Joyce of the North Woods

baby had been laid under a slim, tall y

ne himself heroically thr

he considered himself a pretty good father

ey were Gaston's means?-he had had a

our over the tiny casket. Not often did the clergyman have so go

gious views and he took this occasion to include a warning of the damning in

dead baby, "to make the life of this i

. Gaston could see nothing amusing in the service-it

ual he found his resentment rising. So Gaston

sen representatives to form a line and walk from the house to the tavern and back twice with the tiny r

y whatever others did. It was like walking in her s

t might kill her, and now that it

he thought that was queer; they had

as there. For after the burial, and before the evening meal, he had been lessening his tens

und Gaston and Joyce hanging over the baby. These plans had been set aside while the baby was taking his pitiful leave of life after his one smile, but Jude must hurry his case now. Nothing

s. The evening meal, which Joyce had mechanically prepared, ha

, had changed the sultry heat to ominous chill. The wind among the p

It was quite dark outside, and

t had possessed her for the past day or so was shattered. Her ey

ted, springing to the do

you?" Jude stepped aside. Something

can't leave him out there alone in

is foolery. If he were quite sure it was just Joyce's nonse

case he must get the upper hand, a

as she stood in the open doorway. "You don't 's

and, to gain her end, the wom

way open. I'd choke if I-shut him awa

hat threatened. For a moment he decided to rush from the house and leave the thing to work out

t overcome it. So by sheer force of weak will he strode over to the woman who

uppressed and deprived womanhood has alwa

or is going to be shut and you take that in, plain and qu

chair, but a new and terri

potless cover and soiled dishes. He wanted to be near

he asked slowly, as if he

d, and her tone reassur

you've ever ta

ck eyes held the cle

always known that-but please-" the strained

ull me by the nose, but it will pay you to calm down and li

impassive face did n

es me, you better take more interest. I heard from him more'n two

done. His recent restraint, and his pent-up plans had worn his nerves to the raw edge. He was in the

t to once! I've kept mum long of the kid's taking-off." Joyce's eyes widened as she s

d it was more for you t

e common sort, and we know you can help us. If you was like most women, him and me wouldn't have no compunctions about cutting, and leaving you to ways what you seem to hanker after. But he's actually

listening to the moan in the tree-tops. It sounded like the l

Joyce, than what I ever had-I'

as nothing before had done. Her aching eyes f

ou get it-th

ess. I'm only de

know. It-it isn

rment. That pa of yours is a slick one!" The sudden change of subj

everal plans to get money-but this plan of mine is the easiest, so we're going to work it. All my life I've dreamed by day and night"-a sudden glow illumined Jude's dark face,-"of the road and where it leads. Always, as true as God hears me, Joyce, always, as boy and man, when I'v

he felt his hot, excited bre

e was frightened at his manner, and drew

You're all wrong-I'm not going anywhere with

omise to-to-pay it back? You know there was no time set." This was the l

t leave-him." The white face quivered

ealous rage, and defeated hopes. And poor Joyce, distraught and

Jude was close to her now, and

e-this-this longing would be always tugging at me-and I could never help it.

this to my fa

ny wavered, and an inkling of w

e weak brain. With a violence he had never shown before, the man flung the outstretched hands from h

that he had let himself loose, he g

dish arm, and pushed the

door back, and hurled the girl out

il a tree stopped her course. The contact was

made him understand. For, of course, she must go back and make him understand, and then-well, after such a scene, a woman's life was never sa

leaned against the tree that had added to her pain, and wept miserably for very self-p

her. Strange,

as Jud

went forward and peered throu

face and the wind was cle

struck terror to t

furniture to pieces

oks hurled near and far. One almost hit the white

the pictures-her

ntered glass. Last the Madonna! Joyce clutched her heart as the heavenly face was obliterated by the savage blow. Then, maddened st

ng to the vine in abject te

fully spared her for a space. She knew, but did

house in the darkness. Only one thought possessed her vitally-Jude must never see her again. If he

nds over them. When her heart did beat-and minutes see

e house. He passed so close to Joyce that his coat touched her. By some power entirely outside of ordinary hearing or seeing, Joyce

fe was as utterly shattered and devastated as was the little home. Everything was gone. The future, with pitiful choice, was as densely black as the night that shut her in with her dull

sing the amount on to Gaston, who had advanced the different sums, Jude was making off with it. She must stop that. For herself, what did it matter? But s

North Woods. The howling wind was with her, and it was the only help s

earth of his outer room. He was luxuriating befo

life had he seemed to get so close to the heart, the human heart, of things. Jo

mother-love mea

e. He knew upon the instant who it was. He knew that

f his and seek to peer beyond the present and its need. He strode to the door,

The girl's wild face made unnecessar

ho

red the heavy door. He could at

bruised face upon which the storm's moisture re

aston, as he gazed in ho

, struggled hotly in Gaston's mind; but present

weakness overpowered her. She swayed, and put her hands out childishly

placed her gently in

uickly brought one of the red blankets from the inner room. "Here, let me a

to a glass and held it

ll straighten thi

ne, and shivered in the b

ng embers, "you're coming around. Whatever it is

es widened and the old fear seized her again. The mom

m not afraid. Come, don't you see if you want m

and we-I

not matter. The one important and hideous fact was, that for some reason, Jude, with the crazy br

, and his blood was up. A pleasurable excitement possessed

was respectable and innocent in

h the girl. The thought did not disturb him

gé was impossible as a working basis-his thoughts flew to Filmer. Yes; as soon as Joyce could explain, he wou

le. St. Angé and nine o'

e. The glorious hair, now rapidly drying in the warm ro

and pretty to run the risk

ied out for tenderness and protection. Gaston strove to detach himself from the personal element. He strove to feel old and fat

warmth and comfort held the

They had tried to be what the world called good-and here t

e outside of the consciousness that was

lk. I can straighten this out. It shall not happen

rom the girl. "He-he broke and destroyed e

n sta

our favour, if they find you there among the ruins. I'll se

me to tell you about-Jude has a great deal of money-I think Mr.

ine-then he must stop Jude. The money did not matter; but a frenzy of self-preservation, mingled with his desire t

he found that he was as eager to preserv

must find Filmer, and h

, I swear to you that

toward the door. Then a confu

light wagon was being driven over the narro

ie again until he's had a chance to fling it back in your teeth. Whate

o see this thing settled square. If she's-" a bristling string of epithets followed, then Tate appa

showed his teeth in a hard smile. There was but o

'd like to bid Jude an affectionate farewell before he skipped. If he

th knew with what they had to deal. A dare-devil expressio

d, clutching the blanket closer. Gaston put an arm about

on the threshold, "what are

it hurt, it aroused resentment. What right had Filmer to judge-Who knew his past? But Gaston knew Filmer was not jud

d him-he was merely debating in his mind whether he coul

-" he stammered, "how

ion nerve

t as far from here as you can, for as true as there is a heaven above us, if you e

t, and with clenched hands and bl

the eyes of the one friend to whom he had planned to turn in this emergency; recalling Jude's g

him. Beaten, bruised and tr

st she accept. St. Angé standards were well known to her. The people would be quick enough to spurn personal

e; nothing held her now but a fear, born of her past e

had bereft her of any personal pride and hope-like a sla

rising awe and question in the lovely eyes looking into his own, sobered him. He began to unders

ven's sake stop trembling; every shudder you give is an insult to me. There, there, you don't understand, but, it's coming out all right. It was only when others were meddling that we

Like an ensnared animal she felt a frenzied ea

have forgotten. Yesterday-to-day-o

ays wanted a snatc

y?" Joyce le

ike that better. They both play

f the situation and after they had eaten, for Joyce struggle

onsequence, however, and then Gaston cleared the table, kicked

of the chair. Gaston winced as he saw it, and he laid his s

e bottom of my soul and, God helping me, I'm going to help you in the best way I can. You need rest more than any other little woman in the world to-night, I re

to understand what lay behind his slow, solemn words, but the effort was too great. She sighed and looked down upon him as if he had suddenly become a stra