Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1904-04-19

stoll closed = suppose it had struck
nearer?'
We should not have felt tia quick
death and merciful."
She shuddered.
"They would have found us-so," he
said, with an underbreath.
She lifted her head at this and start
ed, the color coming back to her lips.
"Help me out"
STOPPING under the splintered door
frame, he assisted her to the ground.
1t was hurry Of broken branches,
sprangling spokes, thrusting springs
and distorted fragments of wood. A
snapped limb foot in thickness lay
with its end upon the bent and twisted
step.
Had leaped it would have struck
me!'
"Yes," he answered.
$50 swift and terrible! she said, her
voice catching. Like a bolt from a
cloud - like the judgment That mo-
ment-I would not live 1t again for
worldsv'
He spoke with fame In his cheeks.
"And IL would l might! All, would
endure all agonies for that moment
again, that moment when''-
Monsieur
He stopped at the indignation in her
tone.
"Let us CO." she said "Gladden Hall
u just behind these pines."
II beg YOU
"Bethink. sir" she added coldly,
shat so late as yesterday l had never
seen your
$50 late as yesterday" he cried. ITO
measure al things by the hands Of the
clock! What has time to do with the
feeling of the heart? Is death all that
comes suddenly, unexpectedly? Are
there no sweeter things that come as
swiftly? All. a man can live year in
an hour. mademoiselle-a lifetime with
In one little day. Yesterday, you say :?
Mademoiselle, yesterday for me were
only dim waters and gray sky; now
there are flowers and birds and laugh.
ter and all glad things. Shall tell you
what has changed it all? The moment
you spoke to me on the wharf, the hour
we have ridden side by side along the
held, most of all. mademoiselle, the
moment you will not have me tell you
OF. that one moment 1 lived when death
came falling out of the sky upon us,
when you cried out-when"-
Stop she protested, her hands to
her red cheeks.
when your face was on my shout
der-1 felt your breath! You chung to
me-to me-you. the fairest lady God
has made! My arms were around you"
"Oh!" she gasped. mo morel You
have no right
"Right?"
NO" she cried stormily, her breast
rising and falling. mo! You presume
upon danger into which fate thrust
me without my wish. Why, we have
but ridden half league. know not
even your name! Who are you to speak
thus to meY
WHO am I 2" repeated the young man
slowly. the rich color dyeing his face.
Il am-only Frenchman, mademoi-
selle. only man who gazed upon your
race In crowd and whom-whom you
asked to ride beside you in the coach"
His tone had fallen. sis it his fault,
mademoiselle, if his custom is not the
custom of your land, if he knows not
to repress, if he must say what he
feels?" He finished very low. .Is it
his fault that he cannot forget that
your face hid itself upon his breast for
one little moment here in the forest?"
She was alternately flushing and pal
Ing, and her eyes were shining. "You
must not! You must not!' she cried
out with softer voice.
With the words she started walking
rapidly, Fastening without glancing at
him. The dimness of the interlaced
branches overhead parted; the trees
stood sparser. Just ahead leafy arch
let in the fading sunlight and view
of yellow stubble, and beyond this
showed broad gateway-twin brick
pillars crested with martlets-opening
on winding road to great house that
looked many windowed welcome.
1t sat Struggled in elms on hill from
whose crest terraced lawn fell softly
Into the arms Of the shining, twisted
rivera southern home in its high days,
Its dairy, meat house. ice house and
granaries all dazzling white against
the blue and olive of sky and wood.
Spacious offices stood to the left, and
wide negro quarters squatted at some
distance behind it. Near by a tiny creek
sparkled down to wash tangle of is
lands. From adjacent fields came the
piping whistle Of cartridges in grass.
Just before the gateway the young
mans voice caught her. "For the sake
of that one moment, mademoiselle." he
said huslSily.
She paused, looked back and held out
her hand. He dropped upon one knee
and touched his lips to her fingers,
Il am glad l owe my life to you," she
said softly.
Gazing at him uncertainty an instant,
abe hesitated, then turned and ran rap
idly up the winding drive. Her hound
lifted his shay head from the columned
porch and came leaping down to meet
her, while his whine drew Nanny Ev-
aline peering from the kitchen door,
her weather beaten face dilating into a
smile.
"Lawd, dar come mammy's honey
chile safe an soun'! she cried to Mrs.
Tillotson, who came hastily to the
steps and waved her hand at the girls
fluttering signal.
"Down, Sweetlips! Down.! cried
Anne as the hound leaped against her.
She stopped, bethinking herself of the
indenture.