by B. M. Bower
CHAPTER 13. Rowdy Finds Happiness.
Miss Conroy was rather listlessly endeavoring to persuade the FirstReader class that "catch" should not be pronounced "ketch," when she sawRowdy ride past the window. Intuition of something amiss sent her to thedoor before he reached it.
"Can't you give the kids a day off?" he began, without preface. "I'vegot such a lot to talk about--and I don't come very often." He thoughtthat his tone was perfectly natural; but all the same she turnedwhite. He rode on to a little tree and tied his horse--not that it wasnecessary to tie him, but to avoid questions.
Miss Conroy went in and dismissed the children, although it was onlyfifteen minutes after nine. They gathered up their lunch-pails andstraggled out reluctantly, round-eyed, and curious. Rowdy waited untilthe last one had gone before he went in. Miss Conroy sat in her chairon the platform, and she was still white; otherwise she seemed to haveherself well in hand.
"It's about Harry," she asserted, rather sharply.
"Have they--caught him?"
Rowdy stopped half-way down the aisle and stared. "How did you know theywere--after him?"
"He came to me night before last, and--told me." She bit her lip, tookfirm hold on her honesty and her courage, and went on steadily. "Hecame because he--wanted money. I've wanted to see you since, to tell youthat--I misjudged you. I know all about your--trouble, and I want youto know that I think you are--that you did quite right. You are tounderstand that I cannot honestly uphold--Harry. He is--not the kind ofbrother--I thought."
Rowdy went clanking forward till only the table stood between. "Did hetell you?" he demanded, in a curious, breathless fashion.
"No, he did not. He denied everything. It was Pink. He told me longago--that evening, just after you--the last time I saw you. I told himhe--lied. I tried not to believe it, but I did. Pink knew I would; hesaid so. The other night I asked Harry about--those things he did toyou. He lied to me. I'd have forgiven him--but he lied. I--can't forgivethat. I--"
"Hush!" Rowdy threw out a gloved hand quickly. He could not bear to lether go on like that.
She looked up at him, and all at once she was shaking. "There'ssomething--tell me!"
"They didn't take him," he said slowly, weighing each word andlooking down at her pityingly "They never will. He--had an accident. Ahorse--fell with him--and--he was dead when they picked him up." It wasas merciful a version as he could make it, but the words choked him,even then. "Girlie!" He went around and knelt, with his arms holding herclose.
After a long while he spoke again, smoothing her hair absently, andnever noticing that he had not taken off his gloves. His gray hat waspushed aslant as his head rested against hers.
"Perhaps, girlie, it's for the best. We couldn't have saved himfrom--the other; and that would have been worse, don't you think? We'llforget all but the good in him"--he could not help thinking that therewould not be much to remember--"and I'll get a little home ready, andcome back and get you before snow flies--and--you'll be kind of happy,won't you?
"Maybe you haven't heard--but Eagle Creek has made me foreman of hisoutfit that's going to Canada. It's a good position. I can make youcomfortable, girlie--and happy. Anyway, I'll try, mighty hard. You'll beready for me when I come--won't you, girlie?"
Miss Conroy raised her face, all tear-stained, but, with the light ofhappiness fighting the sorrow in her eyes, nodded just enough to makethe movement perceptible, and settled her head to a more comfortablenestling-place on his shoulder.
