Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-02-19
"NOR IN ANY SON OF MAN."

primeval hunter; in the fame-col-
ored gown that last year had not
dreamt of was the only spoil worth
more than the fiercest lion or the fat
test hind.
Along in the shade of the trees where
the grass was still dew wetted he saw
only her. Coming nearer and nearer,
he followed She stopped to her knees,
kissed a lamb she had surprised asleep,
looked once more behind at him, swift
ly rose and fleeted on. He had caught
her. No. Once more she sprang across
the ditch and was gone from his sight
into the wood.
With cry Of disappointment and
rage, he sprang after her. SpranG and
stumbled in his haste and fell and hurt
himself When he hurt himself he re-
membered Mary. With hanging head,
and strange wild feelings surging in
him, he tore himself up and went on.
Nothing round him but green. AS he
went he snapped the twigs with his
hands, and when anything lay in his
path ne set his heel on it and ground
his teeth.
In the thickest part of the wood, in
a small clearing, at last he saw her.
She lay against the big roots of tree,
and the sunlight hurried backward and
forward over her
He was not thinking of Mary now.
He went straight up to her, and threw
himself on the gress beside her She
lay still, her chin resting in her hand,
her elbow on a thrOwn-up root, still
painting. She did not look at him, and
she did not speak. Her eyes had never
moved.
After a long time: why did you fol-
low me-" she asked.
You know" he said the road to
fair Elf-land.' Nodded stupidity.
He was dimly aware that the eyes
were all at once turned on him. and
that some way beneath them there ran
a curVing, uncertain line of red through
which she spoke.
Why did you follow me?" she said
again.
He had nothing to say.
"Why?" she asked.
You know why!"
Her other hand lay in the grass He
put his near it. She diQ not take it
away. A burning heat, a shivering
cold, possessed him as she still gazed
at him and still said:
''Why?"
He buried his face in the grass He
could not speak. There was nothing to
say. He longed to do something. but
there was nothing he could do. A lit
tie hooking laugh rang in his ears. For
shame he could not lift his head.
Boy"
Il am no boy." he cried. His eyes
We're wet as he flung up his head and
faced her. Z"
You what?" She gathered grass
and flung it lightly in his face
His cheeks famed.
Il could crush you with one hand
and put out your little life. Do you
think you could withstand my strength
for one moment? You have no mus
cles and sineWs-like a man. | could
command you and make you obey me-
because, after all, you're only a wo-
mani"
He threw back his head and burned
her with his young eyes.
You would follow me to the worlds
end, though your hand never so much
as touched my hand To kiss me once
,
His lips moved.
81 love you
For how long,"
For ever
And nobody else?"
And nobody else"
In the whole wOrld?"
in the whole world"
His head fell down on her knees. He
thought he swOoned.
DO you love me?"
If he died he must ask that.
No"
why not?"
Il will not love you
Love me-" ne entreated, or kill
me-"
Il will not love you"
He put his arms round her waist and
strained them till she breathed in
pain.
will you not love me?"
Il will not love you"
He lifted his head and kissed her.
Nov you are a man." she said.
And you will love me?"
Il will not love you. But you may
love me-for an hour"
When the sun had moved the shad-
Ows of the leaves an hours space fur
Their toward the east, voice came call
ing through the wood.
That is my husband" she said,
calling me-"
His arms dropped away from her.
Your husband?"