Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-04-19
e THE. 4
94lBARRlERo1,
By
( BEACH
'>ooeyR,enr,soe.s BY nAapraanapHERs

and been gone with him Tor days and
days at a time"
"But you were not woman then"
he said softly.
mo. not until today, that's true
Dear, dear. how did grow all Of
sudden! And yet I'm just the same as
was yesterday, and I'll always be
the same, just wild little. Please
don't ever let me be a big tame.
don't want to be commonplace and or.
binary. l want to be natural-and
good"
you couldn't be like other women"
he declared, and there was more ten
derness than hunger in his tone now
as she looked up at him trustingly
from the shelter Of his arms. sit
would spoil you to grow up"
ut is so good to be alive and to love
you like this" she continued dreamily.
staring into the FIRE. 81 seem to have
come out Of gloomy house into the
glory Of warm spring day, for my
eyes are blinded, and I can't see half
the beautifuls want to. there are so
many about me-"
"Those are my arms" interjected the
soldier lightly in an effort to ward off
her growing seriousness.
1--WE never been afraid Of anything.
| and yet feel so safe inside them.
Isn't it queer?'
The young man became conscious of
vague discomfort and realized dimly
that for hours now he had been smoth-
ering with words and caresses a some
thing that had striven with him to be
heard. something that instead of
dying grew stronger the more utterly
this innocent maid yielded to him. 1t
was as II he had ridden impulse With
rough spurs IN fierce desire to dis
lance certain voices and In the first
mad gallop had lost them, but now far
back heard them calling again more
strongly every moment. A mans hon
or II old may travel feebly, but its
pursuit Is persistent. It was the talk
about his people that had raised this
uneasiness and indecision, he thought.
Why had he ever started IT.
"The marvellous part Of It ALL" con-
tinued the girl, "is that it viii never
end. know shall love you always.
Do you suppose am really different
from other girlsY
Everything is different tonight-the
whole world" he declared impatiently.
1--WE had big handicap" she said,
'but you must help me to overcome it.
I want to be like your sister"
He rose and piled more wood upon
the fire. What possessed the girl? It
was as IL she knew each cunning Joint
Of his armor. as IL she had realized her
peril and had set about the awakening
Of his conscience deliberately and with
n cautious wisdom beyond her years
Well, she had done it, and he swore to
himself. Then be melted at the sight
Of her. crouched there against the
shadows. following his every move
ment with her soul in her eyes, the
tenderest trace Of smile upon her
lips.
When she beheld him gazing at her
she tilted her head sideways daintily
like little bird.
ooh, my! What fierce you are all
at oncew
Her smile flashed up as If illumined
by the leaping blaze. and he crossed
| quickly, kneeling beside her.
He piled up great sweet scented
couch Of springy boughs and fashioned
her pillow out Of bundle of smaller
ones, around which he wrapped his
khaki coat; then he removed her high
laced boots and, taking her tiny feet.
one in the palm Of either hand, bowed
his head over them and kissed them
with a sense Of her gracious purity
and his own unworthiness. He spread
one Of the big gray blankets over her
and tucked her In. while she sighed in
delightful languor. looking up at him
all the time.
''I'll sit here beside you for awhile"
he said. II want to smoke bit"
At times great desire to feel her
In his arms. to have her on his breast,
surged over him. for he had lived long
apart from women, and the solitude OF
the night seemed to mock him. He
was strong man, and in his veins
ran the blood of maynard forbears
i "AV WoAS WVAt " pOSScSS tlldL WHICH
they conquered in the lists Of love
mingled with which was the blood, OF
spirited southern women who had on
occasion loved not wisely, according tc
Kentucky rumor, but only too we'll
Nevertheless they were honest mer
and women, IL oversentimental, and
had transmitted to him heritage OF
chivalry and high sense of honor and
courage. Her love had placed bar
rier between them greater and more
tnsurmountable than her blood.
He gently withdrew his fingers from
her grasp and, seeing the other side OF
the wickiup, covered himself owe,
without disturbing her and fell asleep
1t was early dawn when Necia crept
to him.
Il dreamed you had gone away" she
said, shivering violently and drawing
close. "Oh, it was terrible awaken.
ing
II was too tired to dream" he said.
$50 had to come and see IL you
were really here"
He quickly rekindied the fire, and
they made hasty breakfast. Before
the warmth of the rising sun had pen.
etrated the cold air they had climbed
the ridge and obtained a wondrous
view Of hrokon ro,1ntrv thu hiIlc