The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-14
CHAPTER NJ.
SOME RUDE BEHAVIOR, OF WHICH
ONLY A WESTERN MAN COULD


BE GUILTY.
He walked quickly back. At the doorway
she gave him her hand. which he took in
silence
"Why-Mr. Bines!-you wouldn't have sur
prised me last night. Tonight 1 pictured
you on your way West
Her gown was of dull blue dimity. She
still wore her hat, an arch of straw over
her face, with ripe red cherries noddng
upon ittas she moved. He closed the door be-
hind him.
do come in I've been having a solitary
rummage among old things. 1t is my last
night here. We're leaving for the country
tomorrow. you know
She stood by the table, the light from
shaded lamp making her color glow.
Now she noted that he had not spoken.
She turned quickly to him as if to question.
He took swift little step toward her.
still without speaking. She stepped back
with a sudden instinct of fright.
He took two quick steps forward and
grasped one of her wrists. He spoke in cool,
even tones, but the words came fast:
1--WE come to marry you tonight; to take
you away with me to that Western country.
You may not like the life. You may grieve
to death for all / know-but you're going l
won't plead, won't beg but am going to
take YOU"
She had begun to pull away in alarm
when he seized her wrist. His grasp did not
bruise, it did not seem to be tight; but the
hand that held 1t was immovable.
Mr.. Bines, you forget yourself. Really,
this is"
Don't waste time You can say all that
needs to be said-Ill give you time for that
before we start-but don't waste the time
saying all those useless things. Don't waste
time telling me I'm crazy. Perhaps 1 am.
We can settle that later"
Mr.. Bines-how absurd. Oh! let me go!
You're hurting my wrist! Oh!-don't-don't
don't! OH"
When he felt the slender wrist trying to
writhe from his grasp he had closed upon
1t more tightly, and thrusting his other arm
quickly behind her. had drawn her closely to
him. Her cries and pleadings were being
smothered down on his breast Her strug-
giles met only the unbending, pitiless re-
sistance of steel
Don't waste time, I tell you-can't you
understand? Be sensible-talk if you must
only talk sense"
Let me go at once-I demand it-quick-
OH"
Take this hat off.
He forced the wrist he had been holding
down between them, so that she could not
free the hand, and, with his own hand thus
freed, he drew out the two long hat-pins
and flung the hat with it's storm tossed
cherries across the room. Still holding her
iCbf no nt,ff ba hon nar hrnu
and thrust her head back, so that she was
forced to look up at him.
LET me see you'll want to see your eyes
they're my eyes now"
Her head strained against his hand to be
down again, and all her strength was ex-
erted to be away. She found she could not
move in any direction.
"Oh, you're hurting my neck. What shall
do? l can't scream-think what it would
mean!-youre hurting my neckr'
You are hurting your own neck-stop it!'
He kissed her face, softly, her cheeks, her
eyes, her chin.
i've loved you so-don't-what's the use?
Be sensible. My arms have starved for you
so-do you think they're going to loosen
now? Avice Milbrey-Avice Milbrey-Avice
Milbreyv'
His arms frightened about her as he said
the name over and over.
That's poetry-it's all the poetry there is
in the world. It's verse L say over in the
night. You can't understand 1t yet-it'S too
deep for you. 1t means l must have you
and the next verse means that you must
have me-a poor man-be poor mans wife
and all the other verses-millions of them
mean that I'll never give you up-and
there's a lot more verses for you to write,
when you understand-meaningt that you'll
never give me up-and there's one in the be-
ginning means I'm going to carry you out
and marry you to-night-now, do you under
stand fright off-this very night"
oh! Oh! this is so terrible! Oh, it's so
awful"
CULVER with sobs Her face was pitifully
convulsed, and tears welied in her eyes.
Let me go-let-me-go!"
He released her head but still held her
closely to him. Her sobs had become uncon-
trollable
Here" he reached for the little lace
edged handkerchief that lay beside her long
gloves and her purse, on the table.
She took 1t mechanically.
"Please-oh, please let me go-I beg you"
She managed it with difficulty between con-
vulsions that were rending her.
He put his lips down upon the soft hair.
Il wont-do you understand that? Stop
talking nonsense.
He thought there would be no end to the
sobs.
Have it out, dear-theres plenty of
time
Once she seemed to have stopped the tears.
He turned her face up to his own again,
and softly kissed her wet eyes Her full lips
were parted before him, but he did not kiss
them. The sobs came again.
"There-there!-it will soon be over"
At last she ceased to cry from sheer ex-
haustion, and when, with his hand under her
chin, he forced up her head again, she
looked at him full minute and then closed
her eyes.
He kissed their lids
There came from time to time the involun-
tary quick little indrawings of breath-the
aftermath of her weeping.
He held her so for time while neither
| spoke. She had become too weak to struggle.
My arms have starved for you So" he
l,murmured. She gave no sign.
Come over here He led her. unresisting,
around to the couch at the other side of the
| table.
.'Sit here, and we'll talk it over sensibly,
before you get ready.
When he released her, she started quickly
up toward the door that led into the hall
Don't do that--please don't be foolish"
He locked the door, and put the key in his
pocket Then he went over to the big folding
| doors, and satisfied himself they were locked
| from the other side. He went back and
| stood in front of her. She had watched him
with dumb terror in her face.
Now we can talk-but there isn't much
| to be said. How soon can you be ready?
ssYou are craZyr'
| '.Possibly-believe what you like
How did you ever dare? Oh, how awful
IF you haven't passed that stage, I'll
hold you again..
| "No, no-please don't-please stand UT
\ again Sit over there-I can think better"
| Think quickly. This is Saturday and to-
| morrow is their busy day They may not sit
| up late tonight.
She arose with little shrug of despera.
Il s.x~..~ -. l.