Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: June 5, 2025
However, she felt she owed some explanation to the woman at her side. "My uncle doesn't like me," she stammered, calming her fear. "And Lafe loves me, Lafe does." "How do you know your uncle doesn't love you?" Thinking of Lafe's often repeated caution not to divulge her father's disclosure of Morse's perfidy, Jinnie remained quiet. The birds above their heads kept up a shrill chatter.
The latter had to rise in order to toss the weighty sheaf of cartridges exactly where he wished them to fall into Erwin's lap. This he did successfully. But in so doing his weight relaxed upon the Boche's arm. At the same time Orris, in catching the sheaf, allowed his control grip to relax. The nose of Orris's machine, now rising, bumped into Lafe's under plane, tilting it up sharply.
If Peg's head hadn't fallen suddenly into her hands, perhaps Jinnie wouldn't have collapsed just then. As it was, her knees gave way, and she fell forward beside the cobbler's wife. Bobbie, in his helpless way, knelt too. Since Lafe's arrest the girl had not prayed, nor could she recall the promises Lafe had taught her were made for the troubled in spirit.
"No, honey," she said, "Jinnie's only sad, not sick." Together they went into the shop, where Peggy stood with the most gorgeous lacy stuff draped over her arms. Strewn here and there over the yards and yards of it were bright yellow and red roses. Nothing could have been more beautiful to the girl, as with widening eyes she gazed at it. Lafe's face was shining with happiness.
Then, like rows of soldiers, the low clouds drew slowly together, and the stars softly wept themselves out. Suddenly, from the other side of the lake, the thunder rolled up, and with the distant boom came the thought of Lafe's infinite faith, and the memory fell upon Jinnie like a benediction from God's dark sky. She arose from the grass, took the fiddle box and bag, and walked to the porch.
To-morrow Jordan Morse would be in the courtroom all day. To-morrow God, dear God! She seemed to hear Lafe's monotone, "There's always to-morrow, Jinnie." She was called upon to think, to act alone in a tragic way. Of course she would be killed if she jumped into the deep gorge with the child and Happy Pete.
"Peggy's in the 'Happy in Spite', and I'm learning her all the verses you taught me." Then Lafe's head dropped on his hands and tears trickled through his fingers. "I wish I could see her," he groaned deeply. "When she gets well, you can," promised Jinnie, "and mebbe the baby." Lafe's head was raised quickly and his eyes sparkled. "I'd love to see 'em both," was all he could stammer.
Through the tears shone a radiant smile. "I'm crying for joy, Lafe," she sobbed. "I'm going to play my fiddle at Mr. King's house and make twenty-five dollars for three tunes." Lafe's jaws dropped apart incredulously. "Twenty-five dollars for playin' your fiddle, child?" Jinnie told all that had happened since leaving home.
"Let's take 'im in, cobbler," breathed Bobbie, pressing forward. "He wants to come in." They lifted the cover of the basket, and there in quietude the barn-cat was sleeping his long last sleep. Jinnie lifted one of the stiff little paws, and placed it in Lafe's fingers. The cobbler shook it tenderly. "You're in the club, sir," said he in a thick, choked voice.
"Yes," repeated Peg, "an' of course you'll go." Jinnie went forward and placed a slender hand on Lafe's shoulder. Then she faced Mrs. Grandoken. "Didn't you both know me well enough to tell him I wouldn't go for anything in the world?" If a bomb had been placed under Mrs. Grandoken's chair, she wouldn't have jumped up any more quickly, and she flung out of the door before Jinnie could stop her.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking