 don dont t tn dt tand you should I 1 carld cor id not follow her thought 1 I 1 eissed you once be before farol I 1 ventured abany times before no only once the other times were when we w wen were child children irm they count do things that hap happened paned when we were children not count with youl your do they with you youl ask me and end sea it had corn come the moment of which I 1 bad had told iseff in dreama dreams and visions 1 the moment to which I 1 had looked forward with a strange fear find and a grout great hope jean 11 1 atil whispered whip ered 1 I 1 love you will you be my wile ae As I 1 write the words they seem artry bare and nd matter of fact but they were all that jean required she made in aci spoken answer but she he turned her tier face to mine ind I 1 drew lir cp up in my strong anna arms and kiberd her jn 0 o the passion of oui our love loe after a time tle with one b x serving as both we talked of oar our future I 1 hinted that circumstances mule mide our I 1 mired late marriage some somewhat whit dei eident upon the lie course hint that jack and might fleet elect to follow I 1 took it for granted that jack and would marry but I 1 was very rit ue in my idea am to when abl li it appen 1 I don dont t think il a e shall have to w wait sit on jack and blar marjorie jorte jean remarked knowingly 1 I rather they have been waiting ou us then they need wait no cc longer I 1 aid said boldly 1 I au am ready at one dor we might make it by chris Chrls meA 2 vena re marLed more ie vint afford any pedal special wedding edd tag clothe clothes bat we can at least afford alford a few weeks antici pad then christmas be li it I 1 exclaimed ah oh merry Christ christmas mast I 1 I 1 vs as to stirred with a strange new dow joy that all the future loober rosy and inviting bat but suddenly I 1 fell felt jeans arm tighten oa on my neck and I 1 looked look liec tier face just in time to catch the splash of a warm tear on toy MY cheek check I 1 was immediately diled with wonder and misgiving giai could make jean cry tn n a moment of sch happiness T I 1 pressed the ira im not sorry sha sh sd at length but fijn a little frig not for you for myself oh ob my dar d ar frank my dear bogwill boy will you always alway swill will wj air ays love each other as we da do Blan ilke I 1 assured ier I e r that of e course we would she rested tested her bead head against iraln and for awhile she the seemed to restle at peare tn in the soft luxury of air love but presently a shiver ran through her frame and back a little she be looked me ine fairly in the eyes you know frant ehe she murmured it seems strange to any st it but 7 1 am so to glad to get this settled not ot elmer gladder than I 1 tittle little one eald said L I 1 shaping my alps to endearments with the awkwardness of my racial reticence cence you coutta t be gladder than I 1 1 am 1 I have waited eo so 1013 ions 1 she coa cod tinned tinted almost disregarding m my I wr to get it mettlea to be aure sure of myself to know just what Is going to happen to te sure of your yourself self row pow are sure of she dropped into a tats Al leacel as gig though studying study lne inc her words before attempting an answer you won it t mis I 1 think frank ehe she said at length it I 1 tell you that I 1 have hays been like a traveler tra reler on the prairie wo come comes upon two roada road and land is not quite rare to which be take let us say a storm la Is weeping sweeping down from the north and d 1114 M very ufa life depends on the right dec tilon nut but the longer be stands land abe e looking at the harder it is 0 make the th then ern choice its if a comfort oni fort ta coo seand and b ix oa onee ones ayr but suppose u S lit be s the wrong n g y I 1 blundered out acly bait t 01 ol 01 wini her meaning oh I 1 rack I 1 the she cried cr tl my in her a slip arje bind oina it illus austn tut t musiu i t be the introna Il roni trona way buyl I 1 I 1 bont hv hae it the th WN wu wa I 1 bont think of that us as wt sit IH to ap see pp it t lexro am and anti have hare i leoun orate tie ere erl little children that ne e vire for etli entzi ft li kotlier haven j we it flat ha alas been sett settled letL IQ la atren li Teo dont au you and we have just cone amod bil uh I 1 know it has 1 know it hast 11 1 I have huye never doubted it I 1 eald salt and even na as I 1 uttered the ill alto first little poisoned pol arrow of doubt vu u acme way doddi J through my annor armor and stung my in the heart it was a the reaction it jeans ire v heince hem nce preap it wa was that 1 9 edw a w her st rivina over bard to tx convince h ber er self ell and from being over sure aure I 1 now craved to X b be assured you are quite mural I 1 ventured utter titter another silence in lit natch litch I 1 felt that subtly poison lowly slowly chilling through ray reia yon you are quite eure sure yoo you should not have taken the road to section dwor oh frank I 1 for a inocent sho ah burled buried her face in my boulder shoulder then she he lifted tier her head proudly tike like one wiio wo goes forth resolutely to try hl his spirit in some crent great issue tea yes I 1 rn urel surel spoof la Is to me only a neighbor u acquaintance always I 1 am quite ure sure am ane there no hirl thirl trail no tittle little beaten third ath kath tapi might hae haie been the one to 0 o bs 11 1 1 boscn os cn I 1 persisted to tine stifle my demon of doubt at its ta birth av are thinning of at brook abe she caught roe me up instantly ln tanny let that give you tau no uneasiness brook was only an incident a rather pleasant plena ant inci dent she he added and for the farst tinie time I 1 realized allied rc how e exquisitely tan jenn could be hut but nn inci tact dent after all I 1 ets not talk about it or think about IL it any more q a all everything Is in sett settled Jed bo so by borce orce of will we rimed |