Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1906-08-23
CHAPTER xxiv.-(cont

O1AFIE En- ANiV.-(Conttnued.) y
He swung the safe door on its
hinges and sprang across the room
with one leap, like something hunted.
1t took her breath away, the movement
was SO strange, SO terrifying. He
] seemed as II he would have pushed
past her and dashed out of the room,
but as he came into the fuller light,
and saw her face in 1t, he changed
again as alarmingly He gave a
smothered exclamation and fell back
against the wall behind him as sudden
Fly as IL he had staggered there. His
whole look, his whole manner. was as
full OF alarm and amazement as II he
had seen ghost stand between him
and his fight 1t was, indeed, the
ghost of his Indian past--the girl
whose face had once seemed to him,
as 1t shown from the veranda Of a
Inight-bound bungalow, like the radiant
face OF perfect womanhood.
1t struck him helpless, as nothing
else on earth could have done. He
lost his wits in that overwhelming
moment OF recognition. He drew him
self up sharp and fiat against the wall
and put out his hand behind him to
steady himself; he could no more have
passed her to reach the door in that
moment Of horror than he could have
passed through without opening 1t.
Ursula saw his evident terror with
dismay and surprise. Noel, why do
you look so odd? You are ill-what
can 1t be? Oh, my poor boy; don't
look like that at me! Sit down--sit
here!':s She ran forward. forgetting
all their estrangement. all her doubts
OF him, In her fear and distress at his
strange look. She pushed a chair to
his side and tried to pull him down
Into 1t. You feel i'll; what is it,, What
1 Ia It? What can do?" she kept re-
peating, hanging over him with ter.
FOR Of she knew not what
He sank into the chair, more as II
he did not know what he was doing,
than because he obeyed voluntarily
His eyes had still their wide stare of
I3amazement, OF horror. Then suddenly
| he tried to scramble to his feet again.
Don't get up don't move; let me
! get you something" He only made an
Iinaudible mutter, and turned his head
AWAY. It cut her to the heart to see it.
Noel, Is 1t because you are angry
with me?" she asked with a whisper.
II was wrongI know 1t now-I was
unjust to you. Forgive me dear"
She was bending down close to him
her face was close to his own. Sud-
denly, with almost violence, he caught
lher to him, a wild, rough movement,
lsuch as Noel had never heen capable
OF. It startled her--even while she
felt her heart leap at the return OF his
Told fondness. She smiled, half trem-
lblingly, and let him crush her close to
him but as she looked down she re-
coiled.
Noel! What have you done to
your hands? How dreadful! Why.
they are hnrt, and bruised, and soiled.
They are not your hands, They are
some one else's." Her head was just
touching his shoulder and she tore
lherself from MIN with sound that
was almost shrek. She wrenched
Iherseif away from his suddenly slack
ened clasp, and stared up into his
!face with horror-stricken eyes Noel
why, 1t is not you! It Is not you!
What Is 1t? oh, what is it," Sheer
terror and bewilderment struck her
like a blow. 81
What is it," she repeated, pale to
her Hips. Then at last she came to
Eherself, after that moment Of unreal