The Man Thou Gavest

a cupboard with some nondescript crockery, and a good-sized mirror in the space between the front door and the w

shoulders; an old ridiculous fez-an abomination of his freshman year, kept for sentimental reasons-adorned the head of the

m. He simply looked and kept on wondering. Through this confusion, words presently reached hi

r smoke a-curling way back from home, sir, and I'

edale to helpless mirth and he fairl

one. She stared at the face in the window; she turned red and white-the absurd fez dangling ove

a'mig

lled himself together, went around to the front door and knocked,

child and, although she looked awed now, was evidently a forward young

" he said, "I'll co

e big, solemn eyes f

nough to tell me what you m

lence and th

dale's voice sounded stern. "I suppo

rmed this by the dr

broke in-

ans

are

so Truedale changed his tactics. He would pl

bet! You had to don my clothes in order to materialize before my eyes and you had to use that word of the hills-so that I could understand you. It's quite plain now and you are we

joking. Forg

e from the rigid shoulders-and there, garbed in a rough hom

hought Truedale. Aloud

the girl and Truedale, who was always at his worst in the presen

ose sank into it and leaned her bowed head upon her arms, which she folded on the table. Her s

admitted by way of apology and excu

her consternation he saw that mirth, not anguish, had

laughing!" He tri

es

wh

ythin

hyness and awkwardness melted before the warmth and glow of the conquering emotion. He got up and sat on the corner of the t

ender, pure

you must stay and have a bite

rl gre

hungry," she a

ing fire, leaving doors and windows o

ounced. "I'll step over to Jim's c

e had placed cups, saucers

have parties

ll have them, though, from

f pitchers and platters of food, and

d your sister and your father? I know all ab

the table and quietly and definite

sn't find things out, there won't be trouble; when she does find th

ughed again, but sobered instantly when he recalled the inci

t want to let you go after this fi

e matter. She sat down and, with charming abandon, began to

unkind of you not

ws together and nibbled a bit of corn b

oming

n that?" Tru

big woods-you

rtain

I am in the

s playing this new game with t

lla-Rose paused) "where the l

! There's a little stream run

ed back and showed her

through the thin ice of delight that was luring him to u

ealingly. "There are nuts there and-and other things! You

ed to hold her to any absurd course that his stand

s about nuts and things-he goes to the woods to kill something; he's th

Rose n

denly said. "I-I want to tell yo

ilds which, knowing no reason for fear, was revelling in heretofore unsuspected enjoyment. Truedale pulled the couch to the

s on his breezy little guest. "What h

ng ago. You will not laugh if I

ink I don't laugh enough." He had his friends back home in

ow you as well as I do." T

deadly solemn. "But go on, Nella-

to the fire-she was quaintly demure. "At first when I sa

more than half real seemed, in the light of p

ay back there when I was ten

y?" asked Truedale from the

u have to if you want to-se

nt to be differ

you see?-I a

meant-do you like

e it. I was bo

's name, w

y take it off you see more, and farther

e was being carried beyond his depth-beyond himself-by the wild fascination of the little creature before him. H

ain! One of the niggers told me about it-he said it was the Bogy Man. I wanted to know, so I went to the station.

tion made Tr

, looking at the soft, dark

down the big road the train comes on-to meet it. And then" (here Nella-Rose clasped her hands excitedly and her breath came short), "and then I saw i

ose to her-she had caught him in

couldn't stir. Everything was growing black and black except a

d; suddenly they softened, and her little white

s-all a-laughing and it-it kept going farther and farther off to one side and I kept a-following and a-fol

gain Truedale

eyes and always there is the black square and s

ce, Nel

, when I see things, that I'm going to do a big, fine thing some day. I feel u

sigh brought Trued

go," Truedale whispered, "wa

paused-th

room-"I certainly thought my eyes were closed and that-it had come-the kind, good face that saved me!" A sweet

e're going to be nei

d with a distinct sense of suffocation,

e! You're not o

wish

ake you. You are

ted and crude as it often was, it was neve

was ominous. Already she seemed to belong to the cabin room-to Truedale himself. Not a suggestion o

ust

lk part of the way with you. I-

out of the door

ormed the duties Jim had left to his tender mercy-the feeding of the animals, the piling up of wood. Then he forced himself to take a long walk. He ate his evening meal late, and finally sat down to his task of writing letters. He wrote

wish you were here to-night-to see the wonderful effect of the moon on the mists-but there! if I said more you might guess where I am. When I come back I shall try to describe it and some day you must see it

Lynda Kendall from the field of vision; later, he s

reason it called out all the girl's cunning and cleverness. It might be-Burke Lawson! With this thought Nella-Rose gasped a little. Then, it might be Marg; and here the dark eyes grew hard-the lips almost cruel! She got down upon

ng to her feet,

you-houndi

se, where

that t

p to Devil-may

Have your mully-grubs, if

d to pass, Marg ca

he's hiding up to Devil-may-come

se never ignored a possi

e licked. If you don't let him alone-let him and

. Blue eyes-bold, cold blue they were-looked into dark ones ev

"What do you want of him, Nella-Rose?-of him or any other man? But if

ella-Rose's ears. She was as un-moral, perha

ways drunk these days and you-what do you care what becomes of me? Leave me to get a man of my own and then I'll be human. I'

her?" Nella-Ros

full! No, I had to do it, but it's the last time. Nella-Rose, tell me where

kill the pig?" Ne

s?" Marg

t I find is open to you!" Nella-Rose laughed impish

was coming-the black, drear night of the low places. Marg was desperate, but a primitive conservatism held her. Not for all she hoped to gain would she brave Bu

was incumbent upon him to explain himself. He had been a handsome man, of the dashing cavalry type and he still bore traces of past glory. In hi

outside the door in the dark, "why don't you m

t asked m

kon Burke was calculating to shoot Jim, but my coming upset his plans. Shooting a sheriff ain't safe business." What Greyson really had seen was Truedale's retreat after par

marry Burke and tame him. There ain't nothing as

ant to talk about Burke. I don't believe he's back." S

reckon I know Lawson when I see him, back or fro

e like marrying a tree that the freshet was rolling

ve 'im then? She'd be a ri

f she can find him!" Then, heari

and the dark. What's the use of

other word to describe her in

d?" she asked, nod

me," Nella-R

hing!" She walked over to her father and stoo

spoke sharply, slowly, as to a de

ou-did

ut I'll never do it again. It sickened the soul of me. I'm as good as Nella-Rose-just as good. If you can't do your par

you. It-it sha'n't happen again. I'll keep a smart watch next y

was adamant. "I'm going to look out for myself

ou, Marg?" Peter

on Nella-Rose. "There be times when you have to take your life by the t

stirred you, and I can't blame you. Killing ain't f

hings are not for-for women to do and bear. I'm through

s. Peter Greyson went early to bed and the sisters washed the dishes, sharing equally. They did the out-of-door duties of caring for

and how safe and strong the high hills looked! What had happened? Why, nothing could happen and yet-and yet-Then Nella-Rose closed her eyes and waited. With all her might s

places with their wide-open eyes! Just then Nella-Rose cou