Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1907-02-08

me, n / wanted to hide away some
where. Heart-sick l was ashamed for
ner, hated myself for having Numbered
into surprising her.
She r~eappeared at the u round
which she had vanished. / now noted
that she was riding without saddle or
bride, with only a halter around 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.
II saw u yacht in the harbor only
a moment ago" she said TO me. She
was almost painting. " | feared you
might meet him. So l came"
las you see, he Is q~uite-intact," said
/. Il must ask that you M he leave
the place at once. And l went rap
idly along the path toward the ken
nels.
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 savage In me
shook himself free. / dashed toward
them with l knew not what curses
bursting from me. Langdon, intent up
on 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 con-
fusion / thought that she was dead.
/ laid her gently on the grass and
supported her head, SO small, so glori-
ously crowned, the face so still and
sweet nj white. like the stainless en-
trance 70 a stainless shrine. How hat
horrible fear changed my whole way OF
looking ct her, at him. at her and him.
at everything!
Her eyelids were quivering her
eyes were ~opening-her bosom was ris-
ing 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"
Then she recognized me-. "Oh, 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.
Il can't he answered. II don't believe
1t. Besides-he has given you TO me.
Let us go. Let me take you to the
Vivians." He threw out his arms in
a wild, passionate gesture; he was ut
terly unlike himself His emotion
burst through and shattered like the
exploding powder bursting the she'll. II
can't give you up, Anita" he exclaimed
IN a tone Of utter desperation. II can't.
/ can't"
But her gaze was all this time stead
lastly on me-, as if she feared | would
go, should she look away. Il will tell
o 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 down to search
for you. About an hour ago Langdon
came, | refused to see him, as | have
ever since the time | odd you about at
Alva's. He persisted, until at last |
had the servant request him to leave
the house.
But now there's no longer any rea-
son for your staying, Anita" he
pleaded. He has said you are free.
Why stay when you would really no
more be here than If you were to go,
leaving n of your empty dresses ?"
She had not for an instant taken
her gaze from me; and so strange were
her eyes, so compelling, that / seemed
unable TO move or speak. But now
she released me to blaze upon him
and shall / forget n detail OF
her face or voice as she said to him:
That is false, Mowbray Langdon. 1
told you the truth when | told you I
loved him!"
So violent was her motion that she
had to pause for self control. And L?
l was overwhelmed, dazed, stunned
When she went on she was looking
at neither of us. Yes, / loved him al
most from the first-from the day he
came to the box at the races. / was
ashamed. poor creature that my pa
rents had made me-! l was ashamed Of
1t. And l tried to hate him and thought
l did. And when he showed me that
he no longer cared. my pride goaded
me into the folly OF trying to listen
to you. But l loved him more than
ever. And as you and he stand here,
| am ashamed again-ashamed that
| was ever SO blind and ignorant and
prejudiced as to compare him with
she looked at Langdon-"with YOU.
Do o believe me now-now that I
humble myself before him here in your
presence?"
| should nave had no heart at all
if had not felt pity for him. His face
was gray. and on 1t were those signs
OF age that strong emotion brings TO
the surface after 40. You could have
convinced me in no other way he
replied, after a silence, n in a voice
1 should not have recognized.
Silence again. Presently he raised
his head, Inc with something of his
old cynicism bowed TO her.
You have avenged much and many"
said he Il have often had a PRESENT.
ment that my day OF wrath would
come"
He lifted his hat, bowed to me with
out looking at me. and drawing the
tatters of his pose still further over
his wounds. moved away toward the
landing.
|, still in a stupor. watched him until
he had disappeared. When l turned to
her. She dropped her eyes. Uncle
Howard will be back his afternoon"
said she. IF l may I'll stay at the
house until he comes TO take me-"
A weary, half suppressed sigh es-
capped from her. / knew how she must
be reading my silence, but / was
still unable TO speak. She went TO the
horse, browsing near by; she stroked
his muzzle. Lingeringly she twined her
fingers in his ane as If about to
spring to his back! That reminded me
OF a thousand and one changes in her
little changes, each a trifle in itself,
yet, taken altogether, making a com
plete transformation.
Let me help you" / managed to say.
And | bent. and made a step OF my
hand.
She touched her fingers to my
shoulder. set her narrow, graceful foot
upon my palm. But she did not rise.
l glanced up; she was gazing wistfully
dow at me.
Women have to learn by experience
just as do men," said she forlornly.
we man will NOT to1arata ;t