Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1906-12-27


shall dot I can't scream--thinl
what 1t would mean!-you're hurting
my neck!"
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 nowf .Avice
Milbrey-Avice Milbrey--Avice Mil
brey!"
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 a verse |
say over in the night. You can't un-
derstand 1t yet-its too deep for you.
1t means / must have you-and the
next verse means that you must have
me--a poor r-an-be q poor mans
wife-and all the other verses-mil-
lions of them-mean that I'll never
give you up-and lere's a lot more
verses for you to write, when you I'M
notwithstanding 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-nlght--now, do
you understand?-right eff-this very
night"
ooh! Oil this IL SO terrible! On,
It's SO awful!'
Her voice broke, and he felt her
body CULVER with sobs. Her face was
pitifully convulsed, and tears welled In
her eyes.
"Let me go-let-me-go!"
He released her head, but still held
her closely to him. Her sobs had be-
come uncomfortable.
Here" he reached for the little
lace-edged handkerchief that lay be-
side her long gloves and her purse, on
the table.
She took 1t mechanically.
"Please-oh, please let me go-I beg
you" She managed 1t with difficulty
between the commissions that were
rending her.
He put his lips down upon the soft
hair.
81 won't-do you understand that?
Stop talking nonsense"
He thought there would no end to
the sobs.
'Have 1t out, dear-there's 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
MIN, 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
exhaustion, 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
involuntary quick little indrawings of
breath-the aftermath Of her weeping.
He held her SO for a time, while
neither spoke. She had become too
weak to struggle.
"My arms haze starved for you So"
he murmured. She gave no sign.
Come over here" He led her, un-
resisting, around to the couch at the
other side of the table.
"Sit here, and we II talk II over SEN
sibly, 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.
Nov we can talk-but there isn't
much to be said. How soon can you
be ready?"
"You are crazy!"
'Possibly-beheve what you like"
"How did you ever dare? Oh, how
awful"
"If you haven't passed that stage,
I'll hold you again."
mo, no-please don't-please stand
up again. Sit over there-I can Think
BETTER"
Think quickly. This Is Saturday,
and tomorrow is their busy day. They
may not sit up late tonight"
She arose with little shrug Of des-
peration that proclaimed her to be in
the power of mad man. she 10 ks
at her face in the oval mirror, W Pig
her eyes and making little passes and
pats at her disordered hair. He went
over to her.
"No, no-please go over there again.
Sit down moment-let me think. I'll
talk to you presently"
There was silence for five minutes.
He watched her, while she narrowed
her eyes in deep thought
Then he looked at his watch.
81 can give you an hour, IL you've
anything to say before it's done-not
longer"
She drew long breath.
"Mr Bines, are you madf Can't you
be rationale"
II haven't been irrational, I give
you my word, not once since came
here"
He looked at her steadily. ALI at
once he saw her face go crimson. She
turned her eyes from his with an effort.
"I'm going back to Montana In the
morning. I want you to marry me to-