Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1907-01-25

HOW THAT HORRIBLE FEAR
CHANGED MY WHOLE WAY OF
LOOKING AT HER. AT HIM, AT
EVERYTHlNG!
ton in his triumphant ewes. In an
other mood. ] suppose my fury would
have been beyond my power TO re-
strain 1t. Just then-the day grew
dark for me, and wanted to hide
away somewhere. Heart-sick, | was
ashamed for her, hated myself for
having blundered into surprising her.
She reappeared al the turn round
which she had vanished. | now noted
tnat she was riding without saddle
or bride. with only a halter round the
horses neck-then she had seen us.
had stopped and come back as soon
as she could. She dropped from the
horse, looked swiftly at me, at him, at
me again, with intense anxiety.
/ saw your yacht In the harbor
only a moment ago." she said to me.
She was almost painting Il feared
you might meet him. So came"
AS you see, he is Quite-intact,"
said !. Il must ask that you and he
leave the place at once" And / went
rapidly along the path toward the
kennels.
An exclamation from Langdon
forced me TO turn in spite OF myself.
he was half-kneeling, was holding her
in his arms. At that sight, the saw
age in me shook himself free. I
dashed toward them with knew not
what curses bursting from me. Lang.
don, intent upon her, did not realize
until sent him Keeling backward to
the earth and snatched her up. Her
white face, her closed eyes, her limp
form made my fury instantly collapse.
In my confusion / thought that she
was dead. | laid her gently on the
grass and supported her head, so
small, so gloriously crowned, the face
SO still and sweet and white, like the
stainless entrance to a stainless
Shrine. How that horrible fear
changed my whole way Of looking at
her, at him, at her and him, at every.
thing!
Her eyelids were qulvering-her
eyes were opening-her bosom was
rising and falling slowly as she drew
long, uncertain breaths. She shud.
dered, sat up, started up. Go! go!"
she cried. Bring him back! Bring
him back! Bring him"
There she recognized me. ooh"
she said, and gave a great sigh of
relief. She leaned against a tree and
looked at Langdon. You are still
here? Then tell him"
Langdon gazed sullenly at the
ground. 81 can't" he answered 81
don't believe II. Besides-he has
given you to me. Let US 60. Let
me take you to the Vivians." He
threw out his arms In a wild. pas.
sionate gesture; he was utterly unlike
himself. His emotion burst through
and shattered pose and cynicism and
hard crust Of selfshness like tie ex.
ploding powder bursting the shell. 81
can't give you up, Anita!" h. ex.
claimed in a tone Of utter desperation.
Il can't! / can't"
But her gaze was all this time stead
lily on me, as II she feared I would p,
should she look away. 'T will tell
you myself" she said. rapidly, to me.
"We-Uncle Howard and Tread in
the papers how they had all turned
against you, and he brought me over
here. He has been telegraphing for
you. This morning he went to town
to search for you. About an hour age
Langdon came. ] refused to see him.
as have ever since the time | told
you about at Alya's. He persisted
until at last | had the servant reques,
him to leave the house."
But now there's no longer any
reason for your staying, Anita" he
pleaded. He has said you are free
Why stay when you would really nc
more be here than il you we're to 60
leaving one Of your empty dresses"
She had not for an instant taken
her gaze from me; and so strange
were her eyes. 30 compelling, that
seemed unable to move or speak.
But now she released me to blaze
upon him-and never shall l forget
any detail Of her face or voice as she
said to him: That is false, Now
bray Langdon. | told you the truth
when ! told you ! loved him."
l, still In a stupor, watched him un.
oil ne had disappeared. When I
turned to her, she dropped her eyes
Uncle Howard will be back this
afternoon" said she. IF may. I'll
stay at the house until he comes to
take me-"
A weary, half-suppressed sigh
escaped from her. knew how she
must be reading my silence, but I was
still unable to speak. She went to the
horse, browsing near by; she stroked
his muzzle. Lingeringly she twined
her fingers in his name, as II about
to spring to his back! That remind.
ed me OF thousand and one changes
In her-httle changes. each a trihe
In itself, yet, taken all together, max.
Ing complete Transformation.
Let me help you" | managed to