United States or Republic of the Congo ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
As he read both accounts of Lafe's trial, bitter ejaculations fell from his lips. The story of Bobbie's dramatic death and Morse's suicide brought forth a groan. When he placed the papers slowly beside him on the floor, Molly raised her face, white and torn with grief. "Now you know it all, forgive me!" "Never, while I live!" he cried. "What ungodly wretchedness you've made that child suffer!
Even Lafe's wonderful portion of faith had diminished during the past few days. He found himself praying mighty prayers that Jinnie would be spared, yet in mental bitterness visualizing her death. Oh, to keep yet a while within the confines of his life the child he loved! "Let 'er stay, Lord dear, let my Rose o' Paradise stay," Lafe cried out into the shadowy night, time and time again.
Lafe picked up the hammer and pounded frantically on the sole of a shoe. "I'm goin' to have money," muttered Maudlin when the cobbler paused for a few nails. As Lafe proceeded with his work silently, Maudlin said: "I'll marry Jinnie and take the empty shack next to pa's. I got money, I said." Lafe's lips were moving rapidly, but the other could not hear what he was saying.
All his loves and sorrows were in the eternal yesterdays, and to-day had delivered him into the charge of Lafe's angels. Jinnie was crying hysterically, and her father's dying curse upon her uncle leapt into her mind. She was clinging to the cobbler, and both had moved to Peg, where the woman sat as if turned to stone. Not a person in the courtroom stirred.
Jinnie had her own ideas about this, but because the child's tears fell hot upon her hands, the mother within her grew to greater proportions. Three times she repeated softly, "Happy in Spite." "Happy in Spite," she whispered again. Then she sat up with a brilliant smile. "Of course I'm going to take you to Lafe's. Here at Lafe's my heart's awful busy loving everybody.
On her way to the attic stairs, she stood a minute before the window, awe-stricken. From the north the great storm was advancing, and from among the hills rolled the distant roar of thunder. It brought to her mind the night when Peggy had gone into the life-valley and brought back Lafe's baby; and she remembered, too, with a sob, Blind Bobbie, and how she missed him.
"And I've been thinking of something else, dear. I want to go to Mottville." Lafe's face paled. "I don't see how Peg an' me'll live without you, Jinnie." Jinnie touched the hand smoothing her curls. "I couldn't live without you either, Lafe, and I won't try " The cobbler bent and kissed her. "I won't try, dear," she repeated.
"But Lafe's God is above the dark, Bobbie," she whispered reverently. "We've got to believe it, dearie! God is back up there ... just up there." She took his slender forefinger and pointed upward. "How does God look, Jinnie? Just how does he look?" "I've never seen him," admitted the girl, "but I think, Bobbie, I think he looks like Lafe. I know he smiles like him anyway."
"Lafe," she began mysteriously, "a great big bird flew right into the house last night. He flopped in to get out of the storm!" "A bird?" repeated Lafe, startled. "Yes, and everybody says it's awful good luck." Lafe's expression grew tragic, and Jinnie hurried on with her tale. "I'll bet you can't guess what kind of a bird 'twas, Lafe." Lafe shook his head. "I can't lessen 'twas a robin," said he.
"I'd completely forgotten to leave the money for the wood, and you've been bringing it every day." "Peggy made the dollar go a long ways that and Lafe's money. We didn't need any till to-day.... So so I asked for you." "I'm glad you did," responded King, counting and giving her the money. Then his glance fell upon the bulging shortwood strap.
Word Of The Day