The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1907-06-20
A DECISIVE ANSWER

ooh, Joe, boy, don't keep asking
me that question. Can't you wait
awhile? You're so neadstrong.
There's no hurry, as can see.
Aren't we happy enough as we
are?" And Addie fuller gave her
head a pretty little toss and let Joe
Silvey catch the corner of smile
and bewitching light in her dark
brown eyes that drove him half
frantic. Some girls are made So
80 you keep saying and saying.
For Gods sake, do you expect me
to always be content to wait In ST.
lence? Can't you give me an an
swer one way or the other?" pro-
tested Joe, as they strolled on,
along the woods path that led
along the top of the hill, above the
little creek.
you don't need to swear about
it, joe And you're crushing my
ARM" she said with tantalizing
| calmness.
Joe relaxed the grip, into which
he was unconsciously putting all
the strength of his pent emotions.
Then he released her arm altogeth-
err, stopped and struck a deter
mined attitude.
why do you take such delight
in tortnring me? Tell me mo- and
let me go, If you don't want me
bothering YOU
Would you really go, Joe?" she
asked in a tone of unconcern. smil-
| ing at the same time, in an amused,
incredulous way, that quite exasper-
ated him.
He took a step backwards. as if
about to turn to leave her, and I'M
Intentionally trod in clump of tall
| woods flowers. Instantly there
| arose at his feet the unmistakable
br-r-r-r of a rattler's warning.
Before he could leap back, the
reptile struck, aiming high up above
| the flowers; but he instinctively
| threw his coat out so that its fangs
caught harmlessly in the cloth, and
kept its great, repulsive body hang
ing there for an instant.
With scream Of horror Addie
was at his side and, catching the
snake just back of the head, tore II
from him, before he had time to ACT
| for himself. But, ere she could fling
it from her, it wrapped it's with
ing body around her arm, and with
a dreadful, sickening sound began
beating about her face and neck
with its tail.
| Deathly white, she held the thine
from her and gazed at it In fas
eiDated terror. Joe, quite as pale
as she, stared in stupefied horror
for a moment, before he realized
that action, quick and decisive, was
demanded of him. lest the girl hs
/ loved should faint away.
1 Hold him. Addie. Clutch hin
4 tight for minute" he cried, look
| ing eagerly about for a weapon.
| Not club nor stone was i,
sight. Adde'S face was growing
ominously dark, horrible, asher
hue, and the pitiful terror, Will
| which she stroye to dodge the in
cessant beating of the tail, tore hi
heart. In desperation, he leap
upon a flat-topped stump.
Lay his head here, honey
Steady now" he commanded
gently.
| AS IL in a dream, she obeyed. HI
held her by the shoulder to stead!
her, and ground the head, with it
wide open jaws, beneath his heel
She stood and held its eonyulsint
form until he said: There, that'l
fix him" Then, with deep sigh
she slipped from his grasp, and
tainted,
| He leapt down and frantically
tore away the coils of the dead rat
tier. A terrible fear seized him, al
he lifted her limp body and saw
what appeared to be the pallor O
4 death on her face.
1 He half carried, half dragged hel
down the hillside, to the creek, ant
bathed her forehead and rubbed he
hands. in feverish anxiety, while h
talked Historically and called he
by all the endearing names that h.
had never dared to use In address
ing her.
After what seemed ages of agon
izing doubt and torture. she opene,
her eyes, with little sigh; but 10
them slowly close again, as Ii TIN
effort was still too much for her.