The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1904-10-26


forward cushions, where 1t had crashed
It's way through. A great, gnarled
limb, broken off, thrust itself yard
from her face, and through the jagged
edges of the top she saw the far foliage
| swaying. Armands face bent above
her. 1t was white and strained with
an anguish that was slipping away,
but 1t was calm.
Rashleighs head appeared Mt the
wrecked window, his features blue
black with fear.
"Bress Cord" he stammered, his
grizzled forelock working. Dress his
name! SO yo' ain hurt, honey2 Den
gwineter ketch de hosses fore dey
scare missus to defp'
The head withdrew, and Anne tried
to smile up at Armand.
1--WE are safe" she said, speaking
slowly, like child. "I know. Twas
so sudden. Let me-wait n moment"
She closed her eyes again, sick and
| faint in the reaction.
He did not speak Mt once, but she frt
his arms, which were under and around
! her, shake with little trcmor and
draw her closer.
Suppose" she brcathed, her eyes
stoll closed - suppose 1t had struck
| ucarcr?'
1--WE should not have felt it-a quick
death and merciful"
She shuddered.
"Thcy 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.
"Hclp me out"
STOPPING under the splintered door
frame, he assisted her to the ground
1t was q hurly of broken BRANCHES,
-snrassiing spokes, thrusting springs
and distorted fragments OF wood A
snapped limb foot in thickness lay
with it's end upon the bent and twisted
step.
Had lcaped 1t would have struck
mel"
EYES," he answered.
$50 swift and terribIe" she said, her
voice catching. Like bolt from a
cloud - like the Judgment That mo-
ment-I would not live 1t again for
worldsl'
He spoke with flame in his cheeks.
"And IL would might! All, would
endure all agonies for that moment
again, that moment when"-
"Monsieurv'
He stopped at the Indignation in her
tone
"Let us co." she said. "Gladden Hall
is just behind these pines"
81 beg YOU
"Bcthink, sir" she added coldly,
chat so late as yesterday had never
seen your
$50 late as yesterday" he cried. "To
measure all 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 swceter things that come as
swiftly? All, man can live n year in
an hour, mademoisellc-a lifetime with
In one little day. Yesterday, you say2
Mademoisellc, 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 ii all? The moment
you spoke TO me on the wharf, the hour
we have ridden side by side along the
field, most of all, mademOselle, the
moment you will not have me tell you
of, that one moment 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 OH my shoul-
der-I felt your breath! You clung to
me-to me-you, the fairest lady God
has made! My arms were around YOU"
"Oh!' she gasped. "No more! You
have no right
"Right?"
mo" she cried stormily, her breast
rising and falling. "No! You presume
upon danger into which fate thrust
me without my wish. Why, we have
but ridden g half league / know not
even your name! Who are you to speak
thus to me?"
"Who am / 2" repeated the young man
slowly, the rich color dycing his face.
II am-only Frenchman, mademoi-
selle, only man who gazed upon your
face In crowd and whom-whom you
asked to ride beside you In the coach"
His tone had fallen. "Is 1t his fault,
mademoisclle, 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 Ills 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 notm she cried
out with softer voice.
With the words she started walking
rapidly. Fastening without glancing at
him. The dimncss of the interlaced
branches overhead parted the trees
stood sparscr. Just ahead leafy arch
let i'm the fading sunlight and view
of yellow stubble, and beyond this
showed n broad gateway-twin brick
pillars crested with martlets-o opening
ON winding road to n great house that
looked many windowed welcome.
1t sat snuggled I'm elms on hill from
whose crest terraced lawn fell softly
into the arms of the shining twisted
rivera southern nome I'm it's high days,
It's dairy, meat house, ice house and
granalles all dazzling white against
the blue ana olive of sky and wood.
Oaan Il an