Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-07-16
CHAPTER XIII.

CHAPTER NH.
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 a miracle:
Lara Stansbury Lara Stansbury! !"
Yes, Sir Peter! ~
Don't laugh at me; don't grow impa-
tient for l must ask questions"
Begin. / shall be very good"
"Are you the little girl who handed
me a newspaper this morning?"
Il am that little girl grown up, sir"
She revelled 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 l looked down the fiery
throat of that dragon to-day, everything
grew black and still like vacuum.
thought it was death then. Tell me, did
l 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 l didn't die to-day, and we
can't be talking together on different
planes-with your fingers impaIing my
shoulders ~
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 hampered The shop
had indicated her daring With all the
eagerness of brimming 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
man of her people into her inner sane
tuary and bids him rule herself and her
kingdom. Resistless, trembling, whisper
ing, she was drawn into his arms
ITO think l didn't know you when you
first came y she was saying family. But
when l was little girl l 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 l thought l would cry
when you came, because 1 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 big girl, Sir Peter, l
was ashamed, and put them away, with
other baby thoughts and things. s.
All, listen to old Pelee ~
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.
Il beg OF you-don't look back :" he NUT
tered. THE launch is just ahead"
Hello, Ernst! 1 have kept you wait
ing long," he called as they neared the
end of the pier. TOP speed to the Mad
anne ~
The bells of Saint Pierre rang the hour
of two. The launch was speeding across
the smoky harbor, riding down little
isles of f1oasam, 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 a kissing in the water,
like the sound of a wet finger touching
hot iron. \ burning cinder fell upon his
hand, messenger from Pelee, and clear
ed the source of the sounds. He jerked
off his coat and tossed it about her shout
ders, which the flmy shawl and the deli
cate fabric of her waist scarcely pro-
tected.
But you-" she protested.
81 could not feel fire tonight ~
Her face in the lantern-ray enchanted
him. In mingled shyneSs and ecstasy he
took it between his hands He could not
speak for the marvel of the thing-that
this, so vigranr, so beautiful, was for
him to kiss and worship and keep bright
Her cheeks were as soft as flower, her
eyes glowing with the ardor which the
tropics alone can inspire in flower and
woman. In the strange light, he gazed
with the raptness of one who seeks to
penetrate the mystery of being-as if it
were any clearer in a woman's eyes than
in Nile night, a Venetian song. or in the
flow of gasoline to the spark, which filled
the contempl2 ton of Ernst.
Beloved" he whispered at last, 81
will tell you how much l love you at
our golden wedding"
He heard the swift intaking of her
breath with the peculiar tremble which
follows tears. The launch was swinging
around to the Madame's ladder. Wherever
the ship lights fell. the sheeting of ash
could be seen-upon mast and railing and
| plates.
Are you frightened, dearest?' he whis-
pered.
you will not go back to Saint Pierre :"
''We need not think of that now. We
are going together frst-out into deep
water and ocean air. He was helping
| her up the ladder. When they reached
the main deck, he called to Captain Neg
| ley on the bridge: Pull us out of this
| blizzard, captain-a dozen miles if nee
essary, and quick as you can"
They had scarcely reached the bridge
before the anchor chain began to grind.
| Three minutes later the Madame's screws
| were kicking the ugly harbor tide. They
| watched, until only the dull red of Pelee
| pierced the thick veil behind; until a
star, and another, pricked the blue vault