The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1908-10-01
CHAPTER XIII.

CHAPTER XIII.
Constable's mind was slow to inform
this great concept. The day had left be-
hind in his brain a crowd of unassimilat-
ed acts, and into this dull, formless COM
pany swept the climacteric joy. Figura-
lively speaking. he had to grope about
until lantern and matches were brought
together, before he could adjust and meas
ure and proportion. He halted at last in
the empty street, seized the girl by her
shoulders, saying, as one would evoke
the heart out of miracle:
Lara Stansbury. Lara Stansbury -
YES, Sir Peter.'
Don't laugh at me don't grow impa-
tent for l must ask questions"
Begin. l shall be very good"
"Are you the little girl who handed
ne newspaper this morning?"
IL am that little girl grown up, sir"
She revealed in the joy she was giving
him, and thrilled under the tightening
pressure of his hands upon her shoulders.
And when you grew up-you came to
me?
please, sir, you said you would take
me sailing"
Lara, as | looked down the fiery
throat of that dragon to-day, everything
grew black and still like vacuum. |
thought 1t was death then. Tell me. did
come back, or are we two hurrying
shapes in twilight land-in no mans
land':"
I'm sure you must have come back.
sir, because didn't die to-day, and we
can't be talking together on different
planes-with your fingers impaling my
shoulders J"
Lara Stansbury-are you mine?"
The huge fellow was lost in his laby-
rinth of happiness. The doubts that had
smothered her answer were lifted now,
and he heard his victory without breath
of its expression bampered. The shop
had vindicated her daring. With all the
eagerness of trimming womanhood, which
bursts the bonds of repression for the first
time, she gave him her heart of hearts.
She was like a queen who summons a
man of her people into her inner sane
tuary and bids him rule herself and her
kingdom. Resistiess, trembling. whisper
ing, she was drawn into his arms
ITO think | didn't know you when you
when | was little girl | knew you-used
to be frightened because you were so big
Always then / knew you would
come some time to take me away for
your lady, and / thought / would cry
when you came, because / would be so
happy. That part didn't come true did
it, Strongheart? They were all
dreams, baby dreams. as if left over from
some other betrothal with you. And
when l grew into a big girl, Sir Peter,
was ashamed, and put them away, with
other baby thoughts and things!
All, listen to old Peee ~
| The volcano had lost his monstrous
rhythm and was ripping forth irregular
crashes. Rue Victor Hugo was alive
with voices. aroused by the hideous rat
ting In the throat Of the mountain The
old dread fell again upon Constable. He
drew the girl forward. almost running
II beg OF you-don't look back =" he NUT
tered. 1.-The launch is just ahead"
Hello, Ernst! l have kept you wait.
ing long," he called as they neared the
end Of the pier. "Top speed to the Mad
ame'
The bells of Saint Pierre rang the hour
of two. The launch was speeding across
the smoky harbor, riding down little
isles of fioasam, dead birds from the sky
and nameless mysteries from the rolled
bed of the harbor The wind was hot
in their faces, like a stoke-hold blast
Often he heard kissing in the water
like The sound Of wet finger touching
hot iron. \ burning cinder fell upon his
hand, messenger from Pelee, and clear
ed the source of the sounds. lie jerked
off his coat and tossed II about her shoul
ders, which the filmy shawl and the deli
cate fabric of her waist scarcely pro
| tected.
But you" she protested.
Il could not feel fire tonight"
| Her face in the lantern-ray enchanted
him. In mingled shyness and ecstasy h,
took it between his hands. He could not
speak for the marvel of the thing-tha
this, so vigrant, so beautiful, was fol
him to kiss and worship and keep bright
Her cheeks were as soft as a flower, hel
eyes glowing with the ardor which The
tropics alone can inspire in flower ant
woman. In the strange light. he gazet
with the raptness of one who seeks Il
penetrate the mystery of being-as il i
were any clearer in a woman's eyes thar
in Nile night, Venetian song, or in tn,
flow of gasoline to the spark, which filled
the contemplation of Ernst.
Beloved" he whispered at last, 81
will tell you how much / love you a
our golden wedding"
He heard the swift intaking OF hei
breath with the peculiar tremble which
follows tears. The launch was swingin;
around to the Madame's ladder Whereye
the ship lights fell, the sheeting of ash
could be seen-upon mast and railing AM
plates.
Are you frightened, dearest?' he whis
pered.
"You will not go back to Saint Pierre y
I'VE need not think of that now. W.
are going together first-out into deeI
water and ocean air - He was helpin:
her up the ladder. When they reached
the main deck, he called to Captain Neg
ley on the bridge: Pull us out Of thi.
blizzard, captain-a dozen miles if nee
essary, and quick as you can"
They had scarcely reached the bridg'
before the anchor chain began to grind
Three minutes later the Madame's screws
were kicking the ugly harbor tide. The,
watched, until only the dull red Of Pele'
pierced the thick veil behind: until ,
| star, and another, pricked the blue vaul