Dannie had been a very lonely man, and he
did love Mary's cooking. Until then he had not realized how sore a
trial six months of his own had been.
"If I was a praying mon, I'd ask a blessing, and thank God fra this
food," said Dannie.
"What's the matter with me?" asked Mary.
"I have never yet found anything," answered Dannie. "And I do
thank ye fra everything. I believe I'm most thankful of all fra the
clean clothes and the clean bed. I'm afraid I was neglectin'
myself, Mary."
"Will, you'll not be neglected any more," said Mary. "Things have
turned over a new leaf here. For all you give, you get some return,
after this. We are going to do business in a businesslike way, and
divide even. I liked that bank account, pretty will, Dannie. Thank
you, for that. And don't think I spint all of it. I didn't spind a
hundred dollars all togither. Not the price of one horse! But it
made me so happy I could fly. Home again, and the things I've
always wanted, and nothing to fear. Oh, Dannie, you don't know what
it manes to a woman to be always afraid! My heart is almost jumping
out of my body, just with pure joy that the old fear is gone."
"I know what it means to a mon to be afraid," said Dannie. And
vividly before him loomed the awful, distorted, dying face of Jimmy.
Mary guessed, and her bright face clouded.
"Some day, Dannie, we must have a little talk," she said, "and
clear up a few things neither of us understand. 'Til thin we will
just farm, and be partners, and be as happy as iver we can.
Pages:
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211