The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1909-04-11

.,Rnt YOU were not woman then"
he said softly.
..No not until today, that's true.
noar dear. how | did grow all of
erddeD. And yet I'm just the same as
was Yesterday, and III always be
+ho same lust a wild little. Please
don.t ever let me be big tame. l
d,n.t want TO be commonplace and or
di,orv 7 want to be natural-and
good
"You couldn't be like other women"
Ia declared. and there was more ten
dornoss than hunger in his tone now
nc she looked up at him trustingly
from the shelter of his arms. 1T
would spoil you to grow up
"It is so coed to be alive and to love
Won like this" she continued dreamily,
starring into the fire. Il seem to have
come out CT gloomy house into the
Glory Of a warm spring day, for my
owes are blinded. and | can't see half
tbe bpautifuls | want to. there are so
many about me-
"Tboee are my arms" interjected the
soldier LIGHTLY in an effort to ward off
her growing seriousness.
I've never been afraid Of anything,
ard vet | feel so safe inside them.
Isn't it queer:"
The Young man became conscious of
y2gue discomfort and realized dimly
that for hours now he had been smoth-
orinr with words and caresseS a some
thing that had striven with him to be
heard a something that instead of
diving grew stronger the more utterly
tlis innocent maid yielded to him. 1t
was as if he had ridden impulse with
rough spurs in a fierce desire to dis
taDce 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 if old may travel feebly, but its
pursuit is persistent. 1t was the talk
about his people that had raised this
uneasinoSs and indecisiOn, he thought.
Why had he ever started it?
tinued the girl. lis that it will never
end know | shall love you always.
Do you suppose | am really different
from other sirls?'
Everything is different tOnight-the
whole world" he declared impatiently.
I've had big handicap" she said.
"but you must help me to overcome it.
want to be like your sister"
He rose and piled more wood upon
the fire. What possessed the girl? 1t
was as if she knew each cunning joint
Of his armor. as if she had realized her
peril and had set about the awakening
Of his conscience deliberately and with
a cautious wisdom beyond her years.
Well she had done it, and he swore to
himself. Then he melted at the sight
or her, crouChed there against the
shadows, following his every move
ment with her soul in her eyes. the
tendereSt trace of a smile upon her
lips.
When she beheld him gazing at her
she tilted her head sideways daintily.
like little bird.
"Oh, my! What a 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 q great sweet scented
couch Of springy boughs and fashioned
her pillow out Of a 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
MS head over them and kissed them
With sense of her gracious purity
and his own unwOrthiness. He spread
Vne OF the big gray blankets over her
"uu tucked her in, while she sighed in
uenshtful languor. looking up at him
all the time.
Ill sit here beside you for awhile"
lie said. Il want to smoke n bit"
Al tines q great desire to feel her
III Ms arms. TO have her on his breast,
SuTscd over him. for he had lived long
apart from women, and the solitude Of
'ue night seemed to mock him. He
was strong man. and in bis veins
'au the blood of hayward fCr0ears
VINO were wont TO possess that which
lucy conquered in the lists of love.
HIl1Sled with which was the blood OF
spirited southern women who had on
VeIaSlon loved not wisely. according TO
--AeHIurAy rumor. but only too well.
Ne'ertheleSs they were honest men
%II women. if oversentimental, and
D"u transmitted to him heritage of
NHi'alry and high sense of honor and
0ouFaSe, Her love had placed bar
.'er between them greater and more
'HSurnountable than her blood.
lie gently withdrew his fingers from
ner grasp and. seeing the other side of
He Wlckiup, covered himself over
"!'lout disturbing her and fell asleep.
II was early dawn when Necia crept
to him.
dreamed you had gone away" she
S|iu' Shlvering violently and drawing
.ioSe. "Oh. it was a terrible awaken
ing