Show HOSTILE HOSTI LE LEVALLEY VALLEY by Ben Ames Williams Copyright by Urn Ben Dc Ames Amei Williams Service CHAPTER XIII XIII-Continued XIII Continued 21 21 lie came down Into the to Valley into view lew of Will Ferrins Ferrin's farm tarm The stand of ot buildings B showed sh wed no change but the place was not Dot so bare as it had been before The meadow was a tawny green with goldenrod In bloom and the orange ora e and the red blossoms of ot that rank ran and pestiferous weed i called De Devils Paint Brush scattered in gay ay clusters here and there Field Fled i I flowers tow rs were everywhere and a lilac clump was green ell by the corner of ot the howl house and as Saladino drove into the yard he saw turned fresh earth where other lower flower beds had been heen since his last visit here prepared Saladine turned Into the farmyard and stopped st the car and n a man at work vork with an ax In the shed ceased his labors and came to the door But ut I this was not Zee Zeke Dace I Here was Will 1111 lie He recognized and i dropped the ax and came swiftly out into the sun Ills His smile was broad and there was welcome In his eye looked at this tall blond giant with hair like flax and steady eyes res of ot a deep blue like the sky at ut dusk and he slipped ro to the ground and their hands bands clasped hard Come fishing again did you 7 Will asked with a chuckle Dont see no rod INo I INo No 1 Just come to pass the time of ot day Saladine told him How are you Will 7 Yore Y ore looking ng fine line I am said salt Will 1 I 1 am full tilt fine Then his eyes ees swung to one side toward the house and Saladine saw Jenny In the kitchen door She Sure had a n plate and a n dish towel In her hands and contentment In her countenance and aull as they went toward her she smiled and am put the thc plate and towel down and came swiftly to meet them So these three stayed there together on the sunned step of or the porch for a while Saladine asked after Mann Marm Pierce and Jennys Jenny's eye twinkled and Will said busy breaking Win to bridle now now I thought she got too much satis satisfaction satisfaction faction out of ot her row with him ever everto everto to make it up suggested sug ested amused It was Jenny who explained her eyes gentle She Just did It sos so's I could marry Will and not have ha to worry about her she confessed She wouldn't hear to moving up here lowed Mowed If It she was pulled up by the roots shed she'd Just wither and die And she said new married folks folls had ought ou ht to be by till they get broke to double harness anyway But I couldn't bear to think of or her living there alone aone so she sent for Uncle Win Winand Winand and talked him Into coming hack hade there thereto to live and now she's having ing as much fun out of or making him do her bidding as she did 1111 before out of lighting fighting with him 1 I 1 hear hes he's quit drinking Saladine suggested su eted Will guffawed and Jenny Ienn added laughing softly too She put Into his rum rum she sh ald said It made him terrible sick sic I and he lie let IN on mu that shed she'd killed k III Ill I'll him hi in and anal II II I slit she Mid stid pd 11 l Kill 1111 or 01 cure She he I. I I i r Uncle VIL s t p etty tty old but n net iii can do the Uie b a and she can manage mana e the housework bou work Its It's better hetter for them to be together to ther sol solAnd so I And she confessed confes ed her cheek k bright Of Ot course Im I'm still down there the most of or the time e. e I Just come up here hereto hereto hereto to do Wills Will's dishes and sweep around and cook him up some victuals every everyday day asked smiling What does Marm Pierce think about you and Will waiting so long Jennys Jenny's tones were mirthful Gran Granny asserted ny thinks were we're foolish I she She says theres there's a n time to wait walt and a n time to go ahead But Hut Will and me we wc have to do the tune deciding Her ner eyes were so quick to cling to Wills Will's tenderly and Will said grave grave- gravely ly I We didn't want to pur put no slight sll ht on Huldy nudy by hurrying and Jenny and me were we're young oung We dont don't have to hurry now Weve We've good time I I But were we're most through waiting Jenny added Its not long now When presently moved to depart Will urged that he stay st y and try for a trout In the big pools in the bog A day like this yore apt to get et hold bold of or an old down there he ho promised Might Ight be worth your while I 1 But Saladine shook his head The Valley Jay ay beautiful und and tempting with a welcome and a promise in Its aspect today the skies were ere clear and gay and the wind was fine But Buthe Buttie ut uthe he tie had too many dark memories The Tiro time would come corne when he could fish Careys Carey's brook brool with full zest and hap happily but that time was not yet here I cant can't not today tollay he said But ut Ill I'll stop and see alarm Marm Pierce 1 Jenny shook her head bead Grannys not to home she said She and Uncle Win went to the village Ill come next spring then be he promised I left heft my rod down there last time I was here Ill I'll have to come and get that and try the brook broo again kept the rod safe for tor you Jenny told him and Will urged hos hos- hospitably hospitably You do 1 Come and stay with us Jenny and me we can put you up right here long as yore a mind So Saladine left messages for old Maria Marm Pierce and at last bade them Ulem good good by When he drove away they stood together shoulders almost touch touch- touchIng lag Ing to watch him go He lIe turned up the road toward the ridge e again and looked back Lack and saw their tl hands rands liftin lift liftIn In a gesture of farewell Then they toward the house swung side by that was to be he their home The farm was w was s far below him and beyond It lay the sweep and loveliness of ot Hostile Valley alley It was nor easy easy on such a day as this to understand how the place had come by its harsh ancient name When then on that lint night nl ht InJune In InJune InJune June now months past de departed parted after his first coming here he had gone at full speed like one pur pur- sued But today he drove slowly re re- reluctant reluctant to leave the pleasant scene and aUlI these friendly folk behind TUB Tim END IND |