Milford chronicle., 1905-03-24

an instant before, the whole affair grew
dim and hazy in his mind. He ceased
to see things in their proportion. His
new found strength gloried in match
Ing itself with another strength that
was its equal He fought with Moran
not as he would fight either woman OIL
man or with anything human, for the
matter of that. He fought with her as
against some impersonal force that il
was incumbent upon him to conquer
that It was imperative he should con-
quer If he wished TO live. When she
struck, he struck blow for blow, force
for force, his strength against hers,
glOrying in that strange contest, though
he never once forgot that this last en-
emy was the girl he loved. 1t was not
Moran whom he fought. 1t was her
force, her determination. her will, her
splendid independence, that he set him
self to conquer.
Already she had dropped or flung
away the dirk, and their battle had be-
come an issue of sheer physical strength
between them. 1t was a question now
as to who should master the other.
Twice she had fought Wilbur to his
knees, the heel of her hand upon his
face, his head thrust back between his
shoulders, and twice he had wrenched
away, rising to his feet again, painting,
bleeding even, but with his teeth set
and all his resolution at the sticking
point. Once he saw his chance and
planted his knuckles squarely between
her eyes where her frOwn was knOtted
hard. hoping to stun her and end the
fight once and for all. But the blow
did not seem to affect her in the least.
By this time he saw that her berserker
rage had worked itself clear as fer
menting wine clears itself and that she
knew now with whom she was fight
ing, and he seemed now to understand
the incOmprehensible and to sympa-
thize with her joy in measuring her
strength against his, and yet he knew
that the combat was deadly serious and
that more than life was at stake. Mo
ran despised a weakling.
For an instant, as they fell apart, she
stood off, breathing hard and rolling
up her sleeve. Then, as she started
forward again, Wilbur met her half
way, caught her round the neck and
under the arm, gripping her left wrist
with his right hand behind her. Then,
exerting every ounce Of strength he
yet retained, he thrust her down and
from him until at length, using his hip
as a pivot, he swung her of her feet,
threw her fairly on her back and held
her so, one knee upon her chest, his
hands closed viselike on her wrists.
Then suddenly Moran gave up, re-
laxing in his grasp all in a second, and,
to his great surprise, suddenly smiled.
"Hoh, mater she exclaimed. That
was a tough one, but I'm beaten
you're stronger than Z thought for"
Wilbur released her and rose to his
feet.
Here" she continued, "give me your
hand. I'm as weak as a kitten" AS
Wilbur helped her to her feet she put
her hand to her forehead, where his
knuc1les had left their mark. and
at him, but not i'll naturedly.
Next time you do that" she said,
'use a rock or a Delaying pin, or some
thing that won't hurt-nOt your fist,
mate" She looked at him admiringly.
What a two fisted, brawny dray horse
It is! / told you I was stronger than
most men, didn't I? But I'm the weak
er of us two, and that's fact. You've
leaten, mattel admit it, You've con-
luered me, and" she continued, smil-
ng again and shaking him by the
shoulder, "and. mate, do you know, ]
owe you for it."